BY JAMES WERNICKE
Los Alamos Bike Park Working Group

Los Alamos is a biking town without the infrastructure needed to introduce new riders to the sport. This Wednesday at 5:30 PM at the golf course, the county is holding a meeting to discuss the future of North Mesa’s open space. It’s an opportunity to give our community something it’s lacking: a bike park.

Our town is home to some of the best mountain biking in New Mexico, yet most trails cater to advanced riders, leaving beginners and kids without a safe place to learn.

A bike park—with a paved pump track and skills area—would provide a dedicated space for riders of all ages to develop essential skills like balance and bike handling. It would also serve as a place for the biking community where we can educate users on trail etiquette, bike safety, and how to foster an appreciation for nature while riding. North Mesa is the ideal location. It’s already zoned for recreation, close to the middle school for easy access, and offers the perfect space and terrain for a bike park. A recent survey prepared with help from Los Alamos Places and Spaces showed overwhelming support—86% of surveyed residents want a bike park, and 83% prefer the North Mesa location.

With active biking groups like Tuff Riders, Tuff Tykes, and NICA, this park would be well-used, further cementing Los Alamos’s reputation as an outstanding place to ride. The time to act is now. Please join us at Wednesday’s meeting, and show your support by wearing a helmet. If you can’t attend, share your views by taking the Bike Park survey. Together, we can make Los Alamos the Healthiest City in America, an even better place to live, play, and raise a family.