Biken on Austrian "Wanderwege"

[Pokora]

We are planning to make some MTB tours in Austria - Kärnten (at this moment in the region around Millstadt). Of course, our dreams are single trails (we found quite many on maps), but that means that we want to ride our bikes on the same paths that as hikers.

As we don`t want to come into conflict with hikers, hunters or any other person, we are looking for useful information.

So at this point we want to know what are general (legal) rules for biking on single trails in Austria. Is it allowed by law? Are there any restrictions, if there are, how are they shown? What is general (common) opinion of public about MTB?

All useful information are welcome

Denis

 

[franzam]

Most time there is no problem between hikers and bikers.

HP of Tirol:

http://www.tirol.at/xxl/de/772472/_id/816400/index.html
http://www.tirol.gv.at/themen/sport/radfahren/mountainbike/

and of Kärnten:

http://www.rad.kaernten.at/?siid=1823&LAid=1&jid=so

 

[dave m]

Hi Pokora.
I don't know exactly how it's handled by law, first of all. But from my experience I can say that as long as your polite to hikers and all the other ones, no one is going to say anything negative to you. I've been to Austria 2 years ago and no one cared about whether the trail is free for bikers or not. Another thing i recognized was that those people I got in conflict with were people making holidays there ,too. And though they argued with me about the trail, me and my bike they didn't do anything more than talking. So far from what me, hope I gave you some usefull information.
Marco

 

[Pokora]

These are nice news...

Especially on links about biking in Tirol I found some good information that important people (those who are taking decisions) are supporting MTB and they understand its development and that there are many people (we) who are looking for single trails...

Of course we are respecting other users of trails, but we are planning to do these tours in a group of about 10 to 15 bikers and in this case we can be well seen and we can cause undesired reaction of other trail users...

Thats why I am asking you these questions...

 

[go-ridin']

Hi Pokora,
if you are planning to do a group trip you have to regognize that the guide is responible for the group in case of an accident or trouble with other trailusers.
Riding alone isn't the problem even if you are on a trail that is not designatet for bikers. When you are in Tirol you should stay on signed trails only. Using other trails is prohibited in austria and your liability migth not cover any damages or injuries of participant of your tour (if you are taking money).
Further south in the `trentino´ and at the `lago di garda´ there you find regulations that allows you to ride on open trails only. Do not use trails that are banned with signs. If the police stops you it'll be expensive.

To avoid negative reactions of other trailusers think about seperating the group (if you are at least two guides, what we strongly recommend) in two parts, may be a stronger group and one with less experience.

In case you are capable of reading german, have a look at our homepage: www.dimb.de (we are an IMBA-affiliated organisation) and the following document concerning the regulations in Italy (http://www.dimb.de//images/stories/pdf/trentino_presseerklaerung-060327.pdf)


Have fun though and respect your playground.
go ridin'

 

[Pokora]

@go-ridin'

thank you for information you gave me.

I know for Dimb for quite some time and we have similar actions also in our country (to open trails for bikers). The Dimb trail rules
http://www.dimb.de/index.php?option=content&task=view&id=17&Itemid=43
are the rules we are considering and respecting when biking.

We know Garda region quite well, too.
If there (anywhere) is the sign that prohibits biking, it is better to respect it and not to go for biking there. But situation is much different if there is general rule that prohibits biking and if there are controls on site and no signs... That`s why I am asking you these questions.
Anyway, we are not making tours for maney, we are simply a group of bikers who have similar interests and more or less similar biking skills, we usually/often communicate trough bike forum and from time to time we go also abroad. This time no very far away

We all really enjoy biking, especially on nice single trails...

Denis