Cycling bans in the district of Miesbach: Bikers mobilise against new regulations

The district of Miesbach is planning a blanket ban on cycling on paths less than 1.5 metres wide. Although some exceptions have been defined, these can be changed by the district authority at any time without special examination. The German Mountain Bike Initiative (DIMB) and the German Alpine Club (DAV) see this as an alarming development that undermines the legally guaranteed right of access. Those affected have until 11 August 2025 to submit their comments.

I myself live not far from Miesbach and am directly affected by the district administration's plans. I do my job and recreational activities in the district. By definition, mountain biking takes place on narrow paths in the countryside. In certain areas, the planned regulations would push bikers into illegality. Perhaps the statement can prevent the worst from happening. - Jan Timmermann, BIKE editor

New regulations threaten mountain bike trails

The district of Miesbach lies south-east of the Bavarian capital of Munich and is an attractive destination for many mountain bikers. Now a drastic change is in the offing for bikers. According to current draft regulations, the district administration is planning a blanket ban on cycling on all paths less than 1.5 metres wide in five of the six protected landscape areas. Only the "Egartenlandschaft rund um Miesbach" landscape conservation area is to be exempt from this regulation. The draft regulations are currently on public display and can be viewed on the district's website. This development is viewed with great concern by mountain bike associations, as it could set a precedent that could also set a precedent in other Bavarian districts. The DIMB and DAV have already taken a clear stance against the planned restrictions and are calling on those affected to also become active and take a stand.

What is particularly problematic about the planned regulations is the fact that they effectively override the right to access the great outdoors as enshrined in the Bavarian Nature Conservation Act. Although the district authority has defined a number of paths that are to be exempt from the blanket ban, these exemptions are on shaky ground. This is because the authority authorises itself by decree to adjust these exceptions at any time without special examination or consideration of further legal bases. This means that even trails that are currently still open could be closed without any major administrative effort. The DIMB describes this situation as "very alarming" and "unacceptable". In a detailed article on its website, the organisation has already documented the steps it has taken so far to combat the impending bans. There is a lot at stake for the mountain bike community, as narrow trails less than 1.5 metres wide are a major part of the appeal of biking and are a key reason for many to take up the sport.

>> Cult manufacturer Yeti has just opened its European headquarters in the district of Miesbach. Will test drives soon be illegal?

>> The Bavarian radio station Bayerischer Rundfunk even reported on the commitment of mountain bikers in the district of Miesbach.

Call for comments

Anyone who feels affected by the impending cycling bans has until 11 August 2025 to make their views known. This applies regardless of where you live, so that mountain bikers from neighbouring districts or more distant regions who regularly ride in the district of Miesbach can also express their concerns. A simple e-mail to the address umweltrecht@lra-mb.bayern.de is sufficient to explain their own position. The DIMB and the DAV recommend emphasising the personal connection to the district of Miesbach and the bike trails there in the statement. The more personal and individualised the comments are, the greater the chance that they will be heard by the decision-makers and could lead to a revision of the planned regulations.

The associations fear that the Miesbach district's approach could set a precedent if it is not stopped. If the district succeeds in imposing far-reaching restrictions on mountain biking via ordinances, thereby cancelling out the legally guaranteed right of access, other districts could follow suit. This would lead to a creeping restriction of mountain biking opportunities throughout Bavaria. The DIMB and the DAV see this not only as a threat to the sport, but also as a problematic approach to existing legal principles. The right to access the great outdoors is a valuable asset that should not be lightly restricted. For this reason, the associations believe it is important to take a clear stance now and oppose the planned bans. The more mountain bikers raise their voices, the clearer it becomes that this is not about individual interests, but about the concerns of a large group of nature users who want to see their rights protected.

>> There is positive news from the south of Munich in Würmtal. Thanks to the commitment of the locals, some routes have been legalised there.

>> Schliersee is also located in the district of Miesbach. Some of the most beautiful MTB tours in the Bavarian Alps run nearby.