Switzerland is actually known and loved for its liberal attitude. Not everything here needs a law or official regulation. The best-known Swiss jurist is also called: common sense. Mountain bikers can tell you a thing or two about it. While many Alpine countries try to put cyclists in their place with laws and prohibition signs, common sense is the measure of all things in Switzerland.

Sign prank instead of April Fool's joke

Switzerland is a pragmatic island in a Europe that feels over-regulated. This was the case until April 1, 2022, when one of the world's stupidest traffic regulations came into force: mandatory lights for e-mountain bikers without exception. All day long, switched on and everywhere. On the road, on trails, in the bike park, on the pump track. Since then, pragmatic and liberal Switzerland has had the strictest cycling law in Europe.

This leads to bizarre situations for e-mountain bikers. Like the ascent on an alpine road, for example. There is no traffic here, but lights must be switched on. Or the lonely single trail descent from the mountain top. This is permitted (unlike in other Alpine countries), but only with the lights on. Riding in the bike park or on the pump track is also only permitted with the lights on. The obligation to use lights only applies to e-mountain bikers. The regulation does not apply to non-motorized sports enthusiasts who ride on the same routes and at the same speed. In short: the law is a real-life prank.

Where is the MTB lobby?

However, a new law does not come into being overnight. This raises the question: where was the resistance during the consultation process from organizations that are always committed to the sport of mountain biking? Imba, Swiss Cycling, Schweiz Mobil and Velosuisse wrote to oppose the law, but that was as far as it went. No cooperation, no mobilization, no power play. The insane lighting law ruthlessly reveals how well the Swiss mountain bike sport is networked in the political arena: not at all. We mountain bikers can't even manage to overturn such an unworldly law. We finally need a powerful lobby to be ready the next time the bureaucrats neigh. And to remove this nonsensical paragraph from the law again.

More blog posts by Thomas Giger

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