Styrian idea:

Creating more awareness with a “mountain bike folder”

(Bild: Burgenland Tourismus/Oliver Gast)

A black folder with the inscription "Griass di!" is the first measure that Markus Pekoll, the regional coordinator for mountain biking appointed in February, is taking to raise awareness among recreational users. The folder, which includes important rules of conduct for recreational athletes, will soon be distributed in Styrian sports and leisure shops and is primarily intended to reach mountain bike newcomers.

Pekoll sees this comparatively inexpensive measure - the printing of 35,000 "bike folders" cost the province of Styria less than 7,000 euros - as a simple means of achieving his declared goal of raising awareness among all those involved in mountain biking. Pekoll announced further initiatives in this direction at a press conference in Graz on Monday. It is particularly important to establish a uniform approach among institutions such as the Chamber of Agriculture, the Alpine Association and mountain bike clubs. However, this will probably take some time, according to the coordinator.

Creation of a "needs-based offer"
Pekoll was also able to present other results of his work: There are already new projects with official trails and pump tracks in Judenburg, Lannach and Eibiswald, among others, he said. In this context, the former European downhill champion emphasized the importance of creating a "needs-based offering" for mountain bike users.

In addition to forest roads and bike parks, there are currently only 13 public trails in Styria with a total of just 23.6 kilometers of track. That is "extremely little". The central task will be to increase the offer in urban areas, says Pekoll.