In case you were wondering what we do at @dovetail_trail_consulting and what we were doing in New Jersey recently.
Big shout out to the state of @newjerseystateparks for bringing us in to do this work and big high five to @tmelillo12 for creating such a great video about the project.
There’s a lot more going on here than just riding through a tight rock section.
This process started with me learning how to truly trust and control my Bowhead through technical terrain. Learning body position, throttle control, wheel placement, braking, momentum, and how to stay calm when things get awkward and tight. Then came introducing George into the mix.
That meant teaching him to trust me completely while also learning how to move smoothly beside the bike without pulling me over, getting tangled in the wheels, or putting himself in a bad position. Every step of this took repetition, patience, communication, and a whole lot of trial and error from both of us.
Honestly, it’s been one of the most gratifying experiences I’ve ever had with a dog. Watching George grow into this role and seeing how connected we’ve become as a team has made me incredibly proud.
We’ve both come a long way.
📸-> @caitciccone
One reason I love my @hopetech duo lever brake system. First test ride down this rock slab and good brakes made it safe. Especially since I can’t get off my bike and walk a feature first.
I swear it’s steeper than it looks 😂
An accessible parking space doesn’t automatically mean an accessible experience.
Here, the curb cut is placed at the front of the parking space instead of the access aisle. When a car is parked, the route up to the sidewalk is blocked.
That means someone using a wheelchair or mobility device is forced into the parking lot to find another way up. That’s not access. That’s a barrier.
This is why lived experience matters.
These details get missed when the people designing and planning don’t include the people who actually use these spaces every day.
Accessibility is not just about guidelines. It is about how things work in the real world.
Include people with disabilities in your planning. It leads to better decisions, better design, and a better experience for everyone.
Some trails aren’t built to be “adaptive-friendly”… and that doesn’t make them bad trails.
This one, Second Thoughts, at the Third Flats trailhead in Grand Junction, is a perfect example. Super fun, a bit rugged, and definitely more on the adventure side.
From our perspective, it’s a go with more experience on the Bowhead Reach and probably the RX, but the side hills make it tough for anything without articulation. Definitely takes more support on other equipment.
This is a big part of what we do at Dovetail. We get into places like this, learn from it, and work in partnership with land managers to turn that into real, useful information for others. Because sometimes access isn’t about changing the trail, it’s about understanding it.
Handcycle technology has advanced greatly in the past decade. Bob Vogel explains all the different styles of handcycles available today. Whether you’re looking for mellow rides with your family, a means to get off-road, do long-distance road rides, or a way to keep up with your friends on an e-bike, there’s a bike for you.
Photo courtesy Joe Stone, @meetjoestone . Link in bio & story.
Part 1
One of our favorite times of the year—getting to work with the Youth Conservation Program (YCP) in Grand Teton National Park.
We kick things off in the parking lot talking through mobility devices, what they are, how they work, and why they matter. Then we get them on the equipment—like the Terrain Hopper here—which is usually when things start to click.
From there, we head out on the trails and talk through what works, what doesn’t, and where small changes can make a big difference for people with disabilities. (Part 2 coming soon)
It’s always refreshing working with the next generation—they’re open-minded and genuinely stoked to help create more access for people with disabilities. The future’s looking bright.
