"If even Adelboden and Lenk are moving towards mountain bikers, then a lot has already been achieved," says an insider, who we won't name here. "It's more difficult in the Bernese Oberland than anywhere else," says Alber Kruker, Director of Lenk-Simmental Tourism, "Our area is cultivated right up to the uppermost slopes. Bikers can hardly move to higher altitudes as they can in Graubünden, for example. That's why dialog with the landowners is all the more important."

The planning and approval process took six years before the first bike trail could be built in the Adelboden-Lenk-Simmental region. Since July 9, 2022, bikers have been rolling down the Höchst Trail. Since that day, the destination has been known as the "Adelboden-Lenk ski and bike region" - a commitment that makes people sit up and take notice.

However, as it was to be expected that some of the mountain bikers would not only use the cable car and slopes, but also other trails in the region, a concept had to be developed that would avoid or at least minimize conflicts. The list of organizations involved in the project reads like a page from the local business directory: Bergregion Obersimmental-Saanenland, Planungsregion Kandertal, BEBike Interessengemeinschaft Mountainbike Kanton Bern, Gemeinde Lenk, Gemeinde Adelboden, Ski- und Bikeregion Adelboden-Lenk and Lenk-Simmental Tourismus AG. The Bernese Hiking Trails and the Civil Engineering Office of the Canton of Bern were also involved in the design of the trial operation.

This working group has defined routes on which mountain bikers can reach or leave the constructed route. Guests with bikes and those without officially coexist on the associated paths. The trial operation will last three years, after which the bike trail network will go into regular operation. "The trial operation is therefore a transitional solution until the canton has approved the sub-guidance plan for tourist mountain bike routes for the region or new bike routes have been implemented," explains Kruker.
One of the requirements of the cantonal civil engineering office, which approved the signage, was a clearly published code of conduct on the trails. The fact that mountain biking is permitted on these trails should be clearly communicated to all trail users. "For us to be able to set up bike rules, it must be clear that you are allowed to ride a mountain bike here," explains Kruker on behalf of the working group. There is a QR code on each signpost that rides to an online survey that collects guests' experiences on the coexistence trails.

The project group writes in a press release that the responses have been overwhelmingly positive. No complaints were received at the mountain railway ticket offices or in the tourist offices, where guests usually like to come forward if they want to criticize. However, the preliminary results have one flaw: 90 percent of them come from mountain bikers. Hikers apparently do not feel addressed by the survey. "We absolutely need more responses from hikers," emphasizes Kruker, which is also the reason why the project group is publishing the first interim results after just two months and calling for more feedback. Personal surveys are also planned on site, adds Kruker.

The direction is right

After all, the landowners are on board. The trial operation makes it possible to gather experience, respond to feedback from the owners and make adjustments to the operation, summarizes Albert Kruker. Mountain biking has taken off in Adelboden-Lenk. Further routes are being planned. For them to become reality, the needs and concerns of all those involved must be taken into account. "In the best-case scenario", the mountain railroads will be able to build more flow trails in 2023. Which suggests that it will probably take longer. But the goal can also be reached slowly. The decisive factor is that the direction is right.

More information about Adelboden-Lenk

Tours in the Ride tour database: ride.ch/touren/berneroberland
Adelboden in the singletrail map: map.ride.ch