The Bikers vs. Walkers Conflict: ‘Shut up!’ – An account of a personal defeat
Dimitri Lehner
· 14.12.2025
The conflict between hikers and cyclists is as old as the sport itself – and yet as contentious as ever. I thought that, after 37 years on a mountain bike, I knew how to behave properly. Far from it. I recently completely lost my temper. A report on a personal defeat.
I’ve done everything right, haven’t I?
My brother and I are standing near the summit. Bavaria at its most beautiful: the morning sun, dry rock, silence, blue mountain ridges in the distance. Our favourite trail starts here. We got up extra early so as not to bump into anyone. It’s 6 o’clock in the morning – and yet, within the very first few metres, a hiker appears. We stop. The man, perhaps in his mid-40s, pokes at us with his Leki poles, shakes his head and says: “Do you really have to ride here?!”
Buttons pressed
That sentence really gets to me. When I’m in the mountains, I want anything but to be lectured to. The trail isn’t off-limits. We’re allowed to be here. He’s allowed to be here. The very fact that he’s talking to us infuriates me. But I’ve learnt to control my anger and, above all, to avoid getting into an argument. Because it escalates. In 80 per cent of cases.
The positions have hardened
The positions are too entrenched, the resentment too great and tempers too frayed for a consensus to be reached. We won’t be able to persuade the hiker to say, in the end: ‘You’re right, you too have a right to be in the mountains. The trail isn’t off-limits. So: have fun on your descent!’
The same goes for us. So: don’t say a word! If you can’t manage that and absolutely have to say something, then: Good morning! A ‘Good morning’ or ‘Good afternoon’ is the absolute maximum. Not: ‘Get well soon!’ No provocation. No: just a simple ‘Good morning’. Like in an interrogation behind enemy lines: name and rank. Nothing more! Say nothing!
You can guess: that’s not how it went.
My brother just can’t help himself.
Laurin: “We’ve stopped and made way – what’s your problem?”
Hiker: “The fact that you’re driving here.”
Laurin: “We’ve set off extra early so as not to disturb anyone.”
Hiker: “Even worse! You’re disturbing the animals’ night’s rest!”
The pulse quickens; things are escalating
That’s when I lose my temper.
I snap: “Shut up! – Fuck you – and fuck those creatures!”
I start pedalling – and regret it before the words have even left my mouth.
What did I say?
Above all, about ‘Fuck the critters’ – ‘Fuck the critters’? Anyone who knows me knows that I love flora and fauna, have been involved in various nature conservation organisations, don’t eat meat and pick worms off the tarmac.
My brother’s absolutely livid. And rightly so. Because now we’re the villains and we’ve given that bloke exactly the ammunition he needs for his opinion-slinging. Bang, bang: bikers are hooligans. Bikers have no regard for others. Bikers are only interested in having fun without taking any responsibility.
A telling-off from his brother
At the next stop, Laurin gives me a bit of a telling-off; he tells me that the hiker called after me: ‘And in the end, I’ll have to rescue you’. A mountain rescue volunteer, then.
I don’t care about that. What I do care about is this: I lost my temper. I rambled on in a fit of rage. I upset my brother. And worst of all: I’ve got all these thoughts swirling round in my head now. They’re spoiling my mood and I can’t switch them off, no matter how hard I try. The result: instead of enjoying my favourite trail, I’m juggling thoughts; my head’s full instead of clear.
And since I’m a master at blaming others, I say to my brother: “Why did you have to say something, too!” – He replies: “Oh, so now I’m getting the blame. You’re mad!” So, a row with my brother this early in the morning, too. In a nutshell: a win-win situation turned into a lose-lose scenario. The question is: how should I have handled it?
What started as a perfect morning ride turned into a lesson in humility.
How should I have behaved?
So I asked someone who would know: Nicolas Gareis. He is the Mountain Biking and Environment Officer at the German Alpine Club.
BIKE: Even so, arguments are often unavoidable. Or are they?
Nicolas Gareis: It’s true, everyone has their own unique state of mind. It’s almost impossible to be prepared for every situation. Experience has shown that rational arguments often get you nowhere. Arguments such as the fact that you’re legally allowed to cycle here, or that cyclists don’t cause any more damage to the paths than walkers, etc., fall on deaf ears – if you’re up against a hardliner. You might as well not bother with the discussion; it’ll just get everyone worked up.
BIKE: So it’s better not to say anything at all?
Nicolas Gareis: Hello, hi, and that’s it? (Laughs) We can’t officially recommend that.
BIKE: But I don’t want to be told what to do in the mountains either. So what should I do?
Nicolas Gareis: Whatever you do, don’t lose your temper as you did, because that doesn’t help anyone. My tip: smile and wave. Or perhaps say something nice like: ‘The summit’s waiting for you!’ Or: ‘Aren’t we lucky with the weather, aren’t we!’ In other words: spread some cheer and let it go!
BIKE: What should you definitely not do?
Nicolas Gareis: Getting caught up in an argument and letting aggression take over. Because that negative mood will stick with you for a long time afterwards. Then the lovely day and the relaxation you were seeking in the mountains will be ruined. Because you’ll be mulling over what the hiker said and what you said the whole time. It’s hard to shake off things like that. In other words: if I know I’m allowed to ride on the trail, then I’m in the right. So, a friendly word, a nice greeting, and carry on.
Dimitri Lehner
Editor