The Austrian Board of Trustees for Alpine Safety (ÖKAS) has a lot of data on mountaineering accidents in Austria. Germany does not have such a detailed amount of data. However, critics of the campaign are annoyed by the way it is communicated: "I've only seen this kind of gimmicky interpretation of figures in tabloid newspapers," says scene veteran Lutz Scheffer. The motto from the campaign: Prevention is better than alpine rescue. ÖKAS uses statements like these for this purpose.
The study also mentions the good sides of the sport: "Biking is good for body and soul". However, facts such as: "Unfortunately, there are 50% crash fatalities" (sic.) should be looked at more closely. We are talking about a period of ten years. Five of the fatal accidents were caused by cardiovascular disorders (42%), six of them by falls (50%). One fatal accident was due to a fall. To put this into context: In the period from 1 November 2022 to 3 January 2023 alone, 13 skiers lost their lives in the "organised ski area in Austria" (source: merkur.de/Ökas).
Interview with Matthias Knaus, Managing Director of the Austrian Board of Trustees for Alpine Safety
FREERIDE: Mr Knaus, how did the idea for the campaign come about?
Matthias Knaus: Due to the steady increase in accidents. Together with the Bavarian Board of Trustees for Alpine Safety and associated partners, we report on the results of the ÖKAS accident statistics, among other things, neutrally and based on valid data. We want to inform and sensitise.
The campaign was not only received positively in the bike scene. What is the specific aim of the campaign?
Fewer mountain bike accidents. Not to be confused with: fewer mountain bikers. We are neutral and have no political interests. If there is a trend towards more mountain bike accidents, then we want to counteract this trend through education and communication.
A statement from the campaign: "MTB accidents have tripled in the last ten years". That may be true, but ten years ago there were far fewer mountain bikers.
Of course, the increasing number of mountain bikers has an impact on the number of accidents. But the bottom line is that there are a lot of them and that counts. Rescue organisations such as mountain rescue/mountain patrols in particular are reaching their limits. Health insurance companies are also registering an increase in mountain bike injuries. More accidents result in economic changes.
That makes sense, but the lack of categorisation of the figure is slightly tendentious and portrays biking as extremely dangerous.
Carrying out the campaign in the interests of everyone is difficult. So far, it has been very well received. As I said, it's about the facts. As soon as you look at the campaign politically, people tend to interpret it one way or the other. The discussions that arise from different backgrounds are exciting - they also help us move forward.
I would like to talk about another slogan: "50%, fall, dead". What is the constructive idea behind it and 50% of what?
This is a misunderstanding, a graphic placeholder. Unfortunate. The content is invalid, the look was the only idea we wanted to convey in the press release. (Editor's note: Slogan has since been changed to: "Unfortunately there are 50% fall fatalities")
Slogans should attract attention and can also be provocative. On motorways you read: "Tip, tip, dead"to warn against using your mobile phone while riding. What is your campaign warning against if not mountain biking itself?
The most common reasons for accidents are overconfidence, excessive physical exertion, poor riding technique and inadequate tour planning. Statistics show that 20 to 40-year-olds are the least likely to be involved. They are usually fit, know what they are doing and fall less often. However, there is potential for education among younger and older people. The classic example: older occasional bikers who hire an e-bike on holiday and fall due to incorrect handling on steep gravel forest roads. Falls downhill and cardiovascular disorders uphill are the most common causes of death. We draw attention to this.
A slogan like: "Brake correctly, crash less" not more appropriate?
A good slogan in the context of riding technique. We'll use it in a moment. Often, however, louder communication is needed to generate attention. Details and further information on the slogans can be found on our website: alpinesicherheit.at/bike
Let's stay with forest roads. According to the data, most accidents occur on forest roads and most deaths are due to cardiovascular disorders. Presumably these are older people. Something similar could also happen when hiking.
Not everything can always be accommodated on such graphics. Cardiovascular disorders mainly affect older people aged 50 and over - mostly when travelling uphill. Falls happen on forest roads and trails, and almost all age groups are equally affected.
The Bavarian Board of Trustees for Alpine Safety, including member organisations and tourism regions in Upper Bavaria, are partners in this campaign. Does a transnational campaign make sense if the legal situation for mountain bikers is completely different?
Yes, I think so. It doesn't matter when it comes to accidents. Mountain bikers are nomads and travel across borders throughout the entire Alpine region. We look at accidents independently of legal regulations and in general.
Are you not worried that bike critics will feel vindicated by the way you communicate?
We realise that this is a sensitive topic - we are addressing a broad audience. We want fewer mountain bike accidents and to raise awareness with the campaign. The positive aspects of mountain biking are also clearly a priority for us. I am an enthusiastic mountain biker myself and would like to conclude by saying that biking not only makes you happy, but also contributes greatly to your physical and mental health.
Voices on the ÖKAS campaign:
I'm surprised by the campaign. It is intended to shock, but unfortunately not to enlighten. I've only seen this kind of gimmicky interpretation of figures in tabloid newspapers. It is dubious. Anyone who takes the time to compare the figures with other nature users will see that very little happens when mountain biking. - Lutz Scheffer, bike veteran and bike designer
I was surprised by the campaign. I see a gap between what was intended and what came out of it. I simply miss the positive attitude towards mountain biking. What a pity. - Nicolas Gareis, German Alpine Club (DAV), Mountain Bike and Environment Division
We support the boards of trustees for alpine safety in their prevention efforts, which is why we are also a partner of the Bavarian Board of Trustees for Alpine Safety. The aim of these efforts is always to sensitise users, e.g. for correct tour planning and self-assessment, in order to avoid alpine emergencies. We see clear regional differences between Austria and Bavaria, e.g. in tourism, in the available opportunities for mountain biking and in the type of communication. All in all unfortunate. We have therefore decided to work together with Tölzer Land Tourismus and the REO to strengthen the Fair Bike campaign of the Upper Bavaria-Munich Tourism Association. At the same time, we are also sensitising users - in line with other associations - via our Trail Rules and offering training and further education in the area of outdoor first aid. - Sonja Schreiter, German Mountain Bike Initiative (DIMB)
Laurin Lehner
Editor
