Sustainability also on the trail
Experts from the Swiss bike scene want to develop mountain bike tourism more ecologically. To this end, they have launched a knowledge platform that aims to bring stakeholders together.
Mountain biking as a recreational sport is developing rapidly in Switzerland. The Swiss section of the "International Mountain Bicycling Association" (IMBA) has now created the development compass " Mountain Bike and Environment " in order to promote "mutual understanding between the various stakeholders based on scientific facts and thus also a targeted exchange", as it writes on its website. The goal of the Swiss IMBA section is to provide a comprehensive overview on the topic of "mountain bike infrastructure and the environment." In addition, the 30-member group of experts wants to show that a "well-planned and maintained as well as official, attractive and safe trail network" is environmentally sound.
Specifically, the compass is aimed at professionals and laypeople involved in mountain bike development. These include: Mountain bike clubs and organizations, trail builders, trail planners, tourism and community stakeholders as well as professionals from NGOs and environmental organizations.
Booming mountain bike tourism
Mountain biking has become steadily more popular in recent years, according to IMBA. It has evolved from a niche sport to a booming recreational sport. In Switzerland, just under 7.9 percent of the total population, around 550,000 people, ride mountain bikes. Despite Corona, there was a boom in sales of bikes in 2020 (+37.4%). MTB is also playing an increasingly important role in tourism, writes the IMBA. The high-paying segment supports year-round tourism and is increasingly becoming the focus of destinations below 2,000 meters above sea level, which have to strategically realign themselves due to climate change.
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From radio journalist to product tester and storyteller, jogger to gravel bike novice and fitness enthusiast with barbells and dumbbells. I'm excited to see where the journey'll take me next.