The St. Anton hill, at 1,110 meters above sea level in the Innerrhod region, is a popular destination for both touring cyclists and mountain bikers, who set off from there on the numerous trails down to Altstätten in the canton of St. Gallen. You can get there either via the pass road, which you share with car and motorcycle drivers, or on leisurely side roads.

One of these leads through the hamlet of Bechtenrüti, in the municipality of Oberegg AI, and across a farmer’s property. He has long been annoyed by mountain bikers who race downhill past his property at high speeds. On certain days, up to 250 cyclists pass by on the road, he complains indignantly. In the Appenzeller Zeitung (behind a paywall), he explains that he tried everything—he spoke to the cyclists and sought dialogue with authorities and stakeholders—but nothing helped.

An investigation into the legal situation then revealed that a riding ban had been in effect on the road since 1974. However, the sign had long since been removed, and the ban had fallen into oblivion. Even the sign was rediscovered, and the ban was re-posted.

The MTB Rheintal Club Steps In

The region is the MTB Rheintal Club’s area of operation. For years, the group has been working in the area around Altstätten, St. Gallen, and the neighboring cantons of Appenzell Innerrhoden and Ausserrhoden to ensure that trail biking is conducted in an orderly manner. A marked trail network in the area—where there is now a dispute over riding on a paved road—is nearing completion.

Alex Gamper is co-president of MTB Rheintal and tells Ride: “The farmer never contacted us. We only found out about the problem when the “No Biking” sign was already there.” He contacted the man, but the man refused to listen. The riding ban is legally valid—end of discussion. “We’ve had positive results in other places by placing pasture barriers across the road—which riders can only pass slowly—and putting up signs appealing to common sense,” explains Gamper. The farmer wouldn’t hear of it. As far as he’s concerned, the ban settles the matter.

It’s clear to Alex Gamper and anyone familiar with mountain bike navigation: the ban will have a hard time holding up. If a “No Biking” sign suddenly appears on a route—especially on an unsuspecting paved road that runs past fields, forests, and a few houses—many cyclists won’t let that stop them from continuing to ride there.

 

 

 

 

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The ban is unlikely to solve the problem

Gamper explains that, regarding the trail network, the MTB Rheintal club has long been working constructively with the municipality of Oberegg AI. The cyclists have now presented the municipality with a proposed solution:  From the association’s perspective, it would make sense to build a trail along the edge of the nearby forest where cyclists could ride up to St. Anton or down from there at a safe distance from the farm. However, the farmer isn’t keen on the idea, protesting that he would then have to put up even more pasture fences.

They are also in talks with the restaurant on St. Anton, says Gamper. The family that runs the restaurant—which also promotes cycling and mountain biking in the area on its website—has no interest in making the journey more difficult for their guests.

Gamper simply says, “The farmer has our number and knows how to reach us if he realizes that the riding ban isn’t working.”

Ride, of course, does not recommend disregarding riding bans. Nor does it recommend speeding through farmyards and past residential homes. The Ride Tour to St. Anton starts in Altstätten, SG, and therefore takes a wide detour around the controversial road.