International Mountain Bicycling Association board member Jim Hasenauer raised the issue of mountain biking in National Parks with President George W. Bush on Friday, August 15th. The exchange occurred at the Santa Monica Mountains National Recreation Area on the outskirts of Los Angeles following the President's speech on his National Parks Legacy Project, which calls for funding of park facilities and maintenance.

Hasenauer and long-time local mountain bike leader Peter Heumann were two of a small group of California government, civic and volunteer group leaders selected to attend this event. Hasenauer and Heumann also spoke about IMBA's National Park mountain biking agenda with Secretary of Interior Gale Norton and National Park Service Director Fran Mainella.

Hasenauer told the President that mountain biking is banned in most National Parks and that IMBA is working to change that. (IMBA has made this issue a top priority and has hired two prominent D.C. law firms to push for better National Park access.)

In his speech, President Bush encouraged Americans to volunteer to help National Parks.

IMBA views mountain biking as a National Park solution that will get people out of their cars, away from crowded parking lots and trailheads, and into the outdoors.

Hasenauer is a past IMBA president. Heumann is a founder of the Concerned Off Road Bicyclists Association and the producer of the Southern California Bicycle Expo. Also attending were Terry and Holly Harmon representing CORBA's Youth Adventures Program and Mountain Bike Unit.