Content is a mix of original, as well as taken from the Kootenay Outdoor Recreation Enterprise (KORE) press release.
The City of Kimberley, British Columbia, has received a provincial grant worth over $800,000 to create an ebike mountain trail network. Project partner Kootenay Adaptive Sport Association (KASA) is leading the charge in developing adaptive cycling recreation segment of the Provincial tourism sector.
This week the province of British Columbia announced it would help the East Kootenay city of Kimberley “Electrify the Mountains.” An $851,522 grant provided by the province’s Tourism Dependent Community Fund, will see the development of a world-class, e-bike trail network. This project will not only boost the region’s tourism sector but also open up mountain biking opportunities for those who were unable to navigate mountain bike trails, such as persons with disabilities, older generations, and those with adapted equipment.
Electrify the Mountains is a recent example of the fast-growing e-Recreation (e-Rec) industry. Kootenay Adaptive Sport Association is a not-for-profit focused on creating accessible outdoor recreation opportunities, specifically adaptive mountain biking, in British Columbia and beyond. Project stakeholders hope to eventually see a network of e-bike and e-trike accessible trails throughout the Kootenay region – a first of its kind in North America. The aim is to develop a unique destination development product that will boost the economy, increase tourist visits, and create jobs post-pandemic and beyond.
The plans the Kootenay Outdoor Recreation Enterprise (KORE) has for e-Rec includes electric mountain bikes (e-bikes) and electric off-road vehicles (e-ORVs), such as snowmobiles and quads, and helping promote zero-emission e-Rec adventures by facilitating consumer and media demo days for e-ORV brands. KORE will be hosting an e-bike and e-adaptive industry/media event this summer to support and raise the awareness of the “Electrify The Mountains” project. The first stage of the project will include the development of 36 kilometres of new and updated trails designed for Class 1, pedal-assist e-bikes and adaptive trikes. The project will also see signage installation, solar charging stations on the trails (see rendering above), and accessible washroom facilities by its completion in September 2022.
“The opportunity for Kootenay Adaptive to join in collaboration with other stakeholders, in a project of this scope, is monumental for accessible outdoor recreation. “With Electrify the Mountains” as the foundation, this has the chance to become a game changing experience for so many people who face barriers to British Columbia’s outdoors.”
KASA CEO Mike riediger
ABOUT KASA
KASA advocates for accessible outdoor recreation, adaptive mountain biking sport development, camps, instruction and more, throughout BC and beyond. KASA is a recognized world leader in adaptive mountain biking, as well as fusing principles of Physical Literacy Enriched Environmental Design and Universal Design. It is through this work KASA is able to facilitate meaningful outdoor experiences and leave outdoor spaces open for use for even more people.
ABOUT “ELECTRIFY THE MOUNTAIN”
“Electrify The Mountain” is a collaborative project, developed by four Kimberley non-profit groups including Kootenay Outdoor Recreation Enterprise (KORE), Tourism Kimberley, Kimberley Trails Society (KTS), and Sustainable Kimberley, along with the Kootenay Adaptive Sport Association (KASA) and Resorts of the Canadian Rockies (RCR) and in partnership with the City of Kimberley.