1. Company, Event, Date
Name
Stay in the saddle

2. Non-occupational accidents in Switzerland, 2016
Every year, more than one million people are injured on the roads, when doing sport and physical activities as well as in and around the house.

3. Mountain biking
Mountain biking through fields and forests, over challenging single trails or downhill mountain bike pistes is popular. But things don’t always run smoothly: Every year around 9000 people in Switzerland suffer an accident while mountain biking off road.

4. Protect yourself with the right equipment
Bicycle helmet (EN 1078)
Wear it properly:
The front edge should be two finger widths above the bridge of your nose.
Side straps should fit snugly, with room for one finger between the strap and your chin.

5. Protect yourself with the right equipment
Bicycle helmet (EN 1078)
Sports goggles
Long fingered gloves
Protectors (activity dependent, e.g. piste biking)
Functional clothing and weather protection
Bike shoes with good treads for walking sections
Provisions
Repair kit
Pocket first-aid kit
Well audible bell or trail bell
Mobile phone, maps, GPS
Emergency phone number 112, emergency app

6. Protect yourself with the right equipment
If you are riding your mountain bike on public roads, the same rules apply as for regular bicycles.
Lighting system with steady lights, white at the front and red at the rear, permanently attached or removable – visible at night in fine weather at a distance of 100 m
Reflectors: white at the front and red at the rear, permanently attached
Yellow reflectors front and rear on the pedals – except on safety pedals, racing pedals (clipless pedals)
Brakes for front and rear wheels
Pneumatic tyres or others with roughly equivalent elasticity, fabric should not be visible

7. Thorough preparation is essential
Choose a route that suits your technical and physical abilities.
For downhill (piste) mountain biking, choose a destination with well-maintained mountain bike pistes marked by difficulty level.
You can find maps, route guides and GPS tour recommendations at

8. Set a good example
Reckon with the unexpected – think ahead, ride with concentration and at a speed adapted to the prevailing conditions.
Ride downhill in a defensive manner – for E-MTB riders, this also applies to riding uphill.
Avoid busy hiking trails and alert hikers to your presence early (e.g. with a bell).

9. Observe the mountain biking code of conduct

10. Video «Mountainbiken – die Natur ruft»

11. Further information
Find out more in the following BFU brochures (available in French, German and Italian):
«Mountainbiking – Die Natur ruft» (Art.-No )
«Kluge Köpfe schützen sich – Den Velohelm richtig anziehen» (Art.-No )
Order them free of charge at
Find even more accident prevention tips at