#BlackLivesMatter

We at KYMBA Bluegrass recognize that black cyclists and cyclists of color have been underrepresented and underserved in the mountain biking community, both locally and at large. 

This is unacceptable. 

There is no place for racism or prejudice in mountain biking and we commit to providing a more inclusive and welcoming environment for people of color to enjoy the sport we love.  This starts by increasing existing efforts to provide access to high quality trails and skills centers in underrepresented areas of the Bluegrass region.  We are in the process of building new trails in Preston Springs Park in the Cardinal Valley neighborhood of Lexington and have recently completed multi-use trails near downtown Frankfort. 

We continue to work with the local government to identify parks near downtown Lexington that are suitable for skills centers and close to underserved neighborhoods.  To build these amenities, we are actively seeking grants and partnerships to fund access and educational opportunities with an increased focus on outreach and inclusion. 

Our mission statement says that the “Bluegrass Chapter of KYMBA seeks to preserve, expand and enhance natural surface trail systems throughout the Central Kentucky area in an effort to ensure continued access to high quality, well-maintained trails for all users.”  We cannot serve “All Users” unless we focus our efforts on providing a more inclusive and more accessible experience for people of color. 

As we develop these efforts, we are listening to and learning from diverse voices and will be seeking input from the communities we hope to serve.  We can do better and we will do better, but we know that we cannot do this alone.  We hope you’ll join us.