There are more exciting, more difficult, more spectacular trails on the Uetliberg. But the "Harakiri" has all the ingredients that make biking on Zurich's local mountain so special: It makes use of the steep, stair-like sloping terrain, hollows and ridges and it has the typical loamy ground, which becomes unmanageable for most when wet. For many - ok, let's just say for a whole generation - the Harakiri was the introduction to technically demanding trail biking. A race called "Harakiri Massiv" at the turn of the millennium made it famous; with the equipment from back then, it was even more challenging to ride than it is today.

Forestry and gamekeepers have never been enthusiastic about mountain bikers off the forest roads. However, hara-kiri only seems to have become a pressing problem in recent years, when the number of mountain bikers rose sharply. The rule communicated by the Green City of Zurich department responsible for the forest regarding mountain biking is: "Cycling is permitted on forest roads, but prohibited on trails and paths with steps." Whether this rule is legally valid is at least debatable. In any case, all appeals and bans have had no chance against the growing popularity of mountain biking. In recent years, half a dozen alternative routes have emerged from Harakiri, some of them artfully and elaborately laid out in the terrain, with jumps and berms. But even more illegal than the original, of course.

Mountain bike history

Illegal trails on the Uetliberg and their growing popularity have been a contentious issue for years. During the coronavirus summer, the number of visitors reached record levels. A veteran of the Zurich bike scene finally brought the situation to the boil by riding the Harakiri and a few other unofficial classics in front of the SRF camera. Züritrails, the association that has been championing the cause of mountain bikers for years and is the city's official negotiating partner when it comes to infrastructure, was already working on a new official bike trail on the Uetliberg at the time. The exponents of the association felt sabotaged and feared damage to the crowdfunding, which of course only covered part of the construction costs. On the other hand, it became increasingly clear in the discussion on various channels that the opening of the new "Höckler Trail" would make the Harakiri unrideable.

This has happened in recent days. Several entrances have been so thoroughly blocked with trees that it is difficult to imagine riding around the obstacles or passing them with jumps and bridges. One should not underestimate the tenacity and ingenuity of mountain bikers, yet it seems clear and sealed: the Harakiri is history.

What it definitely is: an integral part of Zurich's mountain biking history. Unfortunately, it no longer fits into reality, because there are no longer just a few hundred bikers in Zurich riding a few dozen trails. There are now thousands on studded tires and hundreds looking for the single trail experience on the Uetliberg. It was foreseeable that this could not go well in the long run.