A relationship with nature should not depend on concrete

The UNPavement is a movement — of ALL OF US — from the pavement to the wild. It's about healing our hurting culture of Nature Deficit Disorder. We spend so much time on our awesome devices, which enable us to accomplish incredible things today, but they render us in that much more need of a hug from Mother Nature.

I feel stuck and disconnected from nature because life in a wheelchair is relegated to the pavement, but this bike has expanded my world and enabled me to explore wild spaces. I’ve gotten into some precarious situations out there though and have come up empty handed searching for information indicating where I can ride safely, so I’m on a mission to document trails for adaptive riders.

-Jeremy P. McGhee | Ground Forces

The UNPavement documents trails and presents the information with a simplified rating system, identification of potential dilemmas and uncut video. So that they can explore wild spaces safely, adaptive trail users now have easy access to this information through TrailForks, a user-based trail information resource app. More detailed information about staging accessibility, facilities and recommended routes can be found on our Trail Blog.

As part of the project, we work with trail management entities to increase accessibility by upgrading trails, eliminating potential dilemmas and employing proper signage. This signage will use the universal UNPavement symbol for Adaptive Mountain Bike (aMTB), indicate trail rating, identify things like ride-arounds and be supplemented with an explanation of the rating system at main trail sign sites.

We will also be training ambassadors to document trails in their respective areas, developing a safety app so that adaptive trail users in need of assistance can find someone nearby to help and increasing awareness in the community by speaking to trail organizations, attending mountain bike events and presenting at schools.