This is an ongoing battle. Mike Lee just reintroduced a new bill, looking to offload USFS land. Read on below…
The bike industry sure loves Public Lands. Each year, countless bike industry photoshoots take place on Bureau of Land Management and US Forest Service land. All the big brands love those swoopy sandstone escarpments and layered mountains, rippling back as far as the eye can see. The setting is inspiring for the product being showcased. For decades, the bike industry has sold you cycling thanks to our Public Lands.
So when Mike Lee, US Senator for Utah, a Republican, added a provision to the BBB (I won’t use it by name) to sell off millions of acres of BLM and USFS lands, we braced for an uproar from these same companies.
Yet, we heard nothing. As of today, we’ve counted exactly two brands – State Bicycle Co and Esker Cycles – that have spoken out against Mike Lee’s provision to sell off Public Lands.
Two. Brands. Were there more? Let us know in the comments.
For a bill that is most likely being voted on in the coming weeks, now is the time to speak up. Your silence suggests a corporate interest in avoiding ruffled partisan feathers. This is a bipartisan issue. Everyone, no matter what side of the circus you’re on, uses Public Lands. Hunting, fishing, and 4×4 groups align more with hiking, equestrian, and cycling groups than the divisive media would want you to think. We’re all out there for the same reasons.
We all use these Public Lands, and all they ask for in return is to be respected. That includes standing up for them when they’re in danger of being sold off to private equity, mineral or gas extraction, privatization, and more.
Keep Public Lands in public hands.
Say something, bike industry. Time is running out.
USE THIS LINK TO WRITE YOUR SENATORS AND TELL THEM PUBLIC LANDS ARE NOT FOR SALE!
Senator Mike Lee of Utah is working the background, trying to win points with Majority Leader John Thune of South Dakota to get his public lands sale back in this bill.
We cannot let that happen.
Call the Senate switchboard: 202-224-3121
Call Majority Leader John Thune: 202-224-2321
Tell him this is a firm, resounding NO.
And if you’ve got a minute:
Give Senator Mike Lee a courteous piece of your mind: 202-224-5444
Our lands have no price tag. Make the calls.
USE THIS LINK TO WRITE YOUR SENATORS AND TELL THEM PUBLIC LANDS ARE NOT FOR SALE!
6.26.25 Update from Outdoor Alliance:
“Yesterday, Senator Lee introduced revised reconciliation bill text with updates to the public land sell-offs. The short of it is the new text removes language around selling off USFS lands, and limits sales of BLM lands to within 5 miles of a “population center”–a vague term.
We’ve updated the talking points, including our new action alert, blog, email template, and ask to members of Congress, to reflect this. We’re currently waiting for the parliamentarian’s ruling, but please reach out to your congressional contacts in the meantime. We’re hearing that the voting could begin as soon as this week or weekend, and we want to make sure they know that this is still a red line for our community.”
6.25.25 Update from Outdoor Alliance:
“Senator Mike Lee (R-UT) has just introduced a new proposal to sell off public lands—this time targeting BLM lands near communities across the West.
The bill would require the sale of up to 1.2 million acres of your public lands and waters.
Outdoor Alliance’s GIS Lab is analyzing the bill, and our preliminary review shows significant overlap between recreation areas and lands that could be sold. From hiking trails to climbing crags, from mountain bike routes to rivers, the places we love could be at risk.
The outdoor community has already shown that public lands sell-offs are a losing proposition—and Senator Lee just won’t take no for an answer. Now we need to raise our voices again.
Use the link in our bio to tell your Senators to reject this latest plan to sell off our public lands.”
USE THIS LINK TO WRITE YOUR SENATORS AND TELL THEM PUBLIC LANDS ARE NOT FOR SALE!
6.24.25 Update from Outdoor Alliance:
“The proposal to sell off up to 3.3 million acres of public lands has been removed from the Senate’s budget reconciliation bill. But the fight is not over!
Over the past two weeks, hundreds of thousands of outdoor enthusiasts—alongside hunters, anglers, motorized users, and conservationists—spoke up to defend public lands.
Last night, the land sales were removed on a technicality by the Senate parliamentarian, meaning that this proposal is out of the budget bill for now.
That said, we’re not out of the woods yet! Senator Mike Lee (R-UT) has already promised to revise his proposal which would focus on close-to-home public lands managed by the BLM.
Thank you for raising your voice! This is a huge victory! The outdoor community continues to show that when public lands are under threat, we are ready to fight for them.”
Your emails, phone calls, and letters have been heard but this fight is far from over!
