The Boise valley has long been a mountain biking epicenter with its Ridge-to-Rivers trails system that caters to a thriving cycling culture. Now Eagle, a small community outside Idaho’s capital city is building an adaptive bike park for mountain bikers with disabilities.
The park will offer a trail system for beginner disabled mountain bikers, mostly those who use “quads” to access trails. Paraplegics usually use custom-built bikes with four wheels that are powered using the arms. There are several adaptive programs throughout the country that usually center around downhill biking, where the riders access trails on the mountain using chairlifts. Many ski resorts offer an option for disabled riders.
“But they also exist in more traditional trail systems without any chairs,” the International Mountain Biking Association’s Mark Eller told The Inertia.
He says bigger resorts and cycling towns have extensive systems like Whistler, Crested Butte and Richmond, Virginia and that trails and chairlift systems are used with a range of disabilities from riders without use of their legs who use quads, to bikers who are missing limbs and use prostethics but still need assistance.
According to IMBA, adaptive trail systems are growing throughout the country.
“There’s at least a dozen purpose-built, adaptive trails systems,” Eller says.
Eagle, Idaho trail builders are hoping to attract a broader range of users to their community.
“We’re hoping that adaptive cyclists from all over the Northwest will someday find that Eagle is a place to go to have fun with their families,” said Eagle Parks and Recreation Trails Coordinator, Steve Noyes.
The trail is a test piece for the city, which already has a progressive bike park with single-track trails that includes jumps and a pump track for more experienced riders. They hope to add more adaptive trails, depending on the use of this first build.
The city was able to construct the trail thanks to a grant from IMBA, which had IMBA-trained trail builders on hand. IMBA offers a plethora of grant opportunities for cycling communities looking to expand trail options.
Watch the video, here.
