EWB - USA Arizona State University (Students chapter)

THE NAVAJO MOUNTAIN BIKE INITIATIVE

 University is partnered with various communities of the Navajo Nation in Northern
Arizona to provide them with a source of ecotourism and outdoor activities for the children of
the community, as they have very little recreational and after-school options for children.
 They decided to use cycling as an outdoor activity that will be used locally for the
children in the form of a pump track and a loop designed for high scholars.
 The Navajo Nation currently faces two major problems, one being a self-proclaimed
public health crisis, and the other being incredible economic hardship. The nation has a
staggering unemployment rate of 42%, and a poverty rate of over 43%. These numbers are
incredibly high, and call for a change to be made. However, as obvious as it may seem, the
solution to their economic crisis must be sustainable, environmentally friendly, and it needs
to stimulate activity within the youth of the nation.
 In order to combat these issues, university made a solution to incorporate mountain
biking into their Nation. They are currently developing a series of mountain biking trails
across the Nation with some reaching as far north as Kayenta. These pay-to-ride trails will be
8-12 miles long and will bring tourists to the area and improve the local economy. Building of
pump tracks at multiple sites across the Navajo community to develop their biking skills and
introduce them to the sport.
 The main issue they are addressing is the health and economic problems that occur in
the Navajo nation as their limited resources do not allow for recreational exercise or many
job opportunities. They have also been working with the school to help develop bike
maintenance skills with the students.
 Tuba City has a large lot next to the middle school to accommodate 2 large tracks over
the course of the next two years. Currently they have designs for these tracks and are in the
process of 3D printing them at ASU to aid in visual representations. They started their
construction of the first beginner track, suitable for grade school children to ride on. We are
shaping the dirt features of the track, using cement in high wear zones to ensure the
durability of the structures. In addition to constructing these tracks and donating bikes, they
are developing an operations & maintenance document for the Tuba City schools so students
can properly take care of the track once it is finished.