- The BVDM offered to fully finance the purchase of a speed warning display
- A legal opinion confirms the admissibility of the project
- Since February 2026, the city of Oberursel has not responded to inquiries
Noise pollution from road traffic in the Feldberg region in the Hochtaunus district has been causing conflicts between residents, local politicians, and motorcyclists for years. Temporary road closures for motorcycles, demonstrations, legal disputes, and an increasingly heated debate have characterized the past few years. Ironically, an initiative that originated with motorcyclists themselves and was intended to make a constructive contribution to noise reduction is now in danger of failing due to the behavior of the city of Oberursel.
Years of dispute over motorcycle noise on the Feldberg
The background to this dates back to 2019. At that time, the Hochtaunus district, under District Administrator Ulrich Krebs (CDU), announced that it would introduce trial road closures for motorcycles in the Feldberg region. The reason: complaints from residents about noise pollution, especially from fast and high-speed driving. The Federal Association of Motorcyclists (BVDM) responded at the time with protests and announced legal action.
In 2022, the action alliance “Hochtaunus für Alle” (Hochtaunus for Everyone) was formed to oppose the so-called “noise breaks,” which was joined by ten motorcycle associations, including the BVDM, the FDP Bikers, Bikers for Freedom, the Biker Union, and the Hochtaunus Motorcycle Enthusiasts Interest Group. The alliance criticized the planned closures as being based on insufficient data.
In the same year, a traffic trial was conducted. On seven weekends between April and October 2022, certain sections of road around the Großer Feldberg remained closed to motorcycles, including the L 3004 and L 3024. The report by the commissioned company PGT Umwelt und Verkehr GmbH, which was presented in November 2024, came to a positive conclusion for motorcyclists: on weekends without closures, an average of 5,000 vehicles were counted, including around 500 motorcycles. According to the report, the impact of motorcycles on overall noise pollution was comparatively low. The report concluded: “The permanent closure cannot be recommended, at least for reasons of noise protection.” The Hochtaunus district subsequently decided against permanent or temporary closures.
The “Future Workshop Noise Break” remains inconclusive
Despite the clear report, residents remained dissatisfied. They criticized that the main problem was not the average noise level, but the noise peaks caused by aggressive driving, which were not sufficiently taken into account in the calculations. Instead of further bans, the district opted for dialogue. On August 20, 2025, the “Second Future Workshop Noise Break” took place, to which the lower traffic authority of the Hochtaunus district had invited residents and motorcyclists. This event also ended without any tangible results.
BVDM takes the initiative
It was at this point that the BVDM, together with the FDP bikers, took the initiative. On September 12, 2025, the association wrote to the mayor of Oberursel, Antje Runge (SPD), and made a concrete offer: to fully finance a speed warning display at the Hohemark exit. There, at the transition from the city to the Taunus recreational area and the Feldberg, there have been numerous complaints about road traffic noise for years. Hohemark is a bottleneck through which thousands of cars, motorcycles, and cyclists from the entire Rhine-Main region drive into the Taunus every year. There are residential buildings and a tourist center along the arterial road.
The concept was to use the display to show the speed of passing vehicles and thus reduce their speed, which in turn would reduce traffic noise. The BVDM offered to cover the entire cost of several thousand euros through sponsorship. Citizens of Oberursel also wanted to contribute to the project with monetary donations.
Town hall meeting and on-site appointment
Months passed before any talks took place. Only after several written reminders did a meeting take place at the town hall on November 12, 2025. In addition to the mayor, full-time city councilor Andres Bernhardt (OBG/Freie Wähler) was present, who was to take over the project implementation on behalf of the city. Both signaled their interest. The goal was to have the speed warning display operational by the start of the motorcycle season in April 2026.
In order to secure the legal basis for this unusual civic engagement project, the BVDM commissioned the Berlin law firm “Göhmann Rechtsanwälte” to provide a legal opinion in December 2025. This confirmed the admissibility of the project and its compatibility with the Hessian municipal code. On December 22, 2025, an on-site meeting took place at Hohemark with City Councilor Bernhardt, during which the future location of the display was determined. Bernhardt agreed to obtain the necessary approval from Hessen Mobil by mid-January 2026.
Communication breaks down
After the on-site meeting in December, communication from the city ceased. A written request from the BVDM to City Councilor Bernhardt dated February 6, 2026, which was also copied to the mayor, remained unanswered. A further reminder dated February 12, 2026, was also ignored.
At this point, the BVDM had already invested a considerable amount of money in the legal opinion. In a press release dated February 19, 2026, the association emphasized that it was politically neutral and wanted to work together with citizens and FDP bikers to contribute to road safety and traffic noise reduction. The BVDM is also open to other organizations that would like to support the project.
Disappointment after years of effort
The incident is particularly serious against the backdrop of years of disputes over motorcycle bans in the Hochtaunus district. According to its own statements, the BVDM wanted to make a pragmatic contribution to pacifying the situation with this initiative. Instead of a confrontational course, the association opted for constructive cooperation and assumed the entire costs. The fact that the city of Oberursel has not even responded to this civic engagement is met with incomprehension not only by the BVDM, but also by citizens who wanted to contribute with donations.
According to its own statement, the BVDM takes the position that motorcyclists with legally registered motorcycles are allowed to ride on all roads at any time, provided they observe the traffic regulations. According to its own statements, the association rejects disregard for traffic rules, vehicle tampering, speeding, and “showing off” as well as measures directed solely against motorcyclists. Founded in 1958, the association says it has been campaigning for greater road safety since its inception.
What this means for me as a motorcyclist
The Oberursel case highlights a fundamental dilemma: motorcyclists are regularly pilloried in the noise debate, but when an association such as the BVDM actively offers a solution at its own expense, it apparently meets with little approval from those responsible. For motorcyclists in the Rhine-Main region, and especially in the Taunus, the situation therefore remains unresolved. Although the temporary road closures around the Feldberg are off the table following the 2024 expert report, residents’ complaints persist. As long as constructive approaches such as a speed warning display at the Hohemark are not implemented, there is a risk that driving bans will be discussed again at the next political opportunity. The Hohemark and Feldberg regions are among the most popular motorcycle routes in Hesse, and any new escalation could jeopardize access to these routes. Those who travel there can help to further weaken the arguments for blanket closures by adapting their driving and showing consideration.
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