As the weather turns warmer, many people think of going on outings. Few other cantons offer such a varied footpath and mountain biking network as GraubĂĽnden. In Valposchiavo municipality, for example, the Val dal Saent attracts visitors with its spectacular views of the landscape far into the mountains. This is one place where walkers can now use Mobility cars to explore the surroundings.
Seventy percent arrive here by public transport
“The offer enriches the lives of our visitors and the local population,” says Kaspar Howald, director of Valposchiavo Turismo. That’s because 60 to 70 percent of visitors arrive by public transport. “Many are residents of cities like Zurich, where owning a car is no longer an option,” says Howald. "These holidaymakers are glad to be able to rent a car for the occasional day out in Graubünden. So much the better if it can be done sustainably and electrically.” Although most parts of the canton are well served by public transport, “having a car means you’re not dependent on timetables and you can travel when nothing’s running.” The fact that the cars are electrically driven is of interest to Valposchiavo, and not just due to the sustainability aspect: the Repower company is a hydroelectricity generator in the valley that supplies the power for the cars’ batteries. “It could hardly be more sustainable,” says Howald.
A vehicle in tune with its environment
Canton Graubünden has three other Mobility e-vehicle stations identical to that in Valposchiavo, with five more in the pipeline. Sils municipality got its Mobility e-vehicle in time for Christmas 2022. Stationed in the Segl/Val Fex car park, it’s available for use by local residents and visitors alike. “The offer is an excellent fit with our nature-loving municipality,” says Mayor Barbara Aeschbacher, who also uses Mobility herself from time to time. “Thanks to the car sharing scheme, we can provide our visitors with additional flexibility in planning their stay.” The mayor says she’s pleased that the vehicle in question – a Skoda Enyaq 4x4 – is suited to the local conditions.
Positive feedback from the hotels
“Sustainability is a major consideration for us,” emphasises Marc Woodtli, Head of Product Development at tourism promoter Graubünden Ferien. In fact, the organisation has recently created a sustainability project agency in pursuit of the canton’s goal to become climate neutral with its “Green Deal for Graubünden” action plan. “Electromobility plays a key role in this project,” says Woodtli. The arrival and departure of visitors generates a lot of CO2 if they use fossil fuel-driven cars. “So we’ve been thinking about what we can do to get our visitors to use the train rather than the car.” So far, the experience with the Mobility stations has been good. “We also get positive feedback from the hotels. The hotels are an important part of the initiative, because they can make their guests aware of the Mobility offer before they arrive.” Another incentive is that visitors don’t have to be Mobility members or pay a subscription.
Part of the Alpine Circle
The new Mobility stations aren’t only handy for spontaneous outings: they also lie on the route of a round trip through Graubünden called the Alpine Circle. It involves visitors travelling by train, electric car and e-bikes to the region’s highlights, namely the Swiss National Park, the Landwasser Viaduct, the Rhine Gorge and the Diavolezza Glacier Experience. Apart from the tourists, the locals are also welcome to make full use of the offer. Woodtli hopes that this will lead to a good utilisation of the cars, especially in the off-season. “With this combination, the schemes can become self-financing.”
The Green Deal action plan
Canton Graubünden is aiming at climate neutrality. That’s why it’s launched the Green Deal Graubünden action plan (AGD), an impulse programme to promote climate protection and climate adaptation in Canton Graubünden. Initiated by the Grand Council in 2019, the AGD prepared by the administration is oriented towards the goal of becoming climate neutral by 2050. The AGD also aims to better protect the population, the economy and nature from the deleterious impacts of climate change.
Images Copyright: Moviemaint, Valposchiavo
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