Australian Mountain Bike Trail Guidelines now free to download

For the first time, the Australian Mountain Bike Trail Guidelines are available to download for free from the AusCycling website.

Previously only available in hardcopy at cost, the guidelines combine global trail development and management techniques with local experience and knowledge, and are a key tool for land managers and mountain bike groups in planning, constructing, and managing sustainable trails.

Download a copy of the Australian Mountain Bike Trail Guidelines.

AusCycling will also host an open webinar about the guidelines, to discuss their implementation and explain the differences between the International Mountain Bicycling Association (IMBA) framework and the Australian framework.

Details on the webinar will be announced shortly.

Original editor of the guidelines and member of the Queensland State Advisory Council Craig Meinicke outlined how making the guidelines freely available would have a positive outcome for the mountain bike community.

“The guidelines contain best-practice information, and to have that information sitting behind a paywall limits its potential reach and prevents aspiring trail developers and managers from being fully informed in their decision making,” Meinicke said.

“With the guidelines available for free, anyone with an interest in trail development – such as land managers, trail builders, trail users and clubs – can access the most up-to-date information on sustainable trail development and management in Australia.”

Meinicke, who founded trail development company Blue Sky Trails, said the guidelines also aim to ensure mountain bike trails are developed in alignment with landholder expectations, backed by strong partnerships and community ownership.

“The guidelines complement existing tools and cover everything from the strategic and legislative context of trail development to the partnerships and funding involved, and the planning and construction principles of trail building.

“With mountain biking among the fastest growing cycling disciplines in Australia, getting the guidelines into the hands of the right people will help us meet the challenge of developing and maintaining places to ride.”

The guidelines were formerly developed and released by Mountain Bike Australia. They are the result of a collaboration between riders, governments, trail builders and land managers, with much of the information derived from the Draft Western Australian Mountain Bike Management Guidelines and the International Mountain Bicycling Association.

AusCycling aims to periodically update the guidelines, adding topical information such as the rise of eMTB and developments in trail governance.

Download a copy of the Australian Mountain Bike Trail Guidelines.