New mountain bike trail ratings

(c) Bureau suisse de prévention des accidents

A new nationwide trail grading system is being introduced to make mountain biking safer.

The scheme uses five colour-coded difficulty levels — from green for very easy to purple for very difficult — similar to the ratings used on ski slopes. 

Around 16,000 people are injured mountain biking in Switzerland each year, often after underestimating the difficulty of a trail.

The new guidance is designed to help riders choose routes that match their ability.

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