Schwäbisch Gmünd: On the way to a mountain bike paradise with new trails!

Schwäbisch Gmünd: On the way to a mountain bike paradise with new trails!

In Schwäbisch Gmünd and the surrounding area, mountain bike fever is sprouting like fresh green after the rain. More and more active cycling departments have been formed in Weiler, Bargau and Waldstetten. But although demand is booming, there are hardly any legal trails to ride in the region. The Moemoea Trail in Schaubenwald is currently the only legal way out for bikers. This was created independently and has its own biker code, which strengthens the community of mountain bikers and at the same time promotes responsibility for nature. The trail winds over the Bargauer Horn, Weiler and the Hornberg and allows cyclists to enjoyably explore the region without breaking any regulations.

Frank Wendel, the head of the sports department, has big plans: “We want to develop Gmünd into a bike mecca,” is his ambitious vision. To make this a reality, the city is working with mountain bikers to plan three legal trails. The bikers rely on modern GPS technology to optimally explore the routes. A total of three tours will be created with a total length of almost 113 kilometers, including over 15 kilometers specifically for mountain bikers. A trail will be connected to the Heubacher network, further improving connections in the region.

Conflicts and challenges

But the joy about the new trails is clouded by conflicts between different user groups. Hikers, hunters, farmers, foresters and conservation activists often face conflicting interests. The problem: Illegal trails are taking up more and more space where legal ones are missing. What started as a harmless hobby has in recent years, especially since Corona, caused increasing pressure on forests to be used - particularly due to the popularity of e-bikes.

Especially in such conflict situations, there must be ways to mediate between nature conservation and the needs of mountain bikers. Nature conservation organizations warn of the possible effects on sensitive ecosystems. It becomes clear here: a lack of sustainable trail offerings often leads to illegal driving. This problem affects many regions; In the Deister, too, forestry inspections have uncovered illegal purchasing aids when creating trails.

The way into the future

However, the development of new trails raises some questions. A central issue is the use of different properties. Liability agreements must be made to ensure smooth cooperation between bikers and property owners. Wendel knows that a concentration of illegal routes can only worsen the situation and announces that all necessary permits should be in place by the summer holidays.

With the support of members of the local council and the person responsible for tourism in the city, the project has promising signs. The key to solving the problems could lie in intelligent planning and visitor management, as is already practiced in other countries. Examples from Switzerland and Italy show that mountain biking and nature conservation do not have to be contradictory.

Finally, it remains to be hoped that the unification of the interests of all those involved will pave the way to harmonious coexistence. Because one thing is certain: the ban on illegal trails can only actually work with attractive and well-planned legal offers. Further information on current developments in Schwäbisch Gmünd can be found at Rem newspaper, while learning more about the challenges of illegal trails Hunting, of course can be read. The discourse about mountain bike infrastructure versus nature conservation is also raised LinkedIn continued.