The accusations are the same as in Switzerland: mountain bikers create their own trails, disturb wildlife and flora and scare off people on foot and other forest users. The problem also became more acute in the hilly forests around Saarbrücken as more and more people sought recreation in the forest during the pandemic. Complaints became more frequent and bike traps endangered trail enthusiasts.

What happened next is also nothing new: the mountain bikers formed an association and began working with the relevant authorities to find a solution. In 2020, the Mountainbikeverein Saarbrücken e.V. presented a concept showing how a trail network could be realized legally and with the involvement of all stakeholders.

This is where the Saarbrücken case differs from others. This was not the start of years of wrangling over where the route should be for mountain bikers to have fun from now on. The bikers confidently proposed legalizing 15 existing trails and using them as the basis for the official route network.

And lo and behold, the environmental ministry of the federal state of Saarland approved 13 of the 15 proposed trails. A few days ago, the responsible state secretary, the public forestry company and two representatives of the Saarbrücken mountain bike association signed a "permit agreement". This sets out the rules that apply to the 13 trails in terms of responsibility, road safety and nature conservation. The next step will be to install the signage and develop the trails so that they comply with the aforementioned rules.It is astonishing how quickly wild trails have become legal routes in the area surrounding the state capital of Saarbrücken, which has roughly the same population as Basel. Creating more bike trails remains illegal, emphasizes the State Secretary in the press release from the Ministry of the Environment. However, the process that led to the trail network, as well as the legal basis, should set a precedent throughout the state.

Media release from the Saarland Ministry of the Environment and Consumer Protection

Mountainbikeverein Saarland e. V.

Concept trail network regional association Saarbrücken