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The fronts between bikers and forest owners are often hardened. However, peaceful coexistence is possible.
Mountain biking has become more popular in recent years – this is also evident on the Sandertrail in Beromünster in the canton of Lucerne. The cross-country trail winds around five kilometers relatively flatly through the forest.
It is used a lot, especially on nice weekends: from families and children with balance bikes to bankers and craftsmen, you can meet all sorts of people here, says Matthias Amrein, co-president of the local mountain bike club.
Amicable agreement on the Sandertrail
Before the official trail near Beromünster was opened, biking was less regulated: over the years, various trails had been created through the forest.
Some of these lines are now part of the official trail, others have been closed. The official Sandertrail was opened around a year ago. About two years of planning preceded the opening.
Legend:
Clear the way for the bikers: The Sandertrail will soon be busy again – if the weather cooperates.
SRF/Livia Middendorp
The association that maintains the mountain bike trail had to come to an agreement with 14 different forest owners. “A lot of discussions took place, and initially there were concerns – about liability, for example,” says Amrein.
It was agreed that the forest owners would not be liable in the event of an accident; the trail owner took out insurance. In addition, the forest owners receive a small compensation, which the voluntary association can pay thanks to sponsors and patrons.
The forest should also be a place of relaxation.
According to Wald Schweiz, the association of forest owners, the Sandertrail in Beromünster is a good example of regulated biking. “The forest should definitely be a place for relaxation,” says Benno Schmid from Wald Schweiz, but there are more and more people out and about in the forest “who leave their mark there in the truest sense of the word.”
And further: “We have noticed that, especially since the Corona pandemic, there has been an increasing number of bikers in the forest who are off the marked paths. That’s the problem.”
Legend:
Mountain biking is booming – and more and more trails are being created in Switzerland, like here on Uetliberg in Zurich.
Keystone/Gaetan Bally
This would cause damage to the forest – for example by breaking off young trees, which would then have consequences for years. In addition, forest owners have additional costs because they have to cordon off the area around the trails when harvesting wood so that no one gets under a tree, says Schmid.
Forest Switzerland recently proposed compensation of one to two francs per linear meter per year. Ultimately, however, this depends on local circumstances and must be agreed between forest owners and bike clubs, which could raise the money, for example, through sponsorship or membership fees.
Bikers are not solely to blame
The Swiss Cycling Association, which also advocates for the interests of recreational cyclists on bicycles, advocates not just denouncing bikers.
You have to differentiate, says Paloma Kilchenmann, co-head of politics and mobility at Swiss Cycling. “If a path is used by different groups, such as orienteering runners, joggers, dog walkers and girl scouts, it is very doubtful that the bikers alone can cause much damage.”
It would then not be fair to only ask bikers to pay. In order to meet the increased demand, there simply needs to be enough paths for bikers to move around.