Project

Yes. It is planned to define the connecting routes in such a way that they bring the most benefit to the local businesses.

From the beginning of this project, the environmental service, as the approval authority, as well as the district administration with the district heads and HessenForst were involved. In addition, interest groups such as NABU have been and will continue to be involved in the future.

One of the aims of this project is to bring the forest and nature closer to the users. One of the activity pillars explicitly includes the experience of nature. Thus, it is of great concern to all participants to burden nature as little as possible. For this reason, the environmental service, as the licensing authority, as well as the district administration with the district management and Hessen Forst were involved from the outset. The project office also has a very large database of information on nature conservation law. These are taken into account in the planning and can be bypassed from the outset. In addition, indications from stakeholders are also included in the planning.

The trails are laid out in a very nature-friendly way. Often you don't even need an additional surface, but use the materials on site. In addition, no large excavators or other tools are needed, so that the area around the trail does not suffer any major damage. In addition, critical areas are avoided.

In contrast to "wild" trails, which often run steeply through the terrain or forest roads with a gradient of over 10%, the incline of the trails is rather low. In addition, the trails are designed/built in such a way that the water does not run off on the trails and thus cannot cause erosion gullies or the like. High-quality construction channels the water in such a way that erosion does not occur in the first place.

Use of the trails is generally limited to daytime. This means that the activity times of humans and animals do not overlap. Experiences from Willingen have confirmed that the animals are hardly or not at all affected by the mountain bikers.

General rules for the use of the trails are to be laid down, which in principle also prohibit use in the dark.

The aim is to create more awareness for nature through various marketing measures. In the general rules of use, it is pointed out among other things that rubbish is to be taken away again. Service stations and the like should also provide opportunities to dispose of rubbish.

The bicycle market is booming and in many areas, also in the district of Waldeck-Frankenberg, cyclists are becoming independent. People cycle on footpaths, field and forest paths or even in the forest, where visually there could be a path. This process cannot be prevented. However, it is possible to directly influence where cyclists ride. In order to be able to do this, an offer must be created that creates the incentive to want to cycle there. This is what the project achieves. Cyclists are guided along the desired trails and paths, thus calming the potential for conflict between the user groups. In addition, "wild riding" is prevented and nature is relieved.

For the trail parks, areas were selected that are in public ownership. There are no plans to build on private land.

In 2019, a public-law agreement for a feasibility study was concluded with the 14 municipalities that wanted to participate in the planning. At that time, the southern district decided not to participate in this project. At that time, however, the objectives were not as clearly defined as they are now. However, the municipalities still have the option of joining the special purpose association.

When the trail parks are gradually built in the district municipalities, mountain bikers will first have to ride through the municipalities that are not currently participating in the project. However, the neighbouring municipalities in NRW have already expressed great interest. Therefore, there is also the possibility of creating the connection via NRW.