Siebengebirge nature reserve Mountain bikers come under scrutiny
Siebengebirge · Whether it’s a mountain biker who leaves the path, a dog owner who lets the dog run free or a mushroom collector who takes away baskets full of mushrooms, behavior in a regional nature park has come under scrutiny.
Nature conservation, wilderness, hiking and recreation. Siebengebirge means “Seven Mountains” in English and it encompasses a modestly sized nature reserve area which fulfills many functions all at once. The fact that conflicts arise should not come as a surprise. Two areas of particular concern are mountain bikers and dog owners who let their animals run around freely in the forest.
In 2013, a new plan was introduced to reduce the number of pathways available to people out hiking or biking in the nature reserve. The idea was to carve out a greater space for the forest inhabitants. It was also meant to clarify who could use which path. People are only allowed to use designated paths: a red triangle marks a path for hikers, a yellow triangle designates a biking path and a blue triangle shows the way for horseback riders.
Hans Peter Lindlar, chair of the Siebengebirge association which owns some of the land (VVS), says the rules are not there to annoy people but rather to protect the nature that they come to enjoy. When mountain bikers do not follow these designated paths, the wildlife is disturbed and the forest floor damaged.
The regional bike club ADFC has offered a bike tour through the Siebengebirge, which includes areas prohibited for bikes. As a result, the designated paths issue has been put squarely in focus once again. But a spokesperson for the Beuel group, Gerhard Baumgärtel, says they had researched in advance of the bike tour to find out the rules for this area. He didn’t realize there were exact routes and strict rules. “There are no signs, saying it is prohibited,” he says. He sees an information deficit.
Lindlar of VVS says he can’t understand this criticism. “I find it astounding that such a professional club does not know this,” he said. Since the introduction of the new plan in 2013, there have been many improvements in signage. But he sees a need to act because conflicts can easily arise on the narrow pathways. He suggests that Windeck would be a fitting place to build an attractive bike route for mountain bikers because there is simply not enough room in the Siebengebirge.
On the topic of dogs, Lindlar believes the city should provide enough space so the dogs can run around without a leash. Right now, they are required to be on a leash, mainly to protect the forest animals.
Both Baumgärtel and Lindlar agree on one point: In a nature reserve that is so well-visited, people have to be respectful of one another. As it is now, VVS volunteers come upon visitors who are violating the rules time and again. They say they are trying to inform people of what the rules are. “If this doesn’t work, then we will have to employ staff who will issue tickets in the forest.”
Information about the exact designated routes can be found at this page!
Orig. text: Katrin Janßen
Translation: ckloep
