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22 October 2022

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More and more e-mountain bikers are coming to the mountains and making money. But not all regions are immediately banking on the new driving force.

The tourist regions in the Alps can rub their hands. Although their snow sports are melting away more and more, another group is ready to jump into the breach. A new study by the University of Bern shows that e-mountain bikers are increasingly making their way into the mountains. “The e-bike first found its way into the cities and agglomerations and is now increasingly coming to the mountain regions,” says study author Christian Moesch. “It’s a great opportunity.”

Legend:

They are penetrating more and more into the mountains: e-mountain bikers.

KEYSTONE/Laurent Gillieron

A chance to bring additional people to the region who are spending money. Because: this clientele is particularly attractive.

In principle, the study showed:

E-mountain bikers are older than conventional female mountain bikers.
They are less focused on performance and therefore less fit.
They bring less driving skills with them, which is why the risk of accidents increases.
But: You are solvent.

The group studied generally had a good time and was willing to pay for the excursion: “Eating well is an issue,” says Moesch. Even the sports equipment itself is more expensive than a mountain bike without a motor. “People who are older not only have more resources, but also more time – even in the off-season.”

Study author Christian Moesch also points out that this economic potential can lead to conflicts with nature and other sports. In order to exploit the economic potential, investments have to be made in infrastructure and marketing. “Each new user group needs a bite of natural resources.” And because women bikers go to the mountains mainly because of the nature, this could lead to a boomerang effect. Moesch therefore advises not to rely on the new driving force in every region – or at least not to the same extent everywhere.

The sport is – with the mild winters – already on the way to becoming a year-round sport. “In winter, you’re more likely to take your e-bike with you than your skis.”

Some regions have been focusing on mountain bike and e-mountain bike tourism for some time. The canton of Graubünden is often cited as a pioneer. “Valais has also picked up speed in recent years,” says Moesch. There are individual lighthouses, such as the Bellwald region. “But what is a reason for braking in Valais: the individual places have to decide for themselves, that makes it sluggish.”

Graubünden before Valais before Bern

Sluggish also suits the Bernese Oberland – when it comes to e-mountain bikes, Bern is much slower than the cantons of Graubünden and Valais. There are individual regions, such as the Diemtig valley, that have made progress, “but ownership is often difficult,” says Moesch.

If you want to build a new trail, you sometimes need the commitment of more than 20 parties, which can block projects. «And the commitment of individual destinations for the mountain bike area is often not there. For example, it is feared that hikers will be alienated. »

Of the canton of Grisons for example, regulates mountain biking in “slow traffic”. The canton determines the networks – in cooperation with the communes and regions. The municipalities are responsible for construction, operation and maintenance.

in the Canton of Valais the routes are regulated via the paths of leisure traffic. The canton determines the networks. Here, too, the municipalities are responsible for planning, construction and maintenance.

in the Canton of Uri The same regulations apply to mountain bike trails as to hiking trails. The canton is responsible for planning the network of hiking and biking trails. The communities build and maintain the paths.

In the canton of Bern, however, something should be done in terms of mountain biking – with a new road law. In the previous one, the bikers are not mentioned – they are not subject to the road laws and are a gray area. In future, mountain bike routes are to be regulated in the same way as bicycle routes. The canton should be responsible for the sectoral plan and the signaling – the municipalities for the rest. They should also build and maintain the routes.

A disappointed guest is a worse guest than one who doesn’t come at all.

Hans Ulrich Zwahlen, President of BEBike, the interest group for mountain bikes in the canton of Bern, weibel for the change in the law: “In the canton of Bern we are extremely lagging behind.” A lot has already been lost, the guests are already disappointed and “a disappointed guest is a worse guest than one who doesn’t come at all,” says Zwahlen.

He hopes that the new law will boost the bike infrastructure in Bern. But the concerns of the hikers should also play a role – the cantonal parliament will set the first direction in winter.

On Lucerne’s local mountain, more and more mountain bikers and e-mountain bikers are on routes where this would not be allowed: in particularly sensitive areas such as high moors. The problem has also increased because it is easier to ride in mountainous areas with e-bikes, writes the city of Kriens.

She has joined forces with the neighboring communities and wants to clarify how mountain biking on Mount Pilatus can be regulated. Together they want to develop a basic attitude and clarify what is possible. Representatives from communities, forest organizations, hunting, conservation and mountain biking will meet for a workshop.