Chairman Neguse Holds Committee Hearing on His Proposal to Expand Access to Long-Distance Bike Trails
Washington D.C.— Today, Congressman Joe Neguse, Chair of the U.S. Subcommittee on National Parks, Forests and Public Lands, held a hearing to advance the Biking On Long-Distance Trails (BOLT) Act, which would bolster outdoor recreation and promote biking on federal lands across the United States. The bill is cosponsored by Representatives John Curtis, Susie Lee, and Kelly Armstrong and by Senators Ben Ray Lujan, Kevin Cramer, Martin Heinrich (D-NM), Joe Manchin (D-WV), and John Barrasso (R-WY) in the Senate.
View Congressman Neguse discussing the BOLT Act HERE.
“The Biking on Long-Distance Trails Act will ensure more people can enjoy Colorado's beautiful landscapes and have access to our mountain towns and businesses, boosting our state’s outdoor recreation industry,” said Congressman Joe Neguse. “As Chair of the Subcommittee on National Parks, Forests and Public Lands, I’ve been honored to lead countless bills that invest in Colorado’s outdoor recreation economy, including our bill to complete the Continental Divide Trail and the CORE Act, which will make historic investments in our forests and watersheds. This legislation, the BOLT Act, is critical to our work on that front, and I look forward to working with colleagues on both sides of the aisle to get it to the President’s desk for his signature.”
“As an avid biker myself, I am proud to be the Republican lead of the BOLT Act and excited that this bipartisan effort continues to move through committee,” said Congressman John Curtis, co-lead on the legislation. “This bill will help Americans across the country experience the natural beauty of our public lands. I am committed to working with my colleagues to construct more bike trails, such as my effort to advance the Bonneville Shoreline Trail, which was passed unanimously by the House Natural Resources Committee, and increase access to recreational opportunities in Utah.”
“Mountain biking has grown in popularity over the last decade, most notably during the pandemic, and we at the International Mountain Bicycling Association applaud Representative Joe Neguse from Colorado for recognizing the importance of outdoor recreation and introducing the Biking on Long Distance Trails (BOLT) Act,” said Dave Wiens, Executive Director, International Mountain Bicycling Association. “Now is the time to invest in our outdoor recreation infrastructure by providing pathways to positive physical and mental health and creating jobs in the outdoor economy.”
The Biking On Long-Distance Trails (BOLT) Act will expand outdoor recreation opportunities by developing and completing long-distance bike trails and expanding mapping resources for long-distance bikers. The BOLT Act will also direct the Department of the Interior (DOI) to:
- Identify not fewer than 10 long-distance bike trails;
- Identify not fewer than 10 areas in which there is an opportunity to develop or complete long-distance bike trials;
- Allow the DOI to publish and distribute maps, install signage, and issue promotional materials; and
- Publish a report that lists the trails developed under this legislation.
Background:
As Chair of the U.S. Subcommittee on National Parks, Forests and Public Lands, Congressman Joe Neguse has worked tirelessly to protect public lands and promote outdoor recreation for Colorado’s mountain economies. Last month, Congressman Joe Neguse succeeded in passing legislation through the House Natural Resources Committee that would complete the Continental Divide Trail by its 50th anniversary in 2028. Congressman Neguse also enacted legislation into law to expand Rocky Mountain National Park, an initiative similar to the Continental Divide Trail Completion Act, that instructed the Department of Interior to acquire and protect an additional 40 acres of land in the park. Additionally, Congressman Neguse reintroduced the Colorado Outdoor Recreation and Economy (CORE) Act in February 2021, which would protect over 400,000 acres of public land in Colorado and establish new wilderness, recreation, and conservation areas..