Opening Up the Trail for Everyone

Opening Up the Trail for Everyone

Last year, RVMBA was approached by a local rider named Tammie. She asked a simple but powerful question: Are there any trails around here I can ride with my adaptive mountain bike?

Until now, her only option was to travel all the way to Bend to find accessible trails. That didn’t sit right with us.

So this spring, we got to work. After getting input from Tammie and IMBA (International Mountain Bike Association) on best practices for aMTB (adaptive Mountain Bike) trails, RVMBA volunteers gathered for a trail work day on the Lizard trail – carefully eliminating pinch points and other obstacles that made it inaccessible for riders with mobility challenges. We widened the yellow gate entrance, removed stumps in the trail and tried to visualize the experience from a lower, wider, three-wheeled-bike perspective. Afterward, food and refreshments sponsored by Ashland Springs Hotel allowed the volunteers to share our stories from the day.

A few weeks later, Tammie rolled up and test rode the loop — not just once, but three full laps, each time with a beaming smile. “Can we go again?!” She crashed a few times, laughed it off, and kept going. That day was a reminder of why we do what we do: because access to nature and recreation should be for everyone.

Along for the test ride was local reporter Morgan Rothborne of Ashland News. She documented Tammie’s journey in this piece which I encourage you to read.

The trail needs a few more tweaks, and Tammie’s dialing in her technique. But this is a learning process for all of us — and a step in the right direction toward a more inclusive trail system right here in the Rogue Valley.

Thank you for being part of this journey with us.

Ryan Hawk

President, RVMBA

PS. Become a member today, or renew your membership. Together we can keep building.