Ian Mackay is raising awareness for more accessible nature paths throughout the West Coast with his initiative to travel from Victoria, British Columbia all the way to Portland, Oregon via wheelchair. While the project does aim to garner attention to altering trail sizes to suit wheelchairs, it also brings awareness to consumers using any type of wheeled device from stroller to rollerblade.
The project is known as 'Ian's Ride' and it features an expansive journey through backcountry to raise public awareness to having bike and trails more accessible to those on wheels. Mackay takes inspiration from his own personal pursuits as a way to channel the attention to creating wider pathways more suited to traffic on wheels, rather than simply those on foot. The project hopes to create improvements in the Washington area.
Key Themes Behind This Trend
- Accessible Nature Trails
- The trend towards creating more accessible nature trails catered for those using different types of wheeled devices.
- Inclusive Outdoor Activities
- The trend towards creating outdoor activities that are not restrictive for people with disabilities.
- Wheelchair-friendly Destinations
- The trend towards popularizing and promoting wheelchair-friendly travel destinations.
Where This Applies
- Tourism
- There is an opportunity for the tourism industry to tap into the growing trend of promoting accessible nature paths and wheelchair-friendly destinations.
- Outdoor Recreation
- The outdoor recreation industry can benefit from creating more inclusive outdoor activities and implementing accessible nature paths in their facilities.
- Public Infrastructure
- There is an opportunity for public infrastructure to implement more accessible paths and facilities to cater for people using different types of wheeled devices.
