The Mountain biking is a hot topic during the corona crisis boiled over in many places. Throughout Germany, the voices of hunters, conservationists and foresters, for whom trails are a thorn in the side, became louder and louder. It was only a matter of time, corona was just an accelerant: Germany is a developing country when it comes to trails for mountain bikers. In response to this, we have "Love Trails - Respect Rules" campaign and are committed to peaceful coexistence in the forest and on trails. But we don't just want to point out grievances and establish rules of behaviour, we also want to show the positive developments and encourage people for a rosy future as mountain bikers on legal trails. And the good news is: something is happening in Germany! In our news ticker, we report on current trail projects and hotspots from the most diverse corners of the republic.
Bavaria
Rhön, Bad Kissingen/Bad Brückenau: 30 MTB trails with a total length of 1000 kilometres are planned here. The existing network of forest trails is to be supplemented "with a high proportion of trails". The Schwarze Berge team and students from the mountain bike club at Bad Brückenau secondary school are involved in building the trails. A nice addition to the existing Flowtrail Kreuzberg. The bike park on Arnsberg is still being negotiated. Info about the region: www.rhoentrail.com
Augsburg: For years, the western forests outside the city were considered an unofficial supertrail area - then suddenly there were bike bans. However, the locals have now joined together to form a large association and have since found a sympathetic ear and willingness to discuss the matter with the relevant authorities. The new MTB Augsburg e.V. is currently working on a future-orientated trail network model that everyone can officially live with. Info: www.mtb-augsburg.de
Nuremberg: Green light also in the Franconian metropolis. At the foot of the Schmausenbuck, work was carried out in secret for several years - this summer, the demolition excavators threatened. But thanks to open talks between Dimb IG Nürnberg-Fürth and the responsible forestry authorities, not only can the majority of the buildings remain standing, but more lines can even be drawn! Current news on the Facebook page of the NBG Schmausenbuck Locals.
Bamberg: Ambitious goals are being set in Upper Franconia. A trail connection between Bamberg and Lichtenfels is being planned. That's a distance of almost 40 kilometres by car alone. If this project materialises, it would probably be Bavaria's longest single trail.
Kelheim: A biker trap on an illegally created trail brought Kelheim mountain bikers into the public eye this summer. The newly elected mayor Christian Schweiger (CSU) condemned the sharpened nails driven into roots in the strongest terms and made the matter a top priority following press reports in the daily newspaper. He invited all regional interest groups to a round table to de-escalate the situation in the forest. The discussion between the mayor, forester, landowner, local cycling clubs, conservationists and other parties was thoroughly constructive. After the meeting, there was a unanimous consensus: anyone who opposes the bike boom with trail bans is provoking illegal trail building and thus future conflicts in the forest. Together with a working group from the entire district, the mayor now wants to legalise attractive MTB routes and trails close to the town. The offer should satisfy all types of mountain bikers and thus also prevent new, wild trails. The mayor recently assured the regional press: "A lot has already happened." However, the working group on mountain biking is still in the process of co-ordination. The next large-scale meeting is scheduled for November. The concept will then be officially presented. The local bike scene is confident. "Attractive, legal trails are the only way to stop the uncontrolled growth. If the offer is right, bikers are also prepared to avoid trails that were previously illegal, e.g. in nature reserves," explains our deputy editor-in-chief Ludwig Döhl from Kelheim. "We have to manage to steer the sport in an organised way in order to keep the future rush on the trails acceptable for the other interest groups in the forest. Up to 50 children ride mountain bikes every week in the club training programme. The youngsters are keen on the trails and need an official offer." Incidentally, the trapper from the summer was not found by the police.
District of Miesbach: The picture-book landscape around Tegernsee and Schliersee will probably remain a paradise for wealthy pensioners. Luxury hotels and Kneipp pools are being built here as a priority. An official trail or pump track for young people was rejected by the local council in October. And all this while 60 children and their parents were demonstrating in favour of the construction of a bike facility in Gmund. Now one of these fathers wants to finance such a bike playground for the kids out of his own pocket and is looking for a suitable location. If anyone in the region has a suitable plot of land for sale or lease, please send information to: info@tegernseerstimme.de
Current status, Friday, 30.10.20: The Gmund municipal council has agreed in principle to a "bike playground" and promised "start-up funding". Next Monday, track construction specialist Guido Tschugg will be travelling from the Allgäu to assess possible locations with all those involved and Bavarian television. Whether the summer toboggan run in Ostin would be suitable for a larger project, such as a downhill run, will be discussed the following Tuesday. The next municipal council meeting has been scheduled for 17 November.
