On Easter Monday, a 48-year-old mountain biker from the canton of Baselland was killed in an accident on the Goldiwheel Trail from Goldiwil down to Thun. The canton police reported at the time that the man had veered off the trail after a jump and fallen down a 4-meter-deep slope. Despite immediate first aid from bystanders, he died at the scene of the accident.

This sequence of events raises questions. Was the jump designed in such a way that you fall straight down if you miss the line? Flying Metal built the trail, and the Bikepark Thunersee association operates it. Jérôme Hunziker holds leadership positions at both the trail-building company and the association. He told Ride shortly after the accident that he would not comment on the incident while the investigation was ongoing, and he has stuck to that position since. With one small exception, but more on that later.

Stricter safety requirements apply to built trails than to singletrails that are opened for mountain biking. “All drop-off points must be secured by the responsible party,” explains Sara Fischer from the Canton of Bern’s Slow Traffic Office. Generally, however, the riders themselves are liable, she adds. “Third-party liability only comes into play to the extent that a corresponding safety obligation has been violated.”

There is no official approval process for built trails in the Canton of Bern

It is clear that the Goldiwheel Trail has been approved by the Thun District Governor’s Office. However, the measures to enforce building regulations are the responsibility of the municipality, i.e., the city of Thun, explains the District Governor. Did the city inspect the trail for safety and approve it after construction was completed and before it was opened? That is not standard practice in the Canton of Bern for such structures, explains Thun’s communications officer. The project owner bears responsibility for compliance with regulations. “The applicants confirm via a self-declaration that construction was carried out in accordance with the conditions and requirements of the building permit. This was also the procedure followed in connection with the bike trail in Goldiwil.”

The question remains as to whether the rider jumped beyond the edge of the trail. As a reminder: The Goldiwheel Trail is a blue course with red and black elements, namely jumps that can be bypassed. Those who take the large kickers at speed fly high and far, so all the more reason they must be designed so that riders can intuitively hit the landing. The city spokesperson explains: “Should it turn out that the facility has operational defects or defects in construction, the City of Thun, as the building authority, would initiate appropriate proceedings and order any necessary measures.” Jérôme Hunziker says, a good six weeks after the accident, that the police informed them they do not believe the trail has any defects. “We have not yet been notified of a definitive ruling.”

The competent Oberland Public Prosecutor’s Office reports that the police investigation has been concluded and the case has been referred to the prosecutor’s office. “From today’s perspective, it is impossible to estimate when the investigation will be completed.” It makes no comment on the police’s findings. 

The first responder at the accident scene

Then Ride meets the man who found the victim on the trail and provided initial care together with his colleagues. He does not wish to be named. Out of respect, the details do not belong here, but his account makes it clear: The biker fell so badly that he sustained fatal injuries. He went over a berm and ended up several meters below the trail. However, he did not fall, as stated in the police report. He was also wearing a full-face helmet and all the protective gear available for biking.

Another factor speaking in favor of the Goldiwheel Trail’s safety is the fact that it was closed for the police investigation following the accident but was subsequently reopened without any changes. Hunziker says the operators walked the Goldiwheel Trail and inspected it for defects. Clearly, no one believes the section in question is any more dangerous than the rest of the trail.

But one thing is also clear: the more challenging the trail and the higher the speed, the greater the risk of suffering serious injury following a riding error. Many professionals can attest to this. The responsibility lies with the person at the handlebars.

A detailed article on the topic of liability for mountain bike accidents in Switzerland, Austria, and Germany can be found in Ride Issue No. 102 from April 2026.