A majority of the Zurich Cantonal Council wants the cantonal government to draw up proposals on how the mountain bike infrastructure can be expanded to meet demand. The motion by SP Cantonal Councillor Andrew Katumba is also supported by Die Mitte, the GLP, the Greens, the EVP and the Alternative List. Together, they hold 100 out of 180 seats in the cantonal parliament.

In concrete terms, the initiative calls on the cantonal government to "submit a planning law basis for a mountain bike infrastructure on cantonal territory. The need for infrastructure for mountain biking must be recognized and made possible. The aim should be to achieve a coexistence characterized by mutual tolerance between all recreational users on foot, on horseback or on a bicycle." The "attractive and needs-based mountain bike infrastructure" should steer demand in order to minimize user conflicts and protect nature and the environment, the proposal continues.Andrew Katumba explains on request that the mountain biking situation is a hot potato that has been passed back and forth between the Office for Landscape and Nature, the Office for Mobility and the Sports Office for years. After an inspection on the Uetliberg, he decided that it was time to move this matter forward.

Government Council must show its colors

The motion, which he submitted with six other members of parliament, obliges the cantonal government to present a legal basis within two years in order to expand the mountain bike infrastructure as described. The Zurich executive must therefore address the issue and make concrete proposals as to how the demand can be turned into reality. The cantonal council will then vote on the government council's proposal.

In other words, the Zurich executive must show how it intends to meet the demand for routes. And it must show its true colors on how it intends to implement coexistence. Katumba lets it be known during the interview that he himself is not in favor of opening up all paths. He prefers the most generous possible signaling of existing paths as bike routes.The wording of the motion sounds positive at first. As does the fact that a majority of parliament supports it. However, it is not certain whether the government council, which has been forced to act, will actually come up with a regulation that will give trail bikers the freedom they are hoping for on narrow paths. It could also turn out differently.