Bike Park, BLOG, Coexistence, Modular Pump Track, Sustainability, Skill Center, Trail Center, Urban, Bike park

MTB trails in urban areas: “In an Arm’s Reach of Desire”

How can MTB trails be made more accessible to people in urban areas?

Written BY

Nicolas Metthez

At ALLEGRA, we have long been thinking about how to make MTB trails more accessible to people in urban areas. Similar to Coca-Cola's strategy of making their product "always within reach of desire", there should also be enough trail options available for users.

In our internal discussions, we have developed a formula of three key elements that we want to place at the center of trail development: Accessibility, coexistence and sustainabilityHere's why we believe accessibility is paramount: Without accessibility, we cannot achieve sustainability or coexistence.

Accessibility: It is about legally providing enough infrastructure to meet the usage pressure of all trail users. A single trail for 20,000 mountain bikers in a city will not be enough. A network of trails, pump tracks, bike parks, trail centers, skill centers, for example, is needed to ensure comprehensive accessibility.

Coexistence: Coexistence is not just about peace on the trail, but also about mutual understanding between all stakeholders, including forestry, forest owners, hunting and authorities. Working together is essential for the acceptance and long-term success of our trail projects.

Sustainability: When we talk about sustainability, we don't just mean environmental protection. We also include social and economic aspects of trail networks. Trails should have long-term positive effects on society and the local economy.

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