The Swiss bouldering area Cresciano has to struggle with access problems. A board at the beginning of the Alpstrasse gives people something to talk about.
Cresciano in Ticino is one of the most popular bouldering areas on the national and international climbing scene. For years it has been written in the climbing guide that you should park your car in the village and walk to the blocks and routes. This is due to a driving ban on the Alpstrasse. While this notice was respected more often 15 years ago, over time more and more - almost everyone - drove to the parking lots at the old quarry.
This disregard of the driving ban was always tolerated by the municipality or the Patriziato di Cresciano. In December 2020, however, as we learned in a conversation with the local population, there were complaints.
Individual residents called the community and complained about large crowds.
You'd think that the rides themselves were criticized. The cause of the displeasure, however, were apparently complaints to the community about the gatherings of people in the upper parking lots. Due to the corona pandemic, there was a long ban on gathering more than 15 people in Switzerland. Individual residents complained about large crowds.
Driving and parking forbidden on Alpstrasse
As a result, the Patriziato di Cresciano placed a plaque that spoke of the closure of the bouldering area. This table was later replaced with a new and milder formulation. On the current information boards (as of January 07.01.2021th, XNUMX) in the village, you are asked to use the parking spaces for boulderers in the village center.
There was an explicit driving and parking ban for the Alpstrasse and the upper parking lots.
An explicit driving and parking ban has been issued for the Alpstrasse and the upper parking spaces. However, numerous boulderers still drive to the upper parking lots.
New corona rules from January 18, 2021 exacerbate the situation
The Swiss government has tightened its measures against the pandemic on January 18, 2021. As of this Monday, gatherings of a maximum of five people are only permitted. This new regulation could worsen the situation in Cresciano.
What next?
Our editorial team spoke to representatives of the community and the Patriziato di Cresciano. You are asked to respect the driving and parking ban and to use the parking spaces in the village. When asked whether a road tax in combination with official parking spaces and a toilet would be a solution, the representative of the Patriziato di Cresciano waved off: We will not introduce any road charges or install a toilet.
You are asked to respect the driving and parking ban and to use the parking spaces in the village.