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One hundred and sixteen conservation groups across the U.S., including eight from Idaho, sent a letter to Congress Wednesday to oppose legislation that would allow mountain bikes into wilderness areas.

The Sustainable Trails Coalition claims Congress did not intend to ban human-powered travel in Wilderness in the Wilderness Act of 1964, and in fact allowed mountain bikes in these areas until 1984 before they were banned. The 116 opposing organizations say this is not true and claim the Wilderness Act banned all types of bicycles in wilderness areas.

The 116 signatories span from British Columbia, Canada, to Florida. Eight are from Idaho, nine are from Washington, and 13 are from Montana. Nineteen of these groups however, are all from one national organization: Great Old Broads for Wilderness. It had one signature for 19 different chapters of its organization.

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