The Isar floodplains are one of the local recreational areas of the metropolis of Munich. Mountain bikers love to enjoy themselves on the Isar trails. The pressure to use them is high, as even mountain bike magazines confirm. As in so many places, the coronavirus has exacerbated the situation with wild trails and fat, self-shoveled jumps.

Munich has more than 1.5 million inhabitants. 22.7 percent of Germans ride mountain bikes, 5.3 percent even frequently. That makes more than 70,000 regular mountain bikers in Munich. If only half of them ride the Isar trails from time to time, that's a lot of people.

The city and district of Munich are now putting a lid on 2024. The steering concept, which has been discussed and developed for years, is intended to steer biking in an orderly fashion and away from the most sensitive natural areas. The initial implementation will cost 1.35 million euros, with 100,000 euros budgeted for maintenance, per year from 2025 to 2029.

The promise: Steering without bans

"Natur Erholung Isartal" is the name of the concept developed back in 2017. According to bike Magazin, it provides for guidance for mountain bikers without bans. This is achieved by means of a defined and signposted network of 78 kilometers of trails. "Wild trails" will be closed and ecologically particularly sensitive areas can be closed.

The German mountain bike media are behaviourally positive, emphasizing that the implementation of the concept will secure the Isar trails for the future and protect nature at the same time.

However, it is not yet clear which trails will be signposted as mountain bike trails and reinforced accordingly. The exact trail network is still being planned, says one of the people in charge of the bike. A trail construction company is expected to tackle the expansion in 2025.

The Munich section of the German Alpine Club is responsible for the Isar trails. The association assures the bike that it will defend itself if bans are imposed - apart from in areas that are particularly worthy of protection. Looking after the Isar trails is a major task. The DAV has the capacity and professionalism to fulfill it. The annual budget of 100,000 euros shows that there will be a lot of work to do even after completion. Which is to be expected in view of the expected frequencies.