This is probably a Swiss record: After almost ten years of planning and construction, the new bike route on the Weissenstein above Solothurn is now in operation. "The first discussions took place back in 2008," adds Konrad Stuber, Managing Director of the Weissenstein cable car. In between, he was cable car manager without a cable car for several years. The chairlift from 1950 had lost its concession, the Heritage Society wanted to see it renovated and fought against a modern gondola lift all the way to the Federal Administrative Court. In vain.

And so the wrangling over the new route could begin. Consultation procedure - invitation to tender - objections - new invitation to tender - new consultation procedure. This cycle was repeated until 2021, when the compromise route was found. Rangers will intervene if bikers leave it.

Starting platform as the final stumbling block

The finale followed with the starting platform, which would not have complied with the legally prescribed distance from the forest. Instead of 20 meters of air to the first trees, it reached right up to them. While the route was being built but not ridden, Seilbahn Weissenstein AG took two local hunting organizations and the local sections of Pro Natura and Birdlife to court.

The platform is important for the cable car operators because bikers and pedestrians would otherwise get in each other's way when leaving the mountain station. The cable car company can also sell drinks and snacks on the platform itself. The hotel and restaurant at the mountain station will operate on its own account. Stuber explains that they financed the construction of the route and all accompanying costs (over half a million francs according to Tele M1) from their current accounts. "That was possible because we are successful with the new cable car. But now something has to come back with the bike route."

In order to avoid having to wait any longer, Stuber and the Board of Directors relented. They planned the platform to be smaller, whereupon the objecting parties waived another appeal. On September 14, the first bikers are now due to roll onto the new route from there. This already needs to be renovated again. As it was largely completed in 2022 but has not yet been run in, it has also been affected by rain and snow.

Fight for every meter: The future of trail biking in the canton of Solothurn

And while mountain bikers in the region now have a new playground, they are wondering what the future holds for their hobby outside of built trails. The canton has written a complete ban on riding on forest trails into the draft of the new forest law. Trail biking would then only be possible on specifically approved paths and slopes. The example of Weissenstein shows that bike trails could take a long time.

Information on the trail and opening ceremony