Voting has started for mtb:scale:amtb. Proposal:Mtb:scale:amtb - OpenStreetMap Wiki
Because of gap between last RFC we had kicked this back through a cycle of RFC and I did receive more direct messages indicating support without modification than feedback for modification to the proposal which I take as a good sign.
This proposal would add an already established rating system for Adaptive Mountain Biking (AMTB) that simply seeks to answer not the skill needed to ride a trail, but ‘How much support?’ This like other well established scales like mtb:scale:imba and sac_scale are both well defined yet somewhat subjective but does help to answer a key question before going out more than not knowing anything going in. This scale does not seek to define how to build a good adaptive trail only if the trail as it exists needs support and the ratings are provided by other Adaptive riders. This scale have a top end which is when enough work is being put in by support member that it’s no longer riding it become mountaineering. In the same way for hiking once you have to scramble up road faces you’ve entered climbing territory.
This scale was introduced by “The Unpavement” project it has become integrated into Trailforks since thousand of trails have been rated but the rating system is not closed ans this simply seeks to bring portability of these rating to OSM and any platforms based upon it.
Since originally proposed the standard has expanded to answer two more questions.
#1 ‘Was this trail specifically designed to specifications to make it available to all adaptive riders?’ uses mtb:scale:amtb:inclusive. The rating system is agnostic to which specification.
#2 ‘Are there technical sections that require specific adaptive skills or practice?’ This could be a bank that if a rider goes to slow on would be off-camber so riders need to be able to keep a minimum speed through a turn to use one example. These use the mtb:scale:amtb:technical tag.
In summary, all ratings regardless of additional tags start with the question most important to adaptive riders: ‘How much support do I need?’ this scale seeks to answer this with a certain level of certainty. I hope this proposal passes so OSM can have matter accessibility coverage in our tagging.
Jason ‘JP’ McCrory (he/him)
NW Arkansas Bicycle Advocate
Adaptive Support Rider
OSM/GIS Mapper