Heavenly ladder trails

There is this picture: a trail that winds its way through a bare winter forest. Its name: heavenly ladder. Strictly speaking, it's the staircase next to it that bears this name, but the trails on this embankment from the open-cast mine near Cologne are now also called this. They were built by members of the local DIMB IG Erft. More are to follow. 

The existing trails are supposed to coexist, but due to the proliferation of trails in the nature reserve, a channeling solution had to be found. The DIMB (German Mountain Bike Initiative) supports such projects with the necessary administrative, organizational and trail-building expertise as well as some money. The DIMB IG Erft is responsible for maintenance.

More community trail openings in Rhineland-Palatinate

New trails have opened in several places in Rhineland-Palatinate, such as the Naheland trails in Bad Kreuznach, one of which has the uncomfortable name Flak Trail. The Nature Trail in Deidesheim contains several red and black sections. The ascent and feeder trail also has a name: Edelschweiss. The Pirmasens MTB trails, which the locals call Bärmesenser MTB-Päädelscher, have been in operation in the Palatinate Forest since May 2025. These are short sections that can be combined into different trail circuits.

Graubünden Ferien and the DIMB work together

Interesting for mountain bikers in Germany who want to ride trails in the Grisons Alps: Graubünden Ferien, the canton's tourism organization, sponsors the DIMB. Inexpensive special offers for DIMB members are in the works. The DIMB has also sent a motivated construction team to the trail-building camp on the Maighelspass in summer 2025.

1.5 m rule looms in Miesbach, Bavaria

Bavaria remains hard ground for trail bikers. The district of Miesbach is working on introducing a 1.5-metre rule, according to which trails less than 150 centimetres wide may not be used. The DIMB is defending itself together with the German Alpine Club and the German Cyclists' Association. Among other things, they refer to the 2-meter rule in the Black Forest and the impossibility of determining in individual cases whether a path is 2 meters wide or somewhat narrower. As a result, this rule does not create legal certainty and is not suitable for defusing conflicts - whether real or imagined.

The district administration has now switched to a zone solution, which the DIMB describes as a single trail ban through the back door. This is because the LK also announced: "If the zoning is not approved by the district council, a blanket ban on trails under 1.5 meters will come into force from 1 April 2027," as reported by the Münchner Merkur. The last word has not yet been spoken and, as anyone who deals with the topic knows, bans do just as little to calm the situation as driving bans, which have to be measured with a double meter.

Last round on the Deister

Things are also going badly on the Deister in the Hanover area. At the end of 2024, Ride reported in detail that the permit for the trails run with great commitment by the local bike club Deisterfreunde was due to expire on December 31, 2025. An agreement was not possible. According to the environmental department, this is because the trails are not eligible for approval in their current form. The Deisterfreunde, on the other hand, accuse the head of the environment department of making a false statement. The claim that the legal trails do not restrict illegal trail building, but rather fuel it, has also been exposed by a team from the NDF format Strg_f as unrealistic. 

The administration is reportedly working on a new solution that will involve other cycling clubs. The Deisterfreunde rode the last lap in December with 350 bikers and children.

Empty coffers bring bike park in the Black Forest to its knees

It is not the law or its interpretation by the administration that is the problem of the Bad Wildbad bike park, but its profitability. The crisis in the MTB industry is affecting the Adventure Bike Shop, which operates and maintains the trails in Bad Wildbad. These are not profitable to run, which is not sustainable for a retailer in a crisis. The local authorities are therefore discussing a takeover by a local association. One thing seems clear: there is no money to be made with the mini bike park.

The year 2025 shows: In most places in Germany, access to single trails depends on the voluntary commitment of the local community and support from the DIMB.