| Mountain biking has become an incredibly popular recreational pursuit in the United States, and with the maturation of the sport, we have seen the growth of advocacy groups and clubs dedicated to addressing issues related to the sport such as user-conflict on shared-use trail systems, environmental implications of riding on certain landscapes, potential economic impacts of mountain bikers as a social group, and the impact of these organizations on trail creation. Despite their apparent agency within the sport, and mountain bikers specifically, little research has examined the effect that these organizations have on rider behavior or the influence that they may have on trail construction, questions addressed in this paper. A spatial analysis utilizing LISA shows that there is significant clustering of mountain biking clubs and trail locations, suggesting a measure of influence on the creation of trail systems while also identifying key areas that are under-served by mountain biking recreation resources. Survey and interviews were administered to individual mountain bikers who were members or non-members of an advocacy group or club. While not significant, the results show that the average member spends more money per trip and experiences less user-conflict. Significantly, members exercise greater trail etiquette than non-members. Together, the results suggest that advocacy groups and clubs have considerable influence on the sport of mountain biking, participating individuals, and agencies associated with the sport. |
