Central Oregon Trail Alliance using $50,000 grant to fine-tune trails used, enjoyed by adaptive riders

(Update: Adding COTA information on adaptive riding)

BEND, Ore. (KTVZ) — The Phil’s Trailhead skills area and pump track west of Bend is temporarily closed for two weeks for maintenance and upgrades by the Central Oregon Trail Alliance (COTA).

In a separate, broader effort on the area's trails, Emmy Andrews, COTA's executive director, told us Tuesday about work on trails used by adaptive riders that is being funded by a $50,000 grant from an anonymous donor.

COTA is making it even easier for riders with disabilities to enjoy the Phil's Trailhead System, like Skye Chaney, who has been an adaptive rider since 2017, after a bike accident and spinal cord injury left him unable to walk.

"These bikes allow us to get back out and do all of the things that we kind of used to do," Chaney said. "It's different. You adapt. You become used to it, but it's still awesome, 100%."

According to COTA, more than 1.5 million riders use Central Oregon's 600 mountain biking trails each year, including a small community of adaptive riders.

The new funding will go toward removing rocks, other debris and widening trails.

Pat Addabbo, executive director of Oregon Adaptive Sports, told NewsChannel 21, "Probably 99.5% of those trails are already rideable for a person with a disability, with great advancements in technology. But it can be daunting to just head out in the forest when you don't know what lies around the bend."

Half of the reworked trails, such as Afternoon Delight, Black Rock and Blue Belly, likely don't require to have someone with them.

But other trails, like Voodoo and Coyote Loop, will still require assistance.

"The trail system, in terms of the route information for adaptive riders, has already been uploaded onto the COTA website," explained Jennifer Hinsley, a public relations representative for Visit Bend. "So adaptive riders have an opportunity already to look on the COTA website and make plans for rides that weren't available before."

Riders like Chaney should notice the changes to the trail system by January.

"I would love to be able to ride 100% of these trails without assistance," he said. "I just want to ride like everybody else, so being able to do that is awesome."

COTA says volunteers will be working the next few months to make trails more adaptive-friendly. COTA managed the project through a volunteer service agreement with the Forest Service.

Even with the ongoing work, most trails will be open to any mountain bike riders in the Phil's Trailhead System.

For more information about trail closures and operations, contact the Bend-Fort Rock Ranger District at 541-383-5300.

COTA’s website now has route suggestions and photo and video content that gives riders a feel for the character of each trail. Through the grant, COTA said it has uploaded routes, photos, videos, and other information to its site and on TrailForks, for the first time. 

This page https://www.cotamtb.com/amtb-trail-information.html gives trail-by-trail information and this page https://www.cotamtb.com/amtb-trail-route-suggestions.html gives route suggestions. These resources will help local and visiting adaptive riders plan their rides, making Bend a place where all riders are welcome and included. 

Recent trail assessment done by Dovetail Trail Consulting: Adaptive Recreation confirmed that our community’s trails need almost no changes for adaptive riders, COTA said. Of the 100 miles of trails assessed, only 10 small things totaling less than 100 feet are candidates for minor adjustments. The adjustments are no different than the routine maintenance COTA does on local trails. It is important to note that the adjustments will not be noticeable to most riders, the organization said. 

Adaptive bikes meet the definition of a wheelchair under the Americans with Disabilities Act and thus are allowed anywhere a wheelchair is allowed. Many (though not all) adaptive bikes have an electric assist, which allows users to move at a pace similar to other bikers, while without electric assist they would move slower than the average hiker.