With responsible recreation being one of the three focus areas of Trail Trust, we identified Tread Lightly! early on as an ideal fit for our community outreach. Tread Lightly! protects and enhances recreation access and opportunities by promoting outdoor ethics to heighten individuals' sense of good stewardship. Put simply, their goal is to balance the needs of the people who enjoy outdoor recreation with the need to maintain a healthy ecosystem.
Our Trail Trust funding specifically went toward their development of a responsible e-bike education campaign, which includes public service announcements (PSAs), educational videos, and an online course to teach new and seasoned e-bike riders the importance of riding with minimal impact, how to yield on a shared trail, what safety gear to wear and more. The PSAs and courses highlight the T.R.E.A.D. Principles, an easy acronym that highlights the tenants of the Tread Lightly! ethic:
The material was designed to teach the importance of having fun while balancing safety during outdoor activities. Matt Caldwell, Tread Lightly! Executive Director, shares, "As e-bikes grow in popularity, it's imperative that we teach users where to ride and how to ride responsibly. We thank Fox Factory for partnering with us through Trail Trust to help us address these issues head on, so we can educate riders on how to protect trails and access to those trails."
Check out Tread Lightly!'s e-biking recreation tips here.
Grant applications are currently closed. Please check back for an update on submission timing in early 2026.
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