In case you missed our announcement in 2021 we are excited to share that we are now Trailblazers + ETHIC, a 501(c)3 nonprofit formed in 2021 through the merger of NWA Trailblazers, an organization that has developed 300+ miles of multi-use trails, including the OZ Trails network and BikeNWA, a bicycle advocacy and education focused organization that has led the region in advocating for active transportation.

As the year rolls on, we will dive deeper into the strategy and goals of our combined organization. Our core areas of work include soft-surface and paved trail development and maintenance, advocacy for active transportation infrastructure, bike education and encouragement programs that increase the diversity of users.

Our mission is to lead the development of an innovative regional recreation and transportation movement that places trails, cycling, and active transportation infrastructure at the core of an inclusive, vibrant, and healthy culture.

“Learning to ride a bike is a strong memory for many of us. A bike is freedom, release, adventure, and independence. Many children miss out on this and enter adulthood without ever learning to ride a bike. Kids are spending more and more time indoors experiencing the world secondhand through a screen. We aim to impact every kid in the state of Arkansas by increasing access to biking in school. We need your help to make this happen. All donations will be matched dollar for dollar to bring new bike programs to schools throughout the state. Consider giving today to get a kid rolling in 2022.”  - Anya Bruhin, Education Programs Manager 

To encourage giving to the Bike Education fund, we are collecting stories from the community. Check out Trailblazers Project Manager Daniel Marley’s story about learning to ride. Stay tuned for more stories about the power of biking.

Teachers, parents, administrators, or community members looking to bring a bike program to their school can contact Anya Bruhin at Anya@WeAreETHIC.org.
 

Register for free here to attend next week's Pass the Mic in Fayetteville coinciding with the 2022 Walmart UCI Cyclo-cross World Championships and presented by Experience Fayetteville! Join us for this free event on January 28th, 5 pm - 7 pm at The Garden Room in Fayetteville.

These in-person panel discussions are aimed to bring the Northwest Arkansas community together to listen, learn, and problem-solve ways to better diversify our region's trails, cycling, and active transportation scene. Hearing directly from professional athletes, advocates, and members of the NWA community, attendees are invited to lean in and listen to experiences from the community.

If you can't attend in person then please join us for the livestream on our Facebook page. You don't have to register to watch the livestream.

Pass the Mic from Trailblazers + ETHIC is presented by Experience Fayetteville in partnership with Shimano, RIDE Group, All Bodies on Bikes, and Bike.POC.

Click here for more information, the lineup of speakers, Covid protocols, and more.

Join us for a relaxed community bike ride with Bike.POC and All Bodies on Bikes presented by Experience Fayetteville and Shimano. This ride will take place before the Pass the Mic panel. This group ride is a no-drop ride around 5-7 miles which means no one will be left behind.

3pm-5pm Meet at The Garden Room in Fayetteville

We will have a limited number of cruiser bikes with gears available for you to borrow. If you or a peer need a bike to ride, fill out this form beforehand to ensure we have a bike ready for you or reach out to Lauren at lauren@WeAreETHIC.org.

Get your tickets for the 2022 Walmart UCI Cyclo-cross World Championships that will be held in Fayetteville January 28-30 – only the second time on U.S. soil in the race’s 72-year history! Added perk - you’ll get to see the course we built, in person! 

General admission tickets are $30 per day or $50 for a three-day pass. For more information click here.
 

You may have noticed something new within Park Springs Park! We updated the water crossings because the previous boardwalks needed to be replaced and were no longer within city code. Our team created the water crossings to adhere to floodway standards and make the least amount of disruption to the peaceful aesthetic of the park.

Walmart’s 2022 UCI Cyclo-cross Championships course is underway! Finishing event prep and fine-tuning of the course. We want to give thanks to all that worked alongside us to make this build a reality! Thank you Crossland Construction, Rock Solid Trails, and our Trailblazers trail crew for your time and talent. 

To stay up to date with our progress on special projects, be sure to follow us on the socials.

For more trail updates on Facebook and Instagram.