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Mountain Biking and COVID-19

Mountain Biking and COVID-19

Social distancing and how to stay healthy on the trails

Posted: March 17, 2020

Getting out on the trails is tremendously valuable. Trails bring us together, but to keep each other safe, we must keep our distance. How can our community navigate this challenge?  

First and foremost, check with your state and local governments for information about stay-at-home orders and facility closures, including parks and trails. Refer to the CDC for best practices on preventing the spread of COVID-19. Right now, protecting each other is more important than mountain biking. Staying home is essential to safeguard our communities and slow the spread of COVID-19. Our trails will be waiting for us. IMBA wants to make sure we will all be there for our trails.

Updated FAQ: Mountain Biking & COVID-19

Are trails open? Are trails closed?

Check with the park, land manager and/or local government regularly for updates. This information is changing rapidly. Some governments have identified trails as essential facilities, others have closed parks and trails due to overcrowding. When in doubt: stay home.

Should mountain bikers host group rides or trail work days?

Please cancel, postpone or reschedule upcoming events including races, trail work, and group rides until there are new government directives.

How can trail users pass responsibly with social distance?

Stay alert, slow down, and communicate with each other from a distance about how to proceed. Better yet, take the initiative to yield and offer space. With gyms and rec centers closing, there may be new users on the trails. It’s a great time for community education on responsible riding and for being patient, exemplary stewards.

Updated FAQ: Mountain Biking & COVID-19

Please see the FAQ for more recommendations. We will provide updated guidance on these topics as appropriate. IMBA Local partners can expect more information in your weekly resource newsletters.   

IMBA is primarily a remote organization. Our team is not traveling and are self-isolating in our homes, including our four-person crew in the Colorado office. To date, the field operations of IMBA Trail Solutions have not been significantly affected. But we are strictly adhering to CDC guidelines, are monitoring this working environment constantly, and are ready to make adjustments for safety and public health at any time. IMBA’s work to create, enhance and protect great places to ride can mostly continue for now. We sympathize with everyone already feeling a significant impact in this crisis. We are preparing for the impacts we expect as best we can, and your continued support will help.

Many thanks for your diligence and discipline in this challenging time. Thank you for your support for mountain biking, trails, and IMBA. Stay healthy and stay in communication with one another. We’re all in this together.

About the author
Image David Wiens

Dave has been mountain biking since the mid-1980s and has ridden and raced his bike on trails all over the world. He has been involved in trail advocacy from the beginning and was the founder and executive director of Gunnison Trails, and race director for the Gunnison Growler. A member of the…

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