Indiana bike park working on wider, more accessible trail

TERRE HAUTE, Ind. (AP) - A bike park in western Indiana has begun work on a wider course that'll accommodate off-road wheel chairs and tandem bikes.

Work began Tuesday on the 6-foot-wide (1.8 meters) Warrior Trail in Griffin Bike Park, The Tribune Star reports .

The wider trail will increase accessibility to the park, since most trails are currently just wide enough to accommodate a single bike, said Rich Moore, the bike park's manager.

"I think it's going to open more doors for including more bikers out here," Moore said. "And that's really what's important. We really just want to get people on bikes and share with them our passion."

The idea was inspired by Charles McDonald, a one-armed rider who frequents the park, Moore said. McDonald highlighted a trail in Richmond, Virginia that is accessible to the disabled, he said.

"He started sending me links on what we could do and got me videos for the Richmond place in Pocahontas State Park and I just wanted to go with it," Moore said. "And that's been the beauty of me working here, if I get a wild idea they let me run with it."

Michael Wells is an executive board member at the Heroes New Hope Foundation, which works with wounded veterans. He said the foundation will be able to use the trail as part of the hunting, fishing and outdoor excursions they host for veterans.

"The bike park is one of those additional things we're going to add to our program and we're excited about it," Wells said.

The trail is expected to open next spring.

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Information from: Tribune-Star, http://www.tribstar.com