BUMP Youth Participation Policy

BUMP is an enthusiastic supporter of growing mountain bike participation in Alabama and we welcome riders of all ages and genders. While we encourage and welcome all new riders, our club cannot offer dedicated,

youth-specific group rides or programs. Mountain biking is an inherently risky sport, and our insurance coverage and club structure do not permit us to lead groups of unaccompanied minors on rides. We encourage youth riders to try out our rides with their parents or legal guardians, and to seek out other great opportunities in the area for youth-focused riding like the Alabama Cycling Association (ACA) that specifically focuses on their development, needs, and safety.

Our Commitment to Women’s Mountain Biking

BUMP’s ladies rides serve as one of the few spaces dedicated exclusively to supporting women in mountain biking. To preserve this focus and ensure we continue serving our intended audience effectively, we will not recruit youth to join our rides, as this would compromise the unique environment we’ve created for women.

Youth Participation Guidelines

While youth are welcome to participate, the following requirements must be met:

Age and Supervision Requirements

• Youth are defined as riders under 18 years of age.
• All youth participants must be accompanied by a parent/legal guardian or designated event guardian (21+ years old) who remains present throughout the entire ride/event. For Ladies- only group rides, the parent/legal guardian or designated event guardian must be female.
• Event guardians must sign the waiver accepting full responsibility for the youth

participant.

Skill Group Placement

• Youth and their guardian will be placed in the group matching the lowest skill level between them.
• If the guardian rides at a higher skill level, the guardian will join the ride appropriate for the youth’s skill level.

BUMP’s Broader Community Support

BUMP actively supports the entire mountain biking community, including youth development. We have paved the way for programs like ACA by building and maintaining the trail systems that all riders, including youth, enjoy today. Our continued trail maintenance and advocacy work benefits every rider in our community. The ACA program provides excellent, focused development opportunities specifically designed for youth riders, and we encourage families to connect with them for age-appropriate programming.

Policy Flexibility

BUMP reserves the right to modify these guidelines or limit the number of youth participants on any given ride as needed to maintain the integrity and focus of our group rides. We will monitor participation levels and make adjustments to ensure our rides continue to serve their intended purpose. This policy reflects our commitment to maintaining the unique space our ladies rides provide while continuing to support the broader mountain biking community through our trail work and advocacy efforts.