Sometimes events overtake reporting. Weeks ago, Ride spoke to representatives of the mountain bike community in the canton of Zug and a representative of the authorities about the new forest law there and what it means for trail biking. Much is still unclear but will be clarified in the coming weeks, they said, and there will soon be a public information event.

Now the Zuger Zeitung (paid content) reports that Zug mountain bikers have started collecting signatures for a referendum on the law. Without a paywall, you can read the story on zentralplus. 

And this is the backstory: A few weeks ago, the cantonal council passed a new forest law. It states: Cycling in the forest is now only permitted on forest roads and defined bike routes. Where the bike routes run is set out in the structure plan, which is still being drawn up. The first drafts are public. They show that it is still possible to ride trails. However, some popular narrow paths are excluded. Or as one guide describes: "Often you are no longer allowed to take exactly the interesting turn-off."

Mountain bikers were involved in the development of the structure plan

Bikers, above all the IG Mountainbiker Zug, were involved in the development of the structure plan and have entered hundreds of popular single trails on maps. Ride has reported on this. The result is not a trail wasteland, but a significantly thinned-out network that excludes some trails that have been ridden for decades.

As already mentioned, the new structure plan has not yet been finalized. However, many concerns have already been included - those of the landowners are particularly important. 75 percent of the forest area belongs to corporations. The large owner associations are involved in the development of the structure plan. The structure plan should be finalized in 2025. The Mountabiniker no longer believe that it will define an attractive single trail network after all. That's why they are now relying on a legislative referendum.

If they can collect 1,500 signatures in the canton with a population of just over 130,000 (note: high proportion of expats), the population will vote on the forest law. The cantonal council approved the new forest law in January by 65 votes to 5. The mountain bikers hope that their support among voters will be greater.