Vermont Volunteers Build Adaptive Mountain Bike Trails

Every summer evening in Richmond, Vermont, volunteers grab shovels and get to work on something most mountain bike trails never consider: making sure riders with disabilities can experience the same thrills as everyone else.

Louis Arevalo races down the trail on his handcycle, navigating banked turns and jumps with precision. After a spinal cord injury left him using a wheelchair, he thought his days of challenging mountain biking were over.

But these trails were built differently. His adaptive bike has two wheels in front and one in back, requiring trails at least 48 inches wide instead of the typical 30. On narrow paths, he'd be doing a tightrope walk the whole time.

Four years ago, volunteer leader Berne Broudy and her team at Richmond Mountain Trails started building with adaptive riders at the center of the design process. They'd dig a section, then have Arevalo and other adaptive bikers test it immediately.

The feedback loop was simple and effective. Riders would navigate the freshly built corners and jumps, while volunteers followed with spray paint cans marking exactly where adjustments were needed. Then they'd re-dig and test again until it felt right.

Fifteen-year-old Mirah Lutsky is one of the regular volunteers, often working alongside her brother. She loves the instant feedback and the excitement of building features she wants to ride herself. "We would come up and see certain stuff and be like, oh, that jump is going to be sick," she remembers.

Why This Inspires

For Arevalo, these trails represent something deeper than accessible recreation. Before his accident, his entire identity was tied to being a skier, rock climber, and biker. Getting back that sense of physical grace and challenge has been transformative.

The trail network honors what Arevalo calls "the dignity of risk." The volunteers understand that having a disability doesn't mean wanting less challenge or excitement. These riders want to get scared, push themselves, and feel that rush of accomplishment just like anyone else.

The design means families and friends with different abilities can ride together without worrying whether everyone's bike will fit. Adaptive bikers can focus purely on their technique and improving their skills instead of navigating obstacles never meant for them.

At the end of each volunteer night, everyone gathers for pizza in the parking lot. Lutsky sums up why she keeps coming back week after week: "I feel like everyone deserves to have fun. And if we can help provide that, then we should."

That simple philosophy keeps the shovels moving and the trails ready for everyone.