Commitment to mountain biking from the canton is still lacking

The creation of an umbrella organization for mountain biking was urgently needed. In the canton of Bern, national legislation (Art. 43 Para. 1 of the Road Traffic Act) and the Hiking Trail Act are interpreted very restrictively in favor of hikers. According to the mountain bike routes work aid (Canton of Bern Civil Engineering Office), coexistence of hiking and mountain biking in the canton of Bern is only envisaged in absolutely exceptional cases, whereas in other cantons it is tried and tested and common practice.

A clear commitment to mountain biking on the part of the Canton of Bern is still missing. This makes it difficult to create attractive bike offers that are actually used. As many guests enjoy both mountain biking and hiking, this poses major problems for tourist destinations in particular. It is also difficult to understand around the conurbations why people are not actually allowed to stay on less frequented hiking trails. Great hopes are now being pinned on the upcoming amendment to the Road Act, in which mountain bike routes are to be treated as equally as possible to cycle paths and routes.

"Giving mountain biking a strong voice"

The BEBike association is a strong supporter of this revision of the law and is convinced that it is the basis for sustainable and coordinated cooperation for all stakeholders. President Zwahlen adds: "The aim is for as many mountain bikers in Bern as possible to register with BEBike, or with a regional organization affiliated with BEBike, and thus finally give mountain biking in the canton of Bern a diverse face and a strong voice. The more members we have, the more 'weight' we will have. After all, Bernese mountain bikers deserve to be able to practice their great leisure sport in the great outdoors and close to their home or place of residence on official routes and facilities in the future, and not always have to travel to mountain bike-friendly Graubünden or Valais. This protects the climate and the money stays in the canton."

The aim of BEBike is to close the gap in the current lack of a cantonal contact and specialist office. The board includes people who have been driving forces behind mountain bike infrastructure in the regions of Lake Thun, Emmental, the Gantrisch region and parts of Bern for years. They campaign for legal routes and facilities in the Bernese Oberland East and West and the Pre-Alps region. Personalities from politics and business support the association as supporters. The president is Hans Ulrich Zwahlen, who has excellent connections in the canton of Bern and was one of the founders of "Gantrisch Biking" 26 years ago.

BEBike was developed in coordination with subordinate and superordinate mountain bike organizations, the Bernese Regions Network and the Destinations Canton of Bern association and is the cantonal link between the local, regional and national levels. BEBike is very much welcomed by local mountain bike clubs. At national level, it is in close contact with the interest group IMBA Switzerland (International Mountain Bicycling Association Switzerland) and SwitzerlandMobility.

bebike.org