Overview
- North Rhine-Westphalia has published a draft that allows cycling only on Fahrwege, which are roads passable year-round by two-lane cars, or on clearly signed, officially approved trails.
- Any new trail would need consent from the relevant forest owner, creating hurdles where routes cross several private properties.
- The proposal would bar motorcycles, mopeds, pedelecs and e-scooters from forest use under the revised rules.
- Enforcement powers would expand with possible access bans and steep, tiered fines that reports say could reach €50,000 for serious violations.
- The government has opened a consultation for associations to respond, and the mountain-bike group DIMB warns the plan would shut narrow paths and leave riders mostly on wide forest roads, with the law targeted for late 2026 or early 2027 if adopted.