Bad Tölz/Warngau: For years, mountain bikers were tolerated on their local mountain, Taubenberg. But trails like this don't stay secret for long in social media times. Especially not when they are only a 30-minute drive south of Munich. In addition to a lot of trouble with landowners, foresters and environmental organisations, there have also been headlines about rowdy bikers and blocked access roads. Despite all the efforts of the local bike scene, the responsible authorities have not yet been swayed. The trails on the Taubenberg are currently closed to bikers.
Fichtelgebirge: After a long discussion and planning phase, the green light has finally been given for the bike park on the Großer Kornberg. The 827 metre high mountain between Hof, Selb and Wunsiedel has always served as a local recreation and skiing area, but was in danger of falling into disrepair due to the lack of winter. Now the Free State of Bavaria is providing 1.6 million in funding to modernise the facility for future generations with a bike park. An MTB base camp is planned in the newly designed Kornberghaus with a shop, workshop, first aid room, catering and showers. In addition to a drag lift, there will also be a "magic carpet" (conveyor belt) and, of course, various downhill runs. The new Kornberghaus is already in place, the ground-breaking ceremony for the trails is scheduled for spring 2021 and the opening ceremony for summer 2021.
Thuringia
Oberhof Bike Park: "Future-orientated regional development for year-round tourism" - what sounds a little brittle in officialese feels very fun in reality: A total of six kilometres of flow trails were carved into the landscape here this summer, 2.5 kilometres of more challenging natural trails were signposted, an airbag was inflated and a large jumpline was modelled. The total of ten kilometres of trails can be reached by chairlift. Info: www.bikepark-oberhof.de
Saxony
Seiffen: "Blockline" is the name of the latest project in the Ore Mountains. A 140-kilometre, family-friendly MTB circuit is being planned between Seiffen and Altenberg. The route will be signposted and can also be shortened. Another nice piece of the puzzle in the Ore Mountains - alongside the Rabenberg trail centre, the Miriquidi trails, the Seiffen marathon route and the Stoneman trail. Info: https://blockline.bike
Saarland
Municipality of Perl: In the far west of Saarland, inspiration for a new trail network has been drawn from the MTB-friendly neighbours France and Luxembourg. Here too, schoolchildren can help dig creative lines in the Meeswald forest. This summer, a large tarmac pump track and a cross-country course were created for this purpose. Next year, the designation of the trail-containing "Perl 100" route is on the programme. And the 100 refers to the number of kilometres. Info: https://perl.saarland/mountainbike-infrastruktur.html
Rhineland-Palatinate
Hunsrück-Hochwald: Bikepark Idarkopf - Nico Reuter from ecoparc-Concepts has been trying to install Germany's largest bike park in the former ski resort on the Idarkopf since 2013. He now has all the relevant local authorities on his side with the status of "project of overriding interest", but Reuter has not yet been able to convince the Naturschutzinitiative e. V. nature conservation initiative, despite extensive planned compensation measures. New nature conservation reports will now be prepared and submitted by mid-November to ensure that the authorisation is legally secure. This means that the authorisation procedure can be resumed this year. Project manager Nico Reuter is optimistic. Info: www.bikepark-idarkopf.com
Koblenz: In April 2020, Koblenz city council announced in a press release that it wanted to put an end to the "environmentally damaging" activities of mountain bikers in the city forest. The locals then founded the "MTB Initiative Koblenz" association and invited the city council members to an expert inspection of the bike trails. With success. The association is now working on a "sustainable trail concept" that should convince the city council to approve a legal network of trails. More information on the Facebook page of the MTB Initiative Koblenz.
