The steady spread of the coronavirus has prompted the federal government to take drastic measures. From Wednesday, all shops that are not necessary for the basic supply of the population will remain closed. Clothing boutiques, pubs and even bike shops are allowed to open with the recent government decision will therefore no longer be open for the time being. Various cycling industry associations have welcomed this decision in an open letter, despite the restrictions for their own industry.
Statements on Corona from the bicycle industry
Open letter from Jörg Müsse - BICO Zweirad Marketing GmbH, Franz-Josef Feldkämper - Bundesinnungsverband Zweirad-Handwerk, Wasilis von Rauch - Bundesverband Zukunft Fahrrad e.V.; Thomas Kunz - Verband des Deutschen Zweiradhandels e. V., Albert Herresthal - Verbund Service und Fahrrad e.V., Georg Honkomp - Zweirad-Einkaufs-Genossenschaft eG, Siegfried Neuberger- Zweirad-Industrie-Verband e.V.:
"The cycling industry associations support the measures announced yesterday by the federal and state governments. The primary goal in the coming weeks must be to slow down the spread of the coronavirus. In terms of implementation, we assume that bicycle repair shops will be able to continue offering their services.
Millions of people will follow Health Minister Spahn's advice and use their bikes instead of buses and trains in the coming weeks. That's exactly right! Some are already doing so, others will have to get their bike out of the cellar and repair it. This is not the only reason why there will be a high demand for bicycle repair shops. After all, the bicycle will be the most important means of transport next to the car in the coming weeks, as it is infection-proof and can be used by everyone."
Bike shops, such as Herobikes from Roth, are faced with the challenge of how to maintain workshop operations without customer contact.
The next few days will show what this looks like in concrete terms. According to the Tagesspiegel, the Berlin Senate has exempted the capital's bicycle shops from the opening ban. The online article also states that the bike hire provider Nextbike rents out its bikes free of charge for 30 minutes to ensure the mobility of citizens despite restrictions on public transport. Online shops or direct mail order companies such as Canyon, Bike-Components or Bike-Discount can continue to operate for the time being anyway. Many companies in the industry have sent their employees to work from home as far as possible. The next issue of BIKE is also currently being produced from home.
In France, outdoor sports are still permitted.
In Italy, Spain, Austria, France and other countries, the governments have adopted a Curfew imposed on the entire population. Bavarian Prime Minister Markus Söder has described this as the most drastic measure in the fight against the coronavirus. Germany has not yet reached that stage. In countries with a lockdown, you are only allowed to leave your own home in exceptional circumstances. There are certainly more important things than your own hobby, but French President Macron explicitly pointed this out on 17 March 2020 via his Interior Minister Christophe Castaner,
that outdoor sports are allowed in France even during the curfew. The French Cycling association, on the other hand, currently bans professionals from practising their profession. The situation is similar in Italy and Spain. These countries impose heavy fines on cyclists during the curfew. Several sources confirm this. In one well-researched article on fitbook.de In contrast, several doctors say that outdoor exercise is fine even during the coronavirus crisis.
In France, you are also allowed to go jogging or for a walk during the lockdown. But only alone. Cycling is more or less a matter of interpretation. Team sports, such as football, remain taboo. Rugged trails should also be avoided at all costs to minimise the risk of injury. Official cycling training sessions organised by clubs should be avoided, even if they take place in the fresh air. Outdoor sports are therefore generally fine as long as you do them alone. There is no curfew in Germany at the moment anyway and Sport can, to a healthy extent can be carried out without hesitation. In an interview, pharmacist and former MTB pro Wolfram Kurschat reveals, What to look out for when exercising during the coronavirus crisis.
All further developments relating to the Corona and mountain biking can be found here.
