UK Trails Project
The UK Trails Project was launched in 2023 to explore key questions about mountain biking: What is mountain biking? Where are people mountain biking? And how can barriers to increasing participation in mountain biking be addressed?
The full report was published earlier this month in Scotland and is available HERE. The main findings for Ulster (Northern Ireland) highlight several key issues, including:
- A lack of variety in official trails, particularly for beginners.
- Challenges with access to trails.
- Insufficient trail maintenance.
The report also shares examples of best practices from across the UK and beyond. These insights provide a strong evidence base to support efforts in lobbying landowners, elected representatives, and key stakeholders. The goal is to demonstrate the benefits of collaborating with us to maintain and develop mountain biking infrastructure and the number of people enjoying and performing in Mountain Biking.
These benefits include:
- Increased revenue from cycle tourism.
- Health and wellness improvements for the community.
- Mitigation of risks to the environment, participants, and other land users.
Cycling Ulster are presenting this report to MLA’s in mid December and are working closely with partners such as Outscape, Local Sports Partnerships and Councils to improve the Mountain Biking landscape in Ulster.
