Enforcing and building legal trails is one thing - but what if the problems come from within your own ranks? A very successful trail project has been running for some time on the Hahnenkamm near Alzenau near Frankfurt. Locals have already created four legal trails here together with the German Alpine Club. Two more have been approved and two more should be added, but now there's a snag in the gears. We found out why this is the case Sebastian Deller from the Alzenau trail work group in demand.
"Guys like that jeopardise our entire project."
BIKE: Sebastian, you have already been allowed to officially build four trails on the Alzenau side of the Hahnenkamm and two are in the pipeline. At the end of October, you organised a round table in Mömbris to push through two more trails on the east side of the ridge. Were you successful?
Sebastian Deller: Unfortunately, only moderate success. There are no problems with the forestry authorities: they would allocate us less sensitive forest regions. The lower nature conservation authority is also open to our project. The Hösbach mountain rescue service is in favour of legal trails because we have developed a good rescue concept that makes their work easier. And the majority of the local council, including the mayor, are also in favour of legal trails because we would dismantle the illegal and sometimes dangerous trails in return. Oh yes, and the German Alpine Club is even a sponsor and contractual partner of our initiative.
Sounds perfect, so what are the problems?
For example, the hunting tenant. In his opinion, the forest is already under too much pressure from the many users and the game needs its retreats.
A problem that the hunting tenant on the Alzenau side of the ridge does not see in the same way?
No. The hunter sees the legal trails as more of an opportunity for wild animals and hunting, as the animals quickly become accustomed to fixed trail routes and usage times. They find larger resting areas than when the forest is criss-crossed by illegal trails. But the biggest opponents of our project are the residents of Hemsbach. A town that lies directly at the foot of the Hahnenkamm.
Why?
Some residents fear an increase in traffic in their neighbourhood and are already reporting encounters with "speeding, aggressive and rowdy" bikers.
So, can you understand these arguments?
Of course, you are right in some respects. The Hahnenkamm, including the restaurant and observation tower, attracts many visitors anyway and the coronavirus pandemic has further increased the number of people using the forest. Problems with the parking situation were therefore foreseeable. The biggest nuisance is a car park for hikers that is completely full and can only be reached via residents' roads. To alleviate this situation, we have even signposted an uphill route for bikers from the designated car parks in the valley.
With success?
That works. Guest bikers in particular are not even aware of the sensitive situation here. They still prefer to park at the top of the mountain and some even organise shuttle cars here because they don't want to pedal the 300 metres uphill. It's clear that this is extremely annoying for the local residents. There are also complaints about reckless bikers who make their way through groups of hikers with dangerous braking manoeuvres, verbal derailments and middle finger gestures. Individual cases, of course. But these types of people torpedo the acceptance of our sport and jeopardise our entire project.
Okay, how can I support you in this matter?
Yours "Love Trails - Respect Rules" campaign pretty much sums it up. If all bikers here on the Hahnenkamm could just stick to these simple rules. Say hello in a friendly manner, show consideration for others, adhere to the opening times and car park rules - then we would just have relaxed and sporty days here. Please, people, it can't be that difficult!
The entire trail project on the Hahnenkamm, information on opening times and news can be found at www.kammtrails.de
Gitta Beimfohr
Editor
