Opinions on Uber are divided. For some, the ride-hailing service is an affordable taxi service; for others, it’s a company that consistently undermines workers’ rights and social security. The fact is, the service is in demand by millions of people, and there are plenty of people willing to work as drivers.

And now for the part that might interest mountain bikers: In Lugano, there’s a service called Uber Mountainbike. The cars used for this service have a rack for two bikes and take customers to some of the trails in southern Ticino.

How Uber Mountainbike Works

According to the Lugano Region website, Uber Mountainbike can be selected as an option in the app. One important limitation: Mountain bike rides start only at three locations: Lugano train station, Bioggio, and Tesserete. Whether Uber MTB drivers would refuse to pick someone up elsewhere is something worth trying out. It’s possible that the booked ride will simply start from the nearest of the three pickup points, even if you’re picked up in Agno, for example.

This isn’t a shuttle service in the strict sense, since the cars don’t drive to the trailheads unless they’re accessible via public roads. But it eliminates the need to walk from the train station to the trailhead and back. 

Buses also transport bikes

In addition, the PostBus and local and regional buses in Lugano offer bike transport, though only if there is enough space. According to Postauto, reservations are not required in Ticino “until further notice.” Good for spontaneous tours, but not ideal if you want to play it safe.

The best tours in the Lugano region