The adventures of accessibility advocate Ian Mackay and his motorized wheelchair are drawing more national media attention. Ian’s efforts to set a new Guinness World Record by traveling the greatest distance in 24 hours by a motorized wheelchair are featured in a Sports Illustrated Daily Cover story.

The article, “How One Bike Rider Turned Personal Tragedy into a World Record” describes the Port Angeles quadriplegic’s passion about advocating on behalf of mobility challenged people and encouraging them to get outside.

The www.iansride.com website describes his work as a mission of promoting outdoor accessibility, further the availability of technology and encourage support services for those with mobility impairment. Ian says he’s both humbled and elated with publication of today’s Sports Illustrated Daily Cover story.

“I never thought when I was miserable after my injury and I went out on the Olympic Discovery trail and found a little spark of happiness and that would lead to having long distance wheelchair rides actually be a thing. And here we are demonstrating just that. And yeah, it’s been an honor and I’m still a little flabbergasted and overwhelmed by it all. I’ve been receiving a lot of nice messages all day long.

The heart is full.”   

The story can be accessed online by googling Sports Illustrated Daily Cover. https://www.si.com/sports-illustrated/2022/09/14/ian-mackay-wheelchair-daily-cover.  Ian says it’s his understanding that the story will be included in the Sports Illustrated magazine issue appearing on newsstands across the country today.

Ian has completed numerous long distance wheelchair rides. The most recent was June 21st during the summer solstice when he smashed the world record by traveling 184.4 miles in less than 24 hours during a ride on Sauvie Island along the Columbia River near Portland.  Next week he will be starting another odyssey traveling on an east coast leg of the Great American Rail Trail, He’ll be starting in Washington, DC and traveling 475 miles over twelve days to Columbus, Ohio. 

IAN MACKAY TACKLES GREAT AMERICAN RAIL TRAIL  

The North Olympic Peninsula’s most prominent accessibility advocate Ian Mackay will be taking on yet another marathon long distance ride on his motorized wheelchair next week.  This time he and his support team will be attempting a 475 mile 12 day trek from Washington, DC  to Columbus, Ohio, the first leg of a journey along the Great American Rail Trail.

“We’ll be doing the Great American Rail Trail, which is not fully complete yet but when it is it will unite the coasts. The east coast and west coast will be connected via this trail.  The Olympic Discovery Trail is the westernmost end of the trail that I’ll be going on.”

He’ll be flying to DC Monday. The ride will kick off Wednesday.

“On Wednesday we’ll be at the Capitol and right on the National Mall. We’ve got a permit and there’ll be some speakers and some media and possibly some policy makers that’ll come across the street and speak with us. I’ll also be encouraging a lot of ride-alongs so other wheelchairs and other cyclists will be joining along whenever they can. We’ll be doing about 40 miles per day.”

This ride is supported by two large non-profit organizations, the Rails to Trails Conservancy ...

“The Rails to Trails really can benefit from demonstrating to user groups to utilize their trails such as the disabled community.”

… and United Spinal.

“And they’re excited to highlight outdoor recreation for people of all abilities.”

Ian’s long distance rides in the past have been on hard surfaces.  This ride will be different – almost entirely on dirt trails

”And so it’s going to be a little rougher and weather could end up creating a bigger challenge with mud and you know just kind of soft areas.”

Blogs with updates about his progress will be posted daily on www.iansride.com