Bike tourists. Photo by Baker County Tourism
Have you got a “coming soon” biking trail? Or a biking trail that is not completely finished yet? Well, don’t keep it a secret!
A couple of places I’ve visited lately, I’ve heard about trails that are in the partially-finished stage. Some segments of the trail have been improved, others are still rough.
“Once the trail is finished,” people say, “we’ll promote it.”
“When it’s done, we’ll see a lot more visitors.”
But why are you waiting? If people can ride or bike on even part of t now legally, then it’s ready enough to tell the world. Even if there are parts that are unimproved.
Not all bike riders are looking for perfectly smooth easy rides. There are plenty of riders out there who are thrilled by a challenging ride. You could be attracting all kinds of riders now, matching them up to the kinds of rides they can expect to find.
People who start coming to enjoy your trail now will feel like they’re discovering something new, a hidden gem. They’ll have a sense of investment as they come back year after year and see improvements. They’ll talk about you to other riders, gaining some status from being in the know.
Start talking about your not-quite-finished trail as an “emerging” trail. One that’s partly ready now and steadily improving.
Put it on trail listings and online maps as “partly improved.” (Just search your state name and “bike trails” or ask bikers where to list it.) Clearly mark which parts are improved and which aren’t. Be scrupulously honest about current conditions, so people know which segments are right for them.
Bonus points: Include a link in your new listing for the donation page where people can help fund improvements.
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Becky started Small Biz Survival in 2006 to share rural business and community building stories and ideas with other small town business people. She and her husband have a small cattle ranch and are lifelong entrepreneurs. Becky is an international speaker on small business and rural topics.
