Mountain biking season begins – preserve nature and respect other people when riding

Espoo’s vast recreational and green areas are treasure troves for a variety of sports and activities. The outdoor recreation routes offer cyclists of all levels the opportunity for a sunny bicycle trip in the Central Park of Espoo or along the Waterfront Walkway, for example. Those who crave challenges look for narrower paths.

Official mountain biking trails are available in Oittaa and in the Espoo Central Park near Puolarmaari. Outdoor Sports Manager Petri Forsman urges those interested in mountain biking to head to the mountain biking trails.

“Mountain biking is an amazing sport that combines physical training and recreation in nature. This is why Espoo has invested in mountain biking trails,” Forsman says.

Now, the idea is to expand the existing mountain biking trails and build new ones. Mountain biking trails have been marked in terrain, and the foundations of the trails have been made more durable.

“By reinforcing the foundation of the trail, we ensure that it stays ridable even in poor weather and the terrain itself is not damaged,” Forsman says.

The ‘freedom to roam’ ensures that everyone can explore nature even on a bicycle. That said, there are obligations related to spending time in nature. People enjoying the outdoors should not damage the vegetation or terrain.

Wetlands and lichenous rocky clearings are particularly vulnerable to wear cause by tyres. Lichen-covered rocky hilltops are among the jewels of Espoo’s rugged nature, but these habitats are highly endangered. If the remaining ones are not protected, the species living in them may die out.

“Dry lichen recovers very slowly even from a single step or tyre track; it only grows a few millimetres a year,” says Environmental Designer Katrin Aia.

“As a person enjoying the outdoors, you can significantly help protect these rocky areas by staying on the marked paths.”

On busy paths, the soil may be compacted enough to reveal tree roots. They may provide the challenges that cyclists desire, but the trees themselves suffer greatly from their roots being damaged. Broken and bare roots weaken a tree’s ability to extract water from the soil, which compromises its vitality.

“In the worst case scenario, a tree falls in a storm or needs to be felled because it causes a safety risk to the people moving about in the area,” Aia says.

• Cycle on marked trails or at least existing paths. Cycling on existing paths and routes does not usually harm the terrain.
• Riding correctly does not damage the terrain. Avoid locking your brakes and riding in areas that are susceptible to wear, even if someone has ridden in the area before you. If necessary, walk your bicycle past swampy path sections, for example.
• Check the rules of the area and routes beforehand. Mountain biking in nature conservation areas is often not allowed. Espoo’s nature conservation areas on the map(external link, opens in a new window). Do not share photos or route descriptions of locations in which cycling is prohibited on social media.
• Consider others who are out and about in nature. Indicate your approach with a bell and give way if necessary. Do not litter.

Learn the mountain biking etiquette and the guidelines on cycling in national parks on the Metsähallitus website: www.nationalparks.fi/mountainbiking(external link, opens in a new window)