Guys a heads up for the uneducated like me. If you are planning a road trip to the various areas in Germany that are famous for biking roads such as the black forest, the Germans have started to ban Motorbikes from certain roads at weekends. I guess its noise pollution but the fines are Very high apparently. Luckily we didn't get caught yesterday as there wasnt really an alternate route so we had to go for it. Not sure how you can look up these closures as part of route planning. The B500 is good but some of the K roads between the southern end of the B500 and north to Strassburg have these restrictions.
That is interesting news. So how is this ban implemented? Are there signs, notices? Something on a website somewhere perhaps? Any way of finding out which roads are affected?
That's correct. On some roads motorcycles are banned. There are differences, as some roads are affected all the time some of them only on weekends. Here is a german website showing these in Google Maps. I think it is understandable, even not talking german. Streckensperrungen für Motorräder
Correct, you will find signs showing a red circle on white ground and a motorcycle sign below the sign. If the closure is temporarily, e.g. Only on weekends, you will also find an appropriate sign showing the time frame.
I was not completely correct in my last reply. The sign looks like follows: http://static.woxikon.com/images/verkehrszeichen/verbot_motorrad.gif
Thanks for this helpful link. I see that the affected roads are all little country roads where alternative routes would be easy to find, and they are all fairly short stretches. Looking on the map for a large number of great riding roads in Germany which I have experienced myself, in various regions, I note that none of the ones I know are affected.
I'm going to Bernkastel-Kues on Friday for the weekend. I can see just one road in the area which is affected and I know of many routes in that area as I've been there a couple of times. I can't see this impacting my weekend a great deal, and even if they shut two thirds of the decent motorcycling roads in Germany then the rides would still be three times as good as the available routes in the UK. It's worth noting though as no one wants a fine.
Will be passing through Germany in a few weeks time en route to Norway and back but having looked at the map its only little twisties that are affected and not the transit routes
In the Eifel national park about 60 miles from us certain roads are shut for bikes at weekends, the fine is about 30 euro. But most bikers stay away anyway as the area is like the lake district and is overcrowded with tourists then. Great roads so the bikers go there during the week instead when its quiet with no police about. The closure is policed and fines are on the spot.
Mio usare googlio, El resulto; "Tanslate" - summer is a little delayed this year, my usual bronzed tone is a few weeks behind schedule Hasta luego amigo