Freeride advocacy

[Dartman]

I'm working on setting up an arm of our part of MORE down here in Richmond to represent the local freeriders, dirtjumpers and trials riders. We have a couple park managers who rather than want to tear down and ban illegal dirt jumps wish to create an outlet for their creativity.

I understand the 495 Jumps up there are a bit of a controversy even now and wanted to gather more info.

What's up?

Mike Dart
"Trail Boss"
Richmond Area MORE

[eloach]

I understand there are insurance and liability issues that were raised, but that it was decided since there was a skate/bmx park under the same authority they wouldn't plow them under ...for now. The land WAS controlled by VDOT but is now controlled by FFX county park authority. They did a swap or aquisition when they put a new paved trail through the area.

I am responding to your query because no one else had yet. This information is what I was told when I asked a few people during trail work about building a pump track and Freeride area around the outside of 495. Hopefully someone in the know will post better info for you.

I think there are some Freeride parks being built in MD or DC because I saw some posts about them. Perhaps someone could post that up here. I think the main issue is always going to be liability. When you go to a skate park or similar you sign a release to get in. With an open area the local park authority probably can't enforce that. On top of that there was an article in MBA a few months back about some guy who was suing a locality and mountian bike club because he feel off a man made tech and hurt himself (something terrible like paralized, I think). He said it was not properly constructed and maintained. The article implied that other localities had heard about this and were nervous about MTBing because of it.

[Austin]

I'm working on setting up an arm of our part of MORE down here in Richmond to represent the local freeriders, dirtjumpers and trials riders. We have a couple park managers who rather than want to tear down and ban illegal dirt jumps wish to create an outlet for their creativity.

I understand the 495 Jumps up there are a bit of a controversy even now and wanted to gather more info.

What's up?

Mike Dart
"Trail Boss"
Richmond Area MORE


We are working on getting a liaison for Freeriding right now. If you've been checking the Forums recently, you'll see we are attempting to get full-on Freeride site at one of our most popular parks: Patapsco.

I'll post something soon.

Austin Steo
Maryland Advocacy Director

[Austin]

I'm working on setting up an arm of our part of MORE down here in Richmond to represent the local freeriders, dirtjumpers and trials riders. We have a couple park managers who rather than want to tear down and ban illegal dirt jumps wish to create an outlet for their creativity.

I understand the 495 Jumps up there are a bit of a controversy even now and wanted to gather more info.

What's up?

Mike Dart
"Trail Boss"
Richmond Area MORE


We are working on getting a liaison for Freeriding right now. If you've been checking the Forums recently, you'll see we are attempting to get full-on Freeride site at one of our most popular parks: Patapsco.

I'll post something soon.

Austin Steo
Maryland Advocacy Director

[Dartman]

We are working on getting a liaison for Freeriding right now. If you've been checking the Forums recently, you'll see we are attempting to get full-on Freeride site at one of our most popular parks: Patapsco.

I'll post something soon.

Austin Steo
Maryland Advocacy Director

Thanks Austin.

We're working on the same thing here in Richmond. Very cool. I'm glad to see MORE supporting advanced technical riding. I have been watching the Patapsco thing closely.

I think it would be good to try a regional collaboration in the near future.

Mike

[BikerMiker]

I'll throw my hat into the ring for the Freeride Guy title when I don't suck as a rider and after the Patapsco park project gets built. Maybe then I'll feel like I know something.

mike