The number of mountain bike clubs and interest groups is increasing in Switzerland. In the past, most clubs mainly served to promote young cyclists, but the emphasis has shifted. It was not only with the mountain bike boom that the pressure on the trails increased or the call for infrastructure became louder where there was none. The boom from the coronavirus years then further accelerated the trail policy.

Not everyone understands this boom, and certainly not the proliferation of trails. The risk of bike bans on existing trails is also increasing. It is also no secret that mountain bikers are free spirits - many free spirits without political clout. This is exactly where clubs and interest groups come into play. They pool the interests of mountain bikers and can achieve a lot. Be it to prevent bans or to create infrastructure, i.e. new trails.

Persuasion is required

It is advisable for every mountain biker to join at least one organization that is involved in the municipality, region or canton. All the better if you become active yourself. But not everywhere is the growth as great as, for example, with BEBike, the interest group
mountain biking in the canton of Bern, which has over 3000 members since it was founded in 2021. Local clubs are confronted with questions about the benefits of membership
.

Every member counts, even if the direct return, for example a new bike trail, often takes a few years to materialize. No, the official mills don't turn as fast as the wheels of trail users. Faster successes are only ever visible on paper. However, many mountain bikers find it difficult to see this. Education and persuasion are often required here - and a little patience.

BEBike cited, for example, the approval in the Grand Council regarding the amendment to the Road Act, important improvements in the cantonal work aid and participation in the realization of the trial operation coexistence in Adelboden-Lenk as successes, or interim successes. In Flims, the local bike club held a round table with representatives of the municipality, forestry and hunting for the first time, thereby creating an understanding of mountain biking as a need.

Communities very often lack an understanding of the sport and are helpless in the face of the ever-increasing number of mountain bikers. This is where clubs and interest groups can do a great deal of educational work and not only eliminate misunderstandings from the often one-dimensional world, but often also driving bans.

However, this is only possible if such organizations have sufficient weight, i.e. members. So if you want to stand up for your "trail rights", you would do well to join a committed association.