Building Trails for Everyone

Trail builders already recognise sustainability as a core principle. But the report shows that translating this into daily practice isn’t always straightforward. A few clear gaps emerged:

• Sustainability in practice: Environmental impacts are often considered, but economic, social, and cultural dimensions receive less attention in project planning.

• Inclusion: Adapted mountain bike (aMTB) guidelines are still rarely applied. Many facilities unintentionally exclude riders with different abilities or backgrounds.

• Youth & beginners: Trails often cater to experienced riders first, while entry-level and family-friendly experiences are underdeveloped.

The report lays out recommendations where trail builders, land managers, and project owners can take action:

1. Broaden the view of sustainability Integrate economic, social, and cultural aspects alongside environmental ones. This means factoring in long-term maintenance costs, community benefits, and cultural heritage—not just soil stability or drainage.
2. Plan for inclusion from the start Apply adapted MTB (aMTB) standards in design and construction. This isn’t just about accessibility for riders with disabilities—it improves usability for a wide range of riders.
3. Balance trail networks Ensure projects include trails for youth and beginners. Building progression into a network helps more people access mountain biking safely and sustainably.
4. Invest in knowledge sharing Provide trail builders and stakeholders with training and tools that translate inclusion and sustainability principles into field-ready practices.

Across Europe, trail builders face growing demand and scrutiny. As rider numbers increase and land pressures mount, sustainability and inclusion are not ‘nice-to-haves’—they are essential for keeping access open, securing funding, and ensuring long-term success.

That’s why DIRTT has integrated these findings directly into the competence and education frameworks, creating new learning outcomes on adaptive MTB guidelines, labour inclusion, cultural sustainability, and water management. In doing so, we aim to equip trail builders with a richer and more practical understanding of sustainability and inclusion that they can apply in every project.

Please have a read of the report.