Bike Patrols

Many of the Resorts in our Division are forming Bike Patrols for chairlift-served trails and popular areas of our State Parks.

The NSP now offers bike patrol and bike host memberships. Bike patrollers and bike hosts are trained as first responders through NSP’s education programs, Outdoor Emergency Care and Outdoor First Care.

This means that if you are a ski patroller with an OEC card, you can form or join an NSP Bike Patrol as a Bike Patroller and wear those cool red and black jerseys when you ride!
Anyone that has taken an Outdoor First Care course, can join the NSP as a bike host. Hosts serve in a variety of roles but are trained as first responders through the Outdoor First Care course.

The NSP offers these memberships in response to the evolving year-round outdoor recreation industry. As ski areas offer more summer activities, NSP education programs equip patrollers and hosts to support lift-accessed areas as well as additional land management units, including urban parks and open space cycling.

NSP bike patrollers and hosts receive an array of NSP member benefits, including:

  • An annual subscription to Ski Patrol Magazine.
  • The ability to purchase all NSP Online Store items, including bike patrol jerseys.
  • All NSP Pro Deals.
  • The ability to participate and be credentialed in NSP training or education programs.
  • Comprehensive support services.
  • Online resources.
  • Annual updates.

How to Set Up a Bike Patrol or Bike Host Unit
Whether you are in a ski area or at a non-lift-accessed area, there are a variety of things to consider when establishing a bike patrol or host unit. The first step is to work with area management to determine the desired approach.

Additional considerations:

  • Purpose: What is the need for a bike patrol or host unit?
  • Skills patrollers need: NSP bike patrollers must obtain Outdoor Emergency Care certification. NSP bike hosts must obtain Outdoor First Care training.
  • Roles and responsibilities of patrollers in bike park: It is important to discuss this with area management as you proceed with forming a patrol or host unit.
  • Communication and safety: Do patrollers and hosts greet guests and serve as ambassadors? Do they distribute pamphlets or brochures and/or point out signage?
  • Signage, closures: Visit the National Ski Area Association’s webpage for more information.
  • Care and transportation: Extraction and care of the guest differ from winter. Be aware that travel times tend to be longer and rougher. Train your patrol on summer transportation techniques.
  • MOU or other agreement with your land area: You must have an agreement with the land area on which your bike patrol or host unit operates. If you are in a lift-accessed area, ski area management ultimately supervises and controls patrolling and host activities of individual NSP members, NSP patrols, and host programs at each ski area. If you are not in a lift-accessed area, the NSP can provide you with examples of a Memorandum of Understanding or similar agreement with your local land area management.

If this sounds like something you want to pursue, our previous Division Director, Kevin Johnson, will be happy to help you join an existing bike patrol or guide you through the process of creating a new patrol.  Send an email to Scott Lee at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

NSAA Bike Responsibility Code