Senate Energy Committee Advances Sen. Cramer Legislation to Bolster Outdoor Recreation, Promote Biking on Federal Lands

Press Release

U.S. Senator Kevin Cramer (R-ND) issued the following statement after the Senate Energy and Natural Resources (ENR) Committee passed the bipartisan Biking on Long-Distance Trails (BOLT) Act out of committee this week:

"Glad to see the BOLT Act pass out of the Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee. The Maah Daah Hey Trail is a North Dakota treasure. As a former Tourism Director for the State of North Dakota, I am proud to have helped advance this bill to bolster outdoor recreation across the country and in North Dakota. I have enjoyed working as a team with Senators Luján, Manchin, and Barrasso to get this one step closer to becoming law."

Senator Cramer introduced the BOLT Act with Senator Ben Ray Luján (D-NM) to bolster outdoor recreation and promote the use of existing bike trails on federal lands across the United States. North Dakota is home to the longest continuous single track mountain bike trail in the U.S.: the Maah Daah Hey.

Biking stakeholder groups issued statements following passage out of Senate ENR:

"The Maah Daah Hey Trail is a legendary piece of North Dakota's Badlands. Increasing biking accessibility and publicity of the Maah Daah Hey will create more opportunities for mountain bikers to enjoy one of the most beautiful places in the United States. I thank Senator Cramer for his effort to get the bill through committee and look forward to continuing our work to make this law," said Save the Maah Daah Hey Founder Nick Ybarra.

"This was a monumental day for mountain biking in Washington D.C. Both the BOLT Act and Bonneville Shoreline Trail Advancement Act are legislation led by mountain bikers, for mountain bikers. These bills create more trail opportunities, more trail connectivity, and more trails close to home," said International Mountain Bicycling Association (IMBA) Executive Director David Wiens.

The BOLT Act will make bike trails more accessible and 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 trails;
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.
The BOLT Act is co-sponsored by Senators Ben Ray Luján (D-NM), Joe Manchin (D-WV), and John Barrasso (R-WY).

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