For more than two decades, the Roadless Rule has protected nearly 60 million acres of National Forest lands across the country. These protections limit new road construction and logging, keeping some of our most pristine backcountry areas intact.
Now, the USDA has proposed rescinding the Roadless Rule entirely. This would open the door for road-building, logging, and development in areas that have remained wild and connected for generations.
For mountain bikers in the Southeast, these lands aren’t just “undeveloped acres on a map”. They are places where we ride, find adventure, connect with nature, and build community. They provide true backcountry experiences that are hard to come by in our region. Roadless areas also safeguard clean drinking water, wildlife habitat, and carbon storage that helps make our forests more resilient. Once they’re gone, we can’t get them back.
At SORBA, we believe that everyone should have access to the mental, physical, and social benefits that trails provide. Strong protections for roadless areas ensure that we, and future generations, will continue to experience the wild, restorative places that make our forests special.
That’s why we’re asking you to take action.
Action Alert: Protect Our Roadless Trails
The USDA is taking public comments on this proposal until September 19, 2025. This is your chance to speak up for trails, public lands, and the future of mountain biking.
How to Comment (takes 5 minutes) or visit our friends at the Outdoor Alliance for an even quicker comment:
Visit the Federal Register page: Submit Your Comment Here
Share your thoughts. Here’s a sample you can adapt:
I oppose rescinding the 2001 Roadless Rule. Roadless areas protect clean water, wildlife habitat, and opportunities for recreation, including mountain biking. Removing these protections would harm trail systems and diminish the public benefits of our National Forests. Please keep the Roadless Rule in place for future generations.
Personalize it. Tell your story! Use the Outdoor Alliance Map to find a place that matters to you. Why do you ride? What do trails mean to your health, your community, or your family?
Every unique comment adds strength to our collective voice.
Why Your Voice Matters
Agencies pay attention when people speak up. Outdoor recreation groups, environmental organizations, and local communities across the country are weighing in, and mountain bikers need to be part of that chorus. Protecting roadless areas isn’t about keeping people out. It’s about keeping these landscapes wild, resilient, and accessible for all.
Let’s show that mountain bikers care deeply about the forests where we ride.
Deadline: September 19, 2025 — add your comment today!