"The problem is that some bikers just want to ride everywhere and are not prepared to take their environment into consideration. The Forest Act clearly states that cycling is only permitted on paved paths. This must now be implemented," Stefan Kink, president of the Arlesheim civic community, explains his position to the Basler Zeitung. However, it is not yet clear to those responsible how the ban is to be implemented. But they seem to be motivated to take action.

Mountain bikers are disappointed by the stubborn attitude of the municipalities, who only want to allow mountain bikers to use developed forest roads and not single trails. This does not deviate in the slightest from the cantonal forest law, and the authorities do not seem to take the needs of mountain bikers seriously or to be aware of them. "But we bikers also want technically challenging trails," Jakob Weber, representing the mountain bikers, told the Basler Zeitung. However, no one at the authorities seems to be interested in the needs of mountain bikers.The affected area is the Schauenburg-Hard-Birseck region with the municipalities of Arlesheim, Münchenstein, Muttenz, Pratteln, Birsfelden and Frenkendorf. They are all now threatening to rigorously implement the forest parapgraph.Neighboring municipalities such as Riehen or Bettingen or the city of Zurich with the Uetliberg show that amicable solutions can also be found. However, the Basel region is not open to such or similar concessions. People would rather see their offspring in the fan curve of the football arena than on single trails in the forest.No matter what the municipalities do next: Mountain bikers will still be there, even on the single trails. Buses that cannot be implemented do not play a role here. It is a fact that mountain biking is becoming an increasingly important leisure activity for the Swiss. Today, it is estimated that there are 300,000 active mountain bikers who regularly ride this sport. Even the authorities in Basel can't turn a blind eye to this. Waving the fine booklet, they want to resolve conflicts of use - in vain.