As of: March 15, 2024, 5:28 a.m
By: Martin Becker
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On the Isartrails near Grünwald – a popular route for mountain bikers.
© Thomas Rychly
It is the mountain bike route in the Isar floodplains: the so-called Isar trails.
Until now, it has often been a topic of contention between cyclists and conservationists.
Now official paths are to be developed and described - for 2.7 million euros.
District – The various conflicts of interest have been simmering for over three decades.
There are the increasing number of mountain bikers who are looking for a sporting challenge on narrow paths in the Isar Valley.
There are the conservationists who fight for every earthworm that is carelessly run over and denounce wild growth on the trails.
There are the authorities who are primarily concerned with safety concerns and liability issues.
And there is the climate policy idea of enabling local sporting recreation in the greater Munich area instead of sending mountain bikers tens of kilometers into the foothills of the Alps.
A complex situation, but a solution is now emerging for the so-called Isartrails between the Munich city limits and Schäftlarn: an officially recognized mountain bike route is to be created and marked with signs for 2.7 million euros, which the state capital and the Munich district will share equally.
The project, which is eagerly awaited by everyone involved, is expected to start in 2025.
The Munich section of the German Alpine Club will be responsible for the Isartrails
The history is long.
Sporty cycling beyond the wide paths has a tradition in the Isar Valley, but has repeatedly met with resistance from conservationists.
Between 2013 and 2017, everyone involved developed a so-called “steering and zone concept for the Isar local recreation area” in order to channel the sporting activity of the mountain bike scene.
Nevertheless, nothing happened for a long time until now, in the spring of 2024, facts are finally on the table following a resolution by the Munich City Council;
The state capital and the district each bear half of the total costs of 2.7 million euros, of which up to 90 percent are eligible for funding.
“We are very happy that the way is now clear for the implementation of the steering concept and that we can move on to the implementation phase,” says Christine Spiegel, spokeswoman for the Munich District Office, when asked by Münchner Merkur.
“However, there are a few further intermediate steps that need to be taken before concrete implementation can begin.
The construction of the trail and signage is expected to begin in 2025.” The structural implementation should be carried out “by an experienced trail construction company, which must first be found through a Europe-wide tender.”
The Munich section of the German Alpine Club is to take over the responsibility for the Isartrails, i.e. monitoring compliance with the rules and maintaining the routes.
It is said that a full-time position will be created specifically for this challenge in order to coordinate everything organizational and communication.
Jörg Schmidtmann, speaker for bike infrastructure at the MTB Club Munich © Thomas Rychly
Route of the Isartrails: From Marienklause Schäftlarn and back on the west side of the Isar via Baierbrunn and Pullach
The classic Isartrails start at the Marienklause in Munich, run under the Großhesseloher Bridge to the kiosk at the Grünwalder Bridge, continue via Straßlach to Schäftlarn and then return on the west side of the Isar via Baierbrunn and Pullach.
The great hope, because nothing concrete has progressed since 2017, is that the uncontrolled growth that has arisen since then in the form of small side trails beyond the desired main paths will be prevented by clear lines.
Flood of snarky comments in mountain bike forums about cost
2.7 million euros for a few signs?
With this tenor, there was a flood of derisive comments in specific mountain bike forums when the political decision was leaked.
Jörg Schmidtmann, who is involved in the project as a consultant for bike infrastructure at the MTB Club Munich, smoothes things over: “The sum of 2.7 million euros obviously sounds high at first, but professional path construction for the 27 kilometers of trails, including planning and signage, generates a lot Costs.” It’s not just about putting up signs, but about intelligent planning, including path dismantling or path optimization on sensitive (e.g. too watery) passages.
“All of this,” says Jörg Schmidtmann, “will only pay off later, but it will significantly increase the attractiveness.” He replies to the cost critics: “To prepare and maintain 27 kilometers of Isartrails on a voluntary basis or even semi-professionally is unrealistic.”
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This view of the MTB club is confirmed by the district office, where press spokeswoman Christine Spiegel emphasizes: “The cost calculation includes both initial setup measures and path maintenance.
Among other things, suitable routes in the existing network of paths and trails must be upgraded, others must be dismantled.
In addition, there are costs for the trail concept, for mapping the terrain, for signposting, public relations, monitoring and much more." This is therefore "not just about simple path construction measures, but about the design of a comprehensive concept."
The route developed is checked again and, where necessary, adjusted selectively
In order to increase acceptance among cycling interest groups, the DAV Munich section is in contact with the mountain bike network such as the MTB Club, the ADFC, the German Mountain Bike Initiative (DIMB), whose office is in Haar, and the MTB -Group of the Alpine Club.
“Further steering group meetings are being planned,” says the district office.
“The route that has been developed will now be checked again in the implementation phase and, where necessary, adjusted selectively.”
Jörg Schmidtmann, whose MTB club on the edge of the Isartrails is the sponsor for two “Isarbankerl” in Grünwald and Straßlach, expects that the initial excitement about the cost-benefit ratio in the scene will quickly dissipate: “We hope that on In the end you can simply score points with a good offer.”
Clearly identifying sporty, attractive mountain bike trails that run beyond pedestrian paths and preventing nature-harming wrong paths: That's ultimately what it's all about after countless years of lack of coordination.