Bad Kreuznach: For 10 years the Flowtrail Stromberg a real institution in the southern Hunsrück. 40,000 descents are counted here every year. However, the town council has now announced that the "Wildhog" section, which is particularly popular with families, may have to make way for a forest cemetery. The meeting took place on 6 October 2020 and the result has not yet been announced. Info: www.flowtrail-stromberg.de
Baden-Württemberg
Stuttgart: At the beginning of September, hundreds of bikers demonstrated in front of Stuttgart City Hall against the blanket two-metre rule in Baden-Württemberg. The latter has been in place for a long time, but this summer bikers in Stuttgart's city forest were fined by the police for offences for the first time. After the demonstration, the protesters took a lap of the Woodpecker Trail, the only authorised trail in Stuttgart's city park. They wanted to show that one trail alone is not enough for the 1000 members of "Mountainbike Stuttgart e.V.". Whether this demonstration was successful remains to be seen. Info: www.mtb-stuttgart.com
Sasbachwalden: The small town of Sasbachwalden in the northern Black Forest shows how you can transform a black building into an exemplary trail network. Here, too, there were repeated conflicts due to wild trail building activities by young locals. However, the municipality looked ahead and decided in 2014 to integrate mountain biking as a further pillar of its tourism offering. Together with young people and long-established members of the regional downhill and enduro scene, it developed a trail concept that gave rise to the Schaeffler MTB Arena. The seven kilometres of trail are now frequented by up to 2000 bikers at weekends, while the town itself has hardly any inhabitants. As a sponsor, the company Schaeffler is not only speculating on greater brand awareness, but actually sees the bike offer as an attractive plus to make the region more attractive for potential employees. The Bikesport Sasbachwalden club now has 300 members, and the Gravity youth team with around 20 riders is the largest DH youth development programme in Europe. A skills area and a trail extension to eleven kilometres are currently being planned. Info: www.bikesport-sasbachwalden.de
Schwäbisch Gmünd: The Moemoea Trail at the sports facilities in Mutlangen was approved by the TÜV and officially opened at the end of October. Although section one is only 300 metres long, it is to be extended by a further 300 metres from March 2021. This project in the land of the two-metre rule was made possible by an online petition with 2,000 signatures, a very understanding forester and a not particularly species-rich spruce forest. The local bikers were allowed to build it themselves, with soil and a whole container of tools provided by the building yard in the forest. Incidentally, the name Moemoea comes from the Maori language and means "adventure and joie de vivre". Current information and opening times can be found on the Instagram page.
Hesse
Sontra: Planned in the Corona spring and realised in just a few months: The town of Sontra donated 4000 square metres to its biking community members and laid out a large, asphalted pump track on it. A trail course is wrapped around it. And when the daylight runs out, the floodlights are switched on without further ado. Info: www.sontra.de
Hohenahr: After the mayor drove past the illegally dug but tolerated trails of the local bikers, a few discussions between him and the local bikers gave rise to the idea of the Hohenahr Trail Park. The mayor, himself a biker, took care of the authorisations with the forestry, nature conservation, hunting tenants, etc. and in return demanded a trail suitable for beginners throughout. As the operators and users of the dirt park in the neighbouring village wanted to give up their previous location and were looking for a new location, they joined forces with the bikers of the Hohenahr trail park in order to exploit synergies. A mountain bike department is now to be set up within the local club, which will be responsible for the Hohenahr trail park, including the new dirt line. In the meantime, six trails have been created through hundreds of hours of voluntary manual labour and a new dirt line is currently under construction. Once opened, the trails may only be used by members as "club trails". A kind of one-day membership is planned for non-members and those from outside the club. Only the recently completed Mayor's Trail will be officially integrated into a signposted circuit around the municipality. The official opening of the Hohenahr Trail Park is planned for 2021. The initiators are looking for more motivated bikers from the region to maintain the trails.
North Rhine-Westphalia
Iserlohn: Two new, legal trails have been created in Iserlohn's city forest over the course of the year thanks to the voluntary efforts of the local MTB department "Dead Pedals Society" of TuS Iserlohn. The Eisenwald trails consist of two lines, each about one kilometre long. The blue beginner trail "Schmelzbahn" is also suitable for beginners and children. The red trail is called "Drahtrolle" and is signposted from the Schmelzplatz car park through the city forest. Info: www.iserlohn.de/stadtmarketing-tourismus/mountainbiking
Haltern am See: On 4 June, the "Haard on Tour" mountain bike circuit was opened in the middle of the Ruhr region, between Haltern am See and Recklinghausen. The 42-kilometre route through the hilly and wooded landscape of "die Haard" has an elevation gain of 500 metres and is signposted throughout. The route can be accessed from seven car parks on the edge of the nature park. The project is a joint venture between the Haardbiker mountain bike club and the Ruhr Regional Association and was partly funded by the state and the EU. The sandy trails are shared by bikers, pedestrians and horse riders. Info: www.ruhr-tourismus.de
Is your project missing from the list? Is something happening on your home trails in terms of legal trails? Write to us via the social networks or by email to info@bike-magazin.de
Gitta Beimfohr
Editor
