Forest New mountain bike trails to steer recreational sport in Aargau

A network of official cycle paths in the forest was symbolically opened on Thursday in Gränichen AG with the installation of an information board. The trails in the lower Suhren and Wynental valleys are intended to make mountain biking more environmentally friendly, according to the canton of Aargau.

To guide mountain bikers in the forests, the approved trails are currently being signposted and information boards have been installed to draw attention to the rules of conduct. The Department of Construction, Transport and the Environment (BVU) announced that existing, unauthorized trails would be made unrideable.

Two bike clubs and the mountain bike training base of the Swiss Cycling association worked together with the responsible forestry companies, the municipalities and the cantonal forestry department on the project, which was launched in 2018. Representatives from hunting and nature conservation were also involved in the new mountain bike concept.

With an initial trail in Suhr AG, automatic counting devices proved that it was well accepted as a replacement for a closed trail. 95 percent of mountain bikers chose the new trail for the descent.

The Aargau Forest Act generally prohibits cycling off forest roads, but the municipalities can grant exceptions with the consent of the forest owners and the canton, as the BVU writes.

At the opening ceremony, Cantonal Councillor Stephan Attiger, together with representatives from the communes, forestry, hunting, nature conservation and cycling, erected an information board at the Gränichen-Unterkulm forestry depot.

www.ag.ch/biketrail-suhren-wynental

SDA