Advocacy in the spotlight – In conversation with Stian Bergeland of NOTS

Advocacy in the spotlightAdvocacy in the spotlight is a new series of articles to highlight the work of mountain bike advocates and MTB advocacy associations across Europe. To keep trails accessible for mountain biking in your country or to develop new ones, lots of volunteers and professionals are working behind the scenes to make mountain biking a bit better for you. In this first interview we spoke to Stian Bergeland, president of IMBA Europe’s Norwegian member organisations NOTS. Could you explain what NOTS is and what you’re working on? NOTS is a member organization that advocates for the rights of mountain bikers and promotes coexistence with other trail users. During previous years we have focused on ensuring access to new protected areas, adapting trails in order to divert traffic from the most popular trails and promoting the NOTS trail code of conduct. We have had a huge breakthrough this year with the government deciding to revise regulations for National Parks so that access on bike may be possible.The Allesmansretten in Norway, the right to roam, does this mean you can ride your bike anywhere or are there some restrictions?No. It means that you are allowed to bike on established trails. In the mountains you can also ride outside of established trails. There are special regulations for National Parks and protected areas, and often limitations are applied. NOTS work to reduce these limitations. However, the right to roam makes plenty of nice trails available in Norway.I also want to point out that rights are accompanied with obligations. The NOTS trail code of conduct aims at guiding mountain bikers, so that for instance vulnerable trails are avoided after heavy rainfalls. With increased recruitment to mountain biking, good behaviour of bikers is even more important.Why is it important mountain bikers in Norway join NOTS, what can they do to help?There is still an important job to do when it comes to access and defend current access. It is also important to raise awareness on mountain biking and its positive effects, such as public health. We also have a way to go to make the public understand that biking is not damaging trails and that most bikers do respect other trail users. There is power in numbers, and we need as many members as possible in order to be an efficient advocate for mountain biking.We are also desperate for new board members both on a national level and in some of our local chapters. Many board members have dedicated several years to NOTS, and they want to be relieved.What are your realy proud of? In terms of efforts / results?I am most proud of the Parliament White Paper on outdoors activities. It was approved in September, and our hard work finally paid off when the government decided it aims at easing biking restrictions in protected areas. I must also say that I am proud of the work done by local chapters on building bridges with other trail users. For instance in Oslo, where the local chapter has done a magnificent job by finalizing a trail that aims at diverting traffic from other trails and thereby promoting co-existence with hikers.Last one, where to ride in Norway? Could you share one of your favorite places? What makes it special to you? The IMBA survey last year showed that Norwegians in general enjoy being able to go by bike to their local trails, instead of by car as is the case in many other countries. I am no exception, and my favourite trails are my local trails in the forests of Oslo. There is still so much to be explored, and this summer I was shown an area in the western part of the forest – Åsa – where I admittely went by car. It would be a heaven for anyone interesting in thrilling descending trails, but you have to earn those descents. The climb is brutal for most people, yet it is worth it.BioName: Stian BergelandDirector of NOTS since February 2015Age: 39Lives in OsloI ride because I like being outdoors [[{“type”:”media”,”view_mode”:”media_responsive”,”fid”:”631″,”attributes”:{“alt”:””,”class”:”media-image”,”style”:”max-width: 680px;”,”width”:”100%”}}]]