Witnesses wanted in Tyrol: Hiker hits mountain biker - trouble on the mountain

The potential for conflict between mountain bikers and hikers is as old as the off-road two-wheeler. Fortunately, however, the reality is peaceful in the vast majority of cases. With respectful interaction and behaviour, encounters between bikers and pedestrians are usually friendly. Real incidents are correspondingly rare. Last weekend was apparently a sad exception. A clash in Tyrol apparently escalated and culminated in an assault that was reported to the police. Apparently, a hiker hit a mountain biker with a stick. The police are now looking for witnesses.

What happened? As the Seefeld police report, a 58-year-old mountain biker was travelling in the area of the Katzenkopf in Leutasch on Saturday morning. The German, who lives in Tyrol, was travelling downhill from the Katzenkopfhütte when an elderly couple came towards him on a hike. According to the police report, the previously unknown male hiker blocked the cyclist's path and attacked him after a brief discussion. The hiker grabbed the handlebars of the mountain bike and hit the cyclist in the face with his walking stick. The cyclist suffered injuries of indeterminate severity and was eventually able to flee. The following day, the man filed a complaint with the Seefeld police.

The previously unknown hiker was said to be between 65 and 70 years old, slim and approx. 170 - 175 cm tall. He was also described as strong and agile and had short grey hair. In order to get to the bottom of the matter, the Seefeld police are asking witnesses for information.

Respecting each other: bikers have a duty

Even if the current incident is fortunately the negative exception and the exact situation seems anything but clear, it never hurts to point out the trail rules again - and our "Love Trails, respect rules!" campaign from 2020 to dig out. Rule number 1: Respect other path users:

Nobody goes into the forest or up the mountain to cause stress and all recreational users have a basic right of access. The conditions for peaceful coexistence on the trails are therefore good. In addition, the rule has always applied on forest and mountain trails: those coming from below have priority and consideration should be given to slower and weaker trail users. This means that mountain bikers in particular have a duty of care, as they are the fastest and - depending on the handlebars - also the widest trail users. A duty that couldn't be simpler: To avoid scaring hikers, slow down early, make yourself noticed and greet them in a friendly manner. A "thank you" for letting you pass and two or three friendly sentences will also ensure a good atmosphere. If you are travelling in a larger group, it doesn't hurt to prepare the hiker for the fact that they are about to be overtaken again. Hikers approaching from below: Stop, say a friendly hello and let the group pass.

Katzenkopf: trail spot for families

Worth mentioning: The trails of the Katzenkopf bike park start at the Katzenkopfhütte, where families, children and young people in particular feel at home. However, the panoramic Katzenkopfhütte is also a popular destination away from the trails. It is not clear from the report exactly where the incident described above took place last weekend.

The spatial separation between bikers and hikers as well as a suitable range of trails for mountain bikers should actually lead to relaxation between the user groups. The legal regulations in Austria, according to which driving on forest roads is prohibited throughout the country for the time beingare unfortunately poison for peaceful coexistence on the mountain. Reminder: Throughout Austria, cyclists may only use off-road paths that are explicitly signposted as bike or cycle paths. This also applies to wide forest tracks.