Last weekend, BikerNetzwerk AG launched the #Wägmacher project together with the regional bike stores. It is a clear signal from the mountain bike community that they are committed to providing an attractive range of trails in the region and are willing to lend a hand where necessary. Like everywhere else, mountain biking in Sarganserland has long since developed from a trend to a popular sport and therefore also requires an appropriate infrastructure.

The focus is on the trail fund

The heart of the #Wägmacher project is a fund that all trail users, and mountain bikers in particular, contribute to by purchasing a sticker. This fund is used to finance maintenance work, which is organized by expert trail managers and carried out with the help of volunteers

Thanks to the coordination between the trail managers and BikerNetzwerk AG, which works together with the authorities, it is ensured that maintenance work is always coordinated with the trail managers and the responsible foresters.

Although the initiative behind the #Wägmacher project originated from the mountain bike scene, it is by no means just mountain bikers who are involved. Although the maintenance of the existing hiking trail network is the responsibility of the municipality in the canton of St.Gallen, the tasks are often delegated to (private) landowners.

Mountain bikers are by no means the only ones to benefit from an additional commitment to trail maintenance in accordance with the principles of coexistence. Well-maintained trails are generally more robust and can fulfill their purpose for all user groups, including hikers and trail runners, in the long term.

This initiative is also welcomed by Willi Marthy, head of the Sarganserland Seez region of the St.Gallen hiking trails: "Any voluntary commitment to keep the hiking trails in Sarganserland in good condition is very welcome. As the maintenance work as part of the #Wägmacher project is coordinated with the right people in advance, I appreciate the mountain bikers' initiative."

Active participation desired

The initiators of the #Wägmacher project emphasize that their commitment can certainly be seen as an appreciation of the landowners, tourism operators and current trail makers. After all, they have played a major role in ensuring that an extensive and largely tolerated network of trails is already available in Sarganserland today. True to the motto "not more, but better trails", active participation in maintenance work is therefore expressly encouraged from all interested mountain bikers and hikers.

With the #Wägmacher project, the mountain bike community complements the existing structures and promotes exchange with other user groups, but also demands recognition as an interest group to be taken seriously.

www.waegmacher.ch