Arash with Bonnie Lewkowicz from BORP at the Demo Day in Richmond, October 28th.
Written by Arash Bayatmakou – NorCal SCI Executive Director
For wheelchair users and people living with mobility disabilities, accessing trails and getting outdoors can be challenging to say the least. Access is always a huge issue as most trails are not usable or accessible for wheelchairs thus, most wheelchair users don’t even bother trying to access paths and hiking trails that rarely accommodate them.
Luckily, things are changing positively and providing people new opportunities.
A few months ago, I wrote about my experience using the Terrain Hopper – an off-road device that can handle all types of uneven terrain, hills, and slopes of all kinds found on many hiking trails. The Marin County Parks Department purchased and owns two Terrain Hoppers that can be booked for use at a number of different trailheads and parks. (You can find more info and book HERE)
Last week, I attended two separate events that highlighted the growing number of opportunities for people to access parks and outdoor spaces that were previously off-limits to people with disabilities.
On Wednesday October, 28th, BORP and the East Bay Parks Department hosted a demo day at Miller Knox Regional Shoreline in Richmond. Members of the community were invited alongside representatives from the National Park Service, the California State Parks, Sonoma County Parks, Marin Parks and a number of other organizations to view and try out some of the available off-road devices available to people with disabilities.
I was thrilled to hang out with Bonnie Lewkowicz from BORP who organized the event and who literally wrote the book on wheelchair accessible trails in the Bay Area, as well as other friends and partners.
The event showed that parks departments and outdoors organizations are recognizing that greater access is a net benefit to everyone and that when people with disabilities are given the opportunity to access nature, they will.
Two days later, on Friday, October 30th, the Sonoma Marin SCI Group (organized by Lake Kowell) met at Stafford Lake in Novato for a BBQ and the chance for people to try the Terrain Hopper around the beautiful lake.
NorCal SCI board member John Looper and I were on hand and it was great to enjoy the sunny day, eat some char grilled burgers and food, swap stories, chat, and connect with other members of the community while people took turns trying the Terrain Hopper, courtesy of Marin County Parks.
Many thanks to Lake for organizing the event and getting us all together.
Mobility equipment like the Terrain Hopper, and the willingness of parks departments and public entities to increase their access is an exciting update for members of the SCI community in Northern California. I’m looking forward to seeing what comes in the future!