Design Seniors Navarro Guerra and Cody Snow were recognized in two categories at the 2021 Core77 Design Awards for their project Axess e-Bikes. Cody and Navi created Axess e-Bikes in the Fall 2020 Field Studio with Assistant Professor, Elpitha Tsoutsounakis in partnership with the Bears Ears National Monument BLM staff.

From Navi and Cody:
At the onset of the project, Navarro Guerra became initially interested in the use of OHV's on BLM land, and quickly found a variety of detriments to their use. Being personally passionate about OHV recreation, he struggled to look past the pollution, erosion, and disruption to local ecosystems that comes with their use. Separately, Cody Snow was investigating the changing regulations surrounding e-Bikes, as well as the benefits they offered as a transportation method to increase access in the remote landscapes of Bears Ears. Realizing the opportunity that existed between their two areas of research, the two teamed up to investigate improved transportation across Bears Ears.

As the two continued researching as a team, they also realized the challenges faced by the BLM's limited field staff in monitoring visitor actions within the monument. Monticello Field Office team members cited issues such as trail proliferation, cultural site damage, and litter that could be mitigated with improved visitor monitoring. Additionally, having learned about the damages of OHV recreation, as well as their ever-increasing use on public lands, the pair also sought to limit OHV travel and thus mitigate damages to the land.

See more at https://designawards.core77.com/sports-recreation/107966/Axess-e-Bikes
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