FACTS
| Project | Mountain bike concept Canton Thurgau |
| Client | Civil Engineering Office of the Canton of Thurgau |
| Location | Canton of Thurgau, Switzerland |
| Period | Since summer 2022 |
| document | |
| project Manager | Benjamin Trotter |
The development of the mountain bike concept for the Canton of Thurgau encompasses all phases of a cantonal concept development and thus covers a large part of the services offered by ALLEGRA for cantonal projects. This includes the development of the strategic vision and mission, needs analysis with stakeholder management, hybrid frequency monitoring, development of approval processes, legal and planning frameworks, operator concepts with the responsible cantonal authorities, offer analysis, recommendations for action, network planning, and support for internal and public consultations.
Starting point & challenges
The increasing number of mountain bikers automatically puts pressure on natural resources, especially forests. Thirteen fundamental cantonal laws stipulate external framework conditions – for example, the federal Cycle Path Act, introduced in 2023, obliges the cantons to plan and implement cycle path networks for mountain bikes. The Thurgau Forest Act, on the other hand, prohibits cycling off-road. The differing demands on space create conflicting objectives that must be resolved.
Objective
Taking into account legal requirements and the interests of nature and landscape conservation, the needs of all stakeholders are to be met. The aim is to create a mountain biking offering that is environmentally friendly, attractive, needs-based, and legal. The developed MTB concept reflects existing needs and outlines the resulting measures. For the primarily all-mountain and enduro target groups, this means defining an attractive MTB network.
Methods
Inventory analysis
- Deask research of official mountain bike offer
- Preparation of the informal offer via online platforms and based on data from workshops with local mountain bikers.
- Identifying the most attractive trails
Needs analysis
- Wishes and fears are explored in workshops and expert discussions
User Monitoring
- Installation of bicycle counting devices in the canton
- Combination with app data for comprehensive extrapolation of usage frequencies
- Data collection over 12 months to ensure data quality and quantity
Development of measures
Step 1: Planning
Creation of framework conditions
- Establishing strategic principles
- Determination of spatial planning framework conditions
- Clarification of approval processes
- Operating concept
- Examination of legal framework
Step 2: Offer
Offer creation
- Environmentally friendly and target group-oriented offer for the Thurgau population
- Attractive trails and connections
- Homogeneous distribution of offers
- Enforcement/penal provisions
Step 3: Communication
Communication channels and content
- Development of an awareness campaign (coexistence with habitat, flora and fauna)
- Inclusion of official offers on mountain bike-specific online platforms
Spatial planning framework
The planning of mountain biking opportunities is subject to spatial planning regulations. This includes considering various types of areas, such as nature reserves under the NHG (North Rhine-Westphalian Nature Reserve Act) or forest reserves under the TG WaldG (Tunnel Forest Act). Furthermore, habitat and species protection, as well as protection against disturbance, are subject to legal regulations.
Approval process
Operating concept
For the implementation of the Thurgau Mountain Bike Concept, defining responsibilities regarding maintenance, financing, and liability is essential. In the canton of Thurgau, many of these factors are addressed in the StrWG (StrWG).
Target image
The target image of the cantonal mountain bike offer is based on the results of the inventory and needs analysis, which were consolidated with the objectives, the spatial planning framework and the balancing of interests.
communication
The planned communication measures focus on raising awareness on the one hand, and on communicating the official mountain bike offer on the other.
The concept is currently in public consultation: (as of May 2025)
Benjamin Trotter At ALLEGRA, in addition to implementing and further developing the topic of "Monitoring Usage Frequency," he is primarily responsible for government projects in Switzerland. He led, among other things, the development of the cantonal mountain bike concept in the canton of Thurgau as well as the projects of the canton of Zurich and the city of Zurich (demand and inventory assessment of MTB infrastructure, evaluation of the status report on the MTB concept). His expertise primarily included inventory analyses of the existing infrastructure, collaboration with authorities on trail designations and the legal framework, as well as holistic stakeholder management with analysis, conception, and moderation of workshops and the development of measures.
The federal cycle path law, which came into force in 2023, presents the cantons with challenges – but also opportunities. Thanks to Benjamin's expertise, we can meet the cantons' diverse needs professionally, sustainably, and together, depending on the situation, and develop a mountain bike concept. Contact us for an initial discussion.
