Nature-friendly biking: Graubünden as a role model

The canton of Graubünden confidently advertises itself with the slogan "Home of Trails". A trail network of 2,500 kilometers with trails designated for mountain bikers sounds truly heavenly. As a destination developer, Darco Cazin was instrumental in the implementation of a bike-friendly infrastructure in the region. In episode 3 of our podcast "ROTWID meets ..." Darco has already reported a little about this task. Now we want to go into a little more detail:

What was the impetus in Graubünden to make the region attractive for mountain bikers?

In the canton of Graubünden, regions such as the Upper Engadine, Lenzerheide, Davos/Klosters or Val Poschiavo have discovered mountain biking as a topic for themselves. As a result, there were more and more requests to the canton for events, subsidies, regulations for signposting and so on. In 2008, the cantonal authorities considered which structures and foundations the canton should create so that the individual regions could develop according to their own ideas. However, the impetus for this came from the localities and regions.

So the motive for these changes was the tourist interest of the regions, right?

Yes, that is correct. But the foundations that the canton had to create in order to do justice to this go far beyond that. Things like spatial development, subsidies for infrastructure measures and dealing with other interest groups outside of tourism also play an important role here.

What were the next steps?

Together with the University of Applied Sciences of Graubünden, we developed the basic concept "Graubünden Bike" and implemented it as project management for six years.

What goals were defined as part of the concept?

A great many different aspects were considered here. For example, it was about uniform ticketing in public transport, better transport solutions, standards for the training of MTB guides, the promotion of cycling in schools and many more things. This was a huge project with 30 measures, in which more than 150 people from a wide range of areas actively participated over six years.

Now, not every region that wants to open up to MTB sports is lucky enough to have such a concept at the state level. It's often a matter of getting all the stakeholders on board on a small scale. What are your experiences and tips here?

First of all, people from the different interest groups must be seriously interested in finding a solution. Understanding for each other and the will to make a difference are the basis. For the concrete implementation of measures, there are already simple technical solutions that have been proven to work. Be it planning, the design of offers or the sensitization and regulation.

And how did you manage that with the "Graubünden Bike" project?

Through very many discussions in the most diverse bodies or also in individual discussions with the respective responsible persons. When we present our interests and the sport there as mountain bikers, we always do so in a solution-oriented manner.

Do you have a specific example of this?

Yes, for example the talks with farmers. Here, we as bikers must first be aware that we are supplicants. In our discussions, it turned out that good marking of pasture fences and passages is important. So we developed appropriate markings for the farmers and thus offered a solution. There are many similar examples and we as mountain bikers must realize that we are only a small group that occupies a limited space.

The Alps are a sensitive habitat. How were possible conflicts with nature conservation resolved in Graubünden?

In the bike project for Graubünden, the environmental protection associations were partners from the very beginning. For example, together with the nature conservation organization Pro Natura and the WWF, we defined what constitutes environmentally compatible biking. This is not only about the impact on flora, fauna and the trails, but also about various other topics such as nature-friendly events and environmentally friendly travel. Because what is certain: In tourist regions, the environmental damage caused by traveling by car is many times greater than the potential damage caused by building a trail. The bottom line is that tourism and environmental associations can benefit and learn from each other in a good discourse.

What tips can you give mountain bikers who are working to expand the bike infrastructure in their home country?

Firstly, try to appoint a person from your ranks to act as a mouthpiece and "face" to represent your interests to the other committees and associations. From our experience, it has proven successful if a certain personification is given here.

Secondly, take every opportunity to educate relevant stakeholders about the sport of biking. This is the only way to create understanding, because many people outside the MTB world do not know us.

Third, don't make the mistake of communicating and promoting small advances or initial projects in a big way. Offerings should grow organically. Otherwise, there is a risk that your infrastructure will not be able to withstand the sudden rush and that conflicts will be inevitable.

If you want to learn more about Darco and his company Alegra Tourism, listen to our podcast "ROTWILD meets ...".