It seemed set in stone: No single trails are allowed in the canton of Lucerne, as they are generally not paved. The government wants to cover the obvious need with built trails. There are only a handful of them so far.

However, the federal law on cycle paths is now apparently bringing movement into the discussion. Lucerne is working on a mountain bike strategy. And in the midst of this process, the cantonal specialist department for pedestrian and bicycle traffic is now communicating this: "The canton of Lucerne has already made a fundamental decision for future mountain bike network planning and, in the ongoing strategy process, has spoken out in favor of the path of coexistence, i.e. the joint use of hiking trails by hikers and mountain bikers. Network planning will be based on this principle."

It is still illegal to ride single trails in the canton of Lucerne

This does not mean that it is already legal to ride mountain bikes on narrow trails in Lucerne's forests. Coexistence is a goal that will probably have to be discussed with those affected on a parcel-by-parcel basis when defining the Lucerne mountain bike network. But the canton is already in favor of it.

And the Lucerne Hiking Trail Association is also committed to the dual use of the trails: "We welcome the direction taken with coexistence. It is important to show mutual consideration on the hiking trails and to separate them on neuralgic sections. We can contribute our concerns to the mountain bike guidance project and work constructively on solutions", the communiqué quotes Hans-Peter Hürlimann, President of the association.

He will help develop the "mountain bike guidance strategy", as it is officially called, as will Andy Stalder, President of Mountainbike Luzern and Imba Switzerland. In the announcement, he states that he not only sees it as his task "to bring the needs [of mountain bikers] into the process, but also to sensitize bikers to the needs and concerns of landowners and other recreational users."

Asked about the task ahead of him of actually realizing coexistence on Lucerne's single trails, he tells Ride: "Where this will apply in the future is the subject of the work ahead of us." The first meeting will take place a week after the announcement is published.