New Italian trails law – what does Italy’s new 2.5 metre rule mean for mountain bikers?
Heading to Finale Ligure over the festive period to shred in the sun and shuttle the trails? If it were up to Italy’s government, that could be a thing of the past as of today. Starting from 16.12.2021, there’s a new law entering into force in Italy that officially bans off-road activities or, at the very least, plans on severely restricting them in the future. Classic Italian chaos or should it be a cause of concern for us mountain bikers?
Much like the 2-metre rule in Germany’s Baden-Württemberg, which is supposed to limit trail use in the forest, Italy has passed a similar law with a new off-road regulation that came into force on 16 December 2021. On behalf of us mountain bikers, we’ve asked for clarification, unpicked exactly what the law says and discovered why there is still hope. In less-legal jargon, the law bans everything but forestry operators and vehicles responsible for trail maintenance on all paths less than 2.5 m wide. That essentially excludes everyone apart from construction site vehicles and forest managers, which means no more excursions for mountain bikers, motocrossers, or off-road riders, whether on two or four wheels! In practice, the Italian government is granting each individual province a great deal of freedom in implementing the new regulation, so there is still uncertainty about how they will enforce the new law. It is hoped that regions that profit from mountain biking and off-road tourism will not cut their own throats by stubbornly implementing the regulation – this includes regions such as Trentino-South Tyrol, Liguria, Tuscany and the Aosta Valley. So with that in mind, this law hopefully won’t put the brakes on your end-of-year shredfest in Finale!
The specifics of the law
Those who speak Italian or have a good command of high-school Italian can read the new legislation here.
Things are already happening in Italy, with associations, clubs and key players in the industry getting organised and holding talks with the government in order to get a better picture and represent the interests of riders. It is still too early to be seriously concerned about the state of mountain biking in Italy because the regional implementation of the law is still unclear. Nevertheless, now is the time to show our colours as a community! We are in contact with our Italian friends from various regions and will keep you informed. What we’d like to see and what we’re keeping our fingers crossed for: regions characterised by bike tourism will implement the new law in such a way that mountain biking remains legal!
Did you enjoy this article? If so, we would be stoked if you decide to support us with a monthly contribution. By becoming a supporter of E-MOUNTAINBIKE, you will help secure a sustainable future for high-quality cycling journalism. Click here to learn more.
Words & Photos: Julian Schwede
