It’s time to Slow Down and Think

Posted: June 2, 2011 | Author: | Filed under: Access, Outdoor Recreation, Transportation | Leave a comment »

I had to put these two videos back-to-back. It’s pretty amazing how you can change the conversation when business and economic impact enter the picture. Personally, I see nothing wrong with using 19th century technology to solve a 21st century problem. The technology exists today, we can start using it immediately and make a positive impact on several levels: less energy use, less smog, healthier communities… Whereas funding energy exploration and technology is a gamble at best. It may or may not pay out 10-15 years down the road.

I just wish we could get Jerry Norquist to help out in NC….

Bike Culture Summit

Posted: May 5, 2010 | Author: | Filed under: Access, Cycling, News, Transportation | Tags: , , , , , | Leave a comment »

Kona in NYCOn Thursday May 6, the Bike Culture Summit will commence in New York City. The event is a benefit for Transportation Alternatives – an organization whose mission is to “reclaim New York City’s streets from the automobile and to advocate for bicycling, walking and public transit as the best transportation alternatives.” So, all proceeds from the event will support the group’s bicycle advocacy work.

The Bike Culture Summit will be held May 6 at NYU’s Wasserman Center Auditorium from 7-8:30 p.m. Cycling pundits, the ‘Bike Snob’, bicycling historian David Herlihy and Caroline Samponaro (Director of Bicycle Advocacy for Transportation), will offer their expert insight regarding controversies such as ‘How should cyclists relate to pedestrians, motorists and to delivery cyclist’ and ‘To what extent should cyclists sacrifice style and convenience for safety.’

Thanks to the folks at Kona Bikes for the heads up on this - they will be there in full support.

Another Interesting Alliance

Posted: April 3, 2009 | Author: | Filed under: Access | Tags: | Leave a comment »

 

 

 

It looks like OIA has united with The Theodore Roosevelt Conservation Partnership and Outdoor Alliance, in support of responsible management of inventoried roadless areas. The group’s end goal is to sustain “the high-quality sporting and recreational opportunities provided by America’s backcountry.”

Bill Schneider over at New West has a great opinion piece about this new alliance.  We’ve been writing about potential alliances between conservation organizations for years at The BOSS Report. We’ve also been talking to Frank Hugelmeyer over at OIA about all of the common ground the Outdoor Specialty business has with the hook & bullet crowd.

Yes, there are differences – sometimes dramatic differences – of opinion.  Hunters and backpackers are referring to two totally different things when they talk about packing a Cannon into the backcountry. I personally prefer the SLR variety. But when it comes to preserving roadless wilderness, we are both in the same boat.

Interesting Partnerships

Posted: April 1, 2009 | Author: | Filed under: Access | Leave a comment »

Backpacking Light issued a press release today stating that they are seeking a partnership with the Blue Ribbon Coalition, an Off Road Vehicle community group. Their goal is to “join forces in the fight for American Wilderness preservation.”

They also listed several different issues that are undergoing a “feasibility study”

  • The development of completely noiseless ORVs with zero emissions of any type, zero sound of any type, and zero fuel consumption. Jordan notes that Wikipedia provides great latitude in its definition of a vehicle, which opens up a number of possibilities for creating the alternative ORV of the future. He notes that some of the outdoor industry’s most innovative companies are developing alternative ORVs that meet Jordan’s criteria, including Inov-8, Alpacka, and Wenonah, to name a few.

  • Creation of the new niche industry of “hiker-taxiing,” by which ORV owners receive money from hikers for taking them on rapid tours of their favorite trails. The benefits to this program would include fewer blisters, faster reconnaissance, having to invest less time into personal fitness, and the opportunity to “hug” an ORVer by riding on the back of his (or her) motorbike. “There are serious risks of increasing conflict with this program, but the rewards of intimacy could lead to long-lasting partnerships. Opposites attract, and we can’t fight that,” says Jordan.

  • Being mentored by the BRC in a new partnership with EA Sports to develop a series of video games to promote hiking. “ORVers have forged incredibly successful relationships with video gaming companies, and we want a piece of that action too,” says Jordan, who won the 1982 Donkey Kong tournament at the El Dorado Casino Hotel in Reno, Nevada, and hikes a lot too. “It’s time that the hiking community is recognized for their intensity and excitement among our screen-addicted youth, but we can’t do it without those who’ve paved that road ahead of us.” Jordan will model the new game series after PlayStation’s MX World Tour, but focus less on riding motorcycles and more on doing things motorcycle people could never do, like hike through a forest of blowdowns or haul all your stuff out to an island camp at the middle of an alpine lake using just a Therm-a-Rest and some duct tape. “Hey, we have a lot to offer too. Just give us a chance to rock your XBox, OK?”

    • I get some of this partnership. I’ve had numerous conversations with hunters and ORV’ers about the common ground we share. We can all agree that we want to preserve wilderness.
    The problem comes when we try to define wilderness…
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