What you need to know about Amarider

Amarider is a South African registered Section 21, non-profit company with the aim of improving mountain bicycling opportunities on the African continent. 

Amarider is affiliated to the International Mountain Bicycling Association (IMBA), generally accepted as the worldwide leader of trail related issues and advocacy.

What do we do?

Amarider provides guidelines and standards for the construction, maintenance, development and management of mountain bike trails and promotes enhanced access to trails for all riders.

To achieve our objectives we:

• Drive the development of new trails
• Negotiate policy with land management agencies
• Coordinate trail projects with a focus on local skills empowerment
• Develop trail management policy
• Provide risk management strategies for trail managers and owners
• Assist clubs and riding groups to develop strong local capacity
• Maintain an insurance policy to protect clubs and volunteers who manage trail systems
• Facilitate Volunteer work parties
• Facilitate school mountain bike events to promote the sport amongst the youth
• Develop access control systems as well as club membership management tools.
• Promote responsible trail construction
• Promote responsible trail use
• Promote mountain biking as a positive, sustainable outdoor pursuit

Importantly, enjoying the benefits of our work is not only restricted to members of the organization, but is intended to enhance the experience of all trail users, regardless of their affiliation.

 Further, we advocate shared –use trails and facilitate the integration of other trail user groups as well.

 How do we do all this?

The above list of projects and programs require various levels of funding and support.
Amarider raises these funds in various ways, including:

• Individual and corporate donations
• Individual and corporate memberships
• Club memberships
• Consulting  to trail and recreational projects
• Grants
• Program Sponsorships

Along the way we activate various local contractors, emerging businesses and advocacy representatives as it is not the intention of Amarider to build any additional capacity in-house – but rather building on our model of local empowerment.

 Through the Spur High School Mountain bike league, we have activated clubs throughout South Africa to host mountain bike races in their areas. This helps build local capacity and identifies capable local volunteers.

The League also identifies and assists disadvantaged cyclists to attend these and other events, promoting diversity in our sport.

We have assisted key trail projects financially and attend and facilitate various workshops with land owners and managers with our affiliated clubs.

 Our main aim is to build an internal fund to enable us to activate many more projects through grants and the provision of resources.

How can you help?

As a rider you can:
• Make sure that you and your riding friends adhere to IMBA’s Rules of the Trail:
1) Ride on open trails only
2) Leave no Trace
3) Control your Bicycle
4) Yield to Others
5) Never scare Animals
6) Plan Ahead
• Contribute with a membership or donation
• Volunteer and get involved
• Join or form a local riding group or club

As a corporate you can:

• Take up a membership or make a donation
• Sponsor a program

We are sure our members would love to support a company who supports the sport!

Contact Amarider on +27 (0)21 88 44 547 or info@amarider.co.za.