Central Oregon Trail Alliance (COTA) is working with Empowering Access and Oregon Adaptive Sports to increase accessibility on mountain biking trails around Bend.
From May 1-14, 100 miles of trails near Bend will be assessed by adaptive mountain bikers. They will document components like signage, trail tread width, and accessibility.
Phil’s trailhead, Tiddlywinks, Whoops, and Tyler’s Traverse are among the trails to be assessed.
Information found during the assessment will be posted to COTA’s website so that adaptive rider an make informed decisions about trails they want to use. COTA has found the biggest barrier to adaptive riders is lack of information regarding trails.
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“I’m excited to put Central Oregon on the map for the adaptive cycling community,” said Abbie Wilkiemeyer, COTA’s volunteer project manager. “Other communities such as Bentonville, Arkansas, are using universal design to open trails of all difficulty levels to adaptive mountain bikers. If they can do it, we can do it.”
COTA estimates that most trails assessed will be fully rideable for adaptable riders, based on information they have received from Oregon Adaptive Sports. They do anticipate areas that need improvement, and will suggest options.
