Any Germans on the board? Curious about trails and laws...

[joeydurango]

...Specifically in the Schwarzwald.  I lived in Freiburg/Kirchzarten for a few months, years ago, and there were some wonderful trails I rode that were part of a larger trail network.  But I was under the impression that while all the MTB riders used the trails, it wasn't technically legal... something about the sub-two-meter width rule.

I also was under the impression that the growing MTB lobby in Germany was fighting to change that rule.  What's the status on that?

Just thinking about putting together a trip, and I can't find any info on thru-riding some of the longer Wanderwegs - so either no one's done it, or they're just very quiet about it. 

[Roland Sturm]

There is the Waldgesetz in Baden-Wuerttemberg, which has a 2m rule: No biking on trail/path/road narrower than 2 m unless specifically signed for other use ( in contrast to the US, bikes have more access than horses: for horses, there is a 3 m rule). Local agencies can make exceptions. There are about 100km of legal single track for MTB in the Schwarzwald, which of course won't get you very far. Many marked long-distance MTB routes (more than 8000km), but not single track. The Tourist agency wants to increase single track access and suggested a compromise rule to quickly build up to 10% single track on long routes (rather than about 2%) and eventually 25% by getting local exception to the law. However, there is opposition to that from other groups, including some mountain bike association (which, unrealistically, want the state law changed). While enforcement of the law is minor, I wouldn't try to plan a long distance single track route. Current state(in German):
http://www.schwarzwald-tourismus.info/presse/Pressemeldungen-nach-Themen/MTB-Radfahren/Touristiker-sind-an-das-Waldgesetz-gebunden
Last year, the ministry published a guide for communities who want to develop more single track for mountain bikes:
http://www.schwarzwald-tourismus.info/entdecken/Rad-und-MTB/Mountainbike/Handreichung-fuer-mehr-Single-Trails

Again, there are lots of long-distance route, so finding a very enjoyable route is easy, but all more TD rather than CTR. One that I know well is further east, not Schwarzwald, but Alb, although I only do the southern part. But even the 50k I ride to connect with it are largely traffic-less forest roads.
http://www.schwaebischealb.de/Aktiv/Mountainbiken-Alb/Bike-X-ing-Schwaebische-Alb

Here is the one through the Schwarzwald. Don't know anything about it, but now that you mentioned it, maybe I ride it next month when I'm in Germany again. I suspect that despite the "mountain bike" description, there is going to be good chunk of asphalt. 450 km.
http://www.schwarzwald-tourismus.info/entdecken/Rad-und-MTB/Mountainbike/bike-crossing-schwarzwald/Schwarzwald-Bike-Crossing

[falkenjaeger]

I just rode the Schwarzwald as my TD shake down last week. 300km, lots of climbing (many steep short ups and downs), mostly forest service roads, only about 10% single track but still very nice. Not too much pavement and quite remote (at least for German standards). The Schwäbische Alb trail is another thing: more single track but all allowed as long as they are part of the official X-ing route. I can mail you gpx files of both if you are interested. Let me know when or if you are coming and I can work something out for you as well. If you want to do something like the CT I highly recommend the alps.
Oh, and yes, I also love single trails and ride them despite the rules. Just respect people on the trail and slow down or stop and you rarely have serious problems. BTW, German weapon law is very strict, too. So highly unlikely you will get shot. 😉