- The ban on the L 1152 between Jagdshof and Schauberg applies from April 1 through October 31, 2026
- New: Fridays are now included in addition to Saturdays, Sundays, and public holidays
- A lawsuit filed by two motorcyclists with the support of the BVDM at the Meiningen Administrative Court aims to reopen the road
In southern Thuringia, a dispute is escalating that affects motorcyclists across Germany. The Sonneberg district is maintaining its motorcycle ban on the winding L 1152 and has even expanded it for the 2026 season. At the same time, two riders backed by the Federal Association of Motorcyclists (BVDM) are attempting to overturn the closure in court. How both sides are positioning themselves and what happens next is illustrated by the course of events so far.
Where exactly does the motorcycle ban on the L 1152 apply?
The ban covers the section of the L 1152 state road between the K1 junction near Jagdshof and the entrance to Schauberg. The road is closed to motorcycles from April 1 through October 31, 2026, specifically on Fridays, Saturdays, Sundays, and public holidays. All other vehicles are permitted, and mopeds and scooters are also exempt from the restriction. The road lies in the tri-border area of Thuringia, Bavaria, and Hesse and extends to the Bavarian locality of Schauberg, which is why the Bavarian municipality of Tettau was involved in the coordination alongside Thuringian authorities.
Why did the Sonneberg district close the road?
According to the district, the trigger is a conspicuous accumulation of motorcycle accidents on the winding section that has persisted for years. The administration points out that the road has been used by numerous riders and groups from across Germany for reckless driving, with excessive speed cited as the primary cause of accidents. Uninvolved road users such as cyclists have also been injured repeatedly. The district office emphasizes that the ban is not a blanket measure directed against motorcyclists but rather a response to a specific problem. The closure was first imposed in 2025, initially limited to weekends and public holidays.
How effective was the ban in 2025?
From the authorities’ perspective, the measure significantly reduced the number of accidents. During the ban period on weekends and public holidays, police reported no accidents involving motorcycles, whereas twelve accidents had been recorded in the same period the previous year, nine of them on weekends. Five accidents occurred in 2025 outside the restricted hours. Notably, the remaining accident activity shifted to other weekdays, with a particular concentration on Fridays. It was precisely this observation that led to the extension of the ban to Fridays. In addition to the accident figures, noise complaints from surrounding communities also decreased according to the district office, and the fire department reported fewer call-outs on the route. Critics argue that the absence of accidents during a complete closure is hardly surprising and on its own does little to demonstrate a genuine safety improvement.
Why are motorcyclists suing over the ban?
Two motorcyclists from the district have filed a lawsuit against the closure. The BVDM is covering the costs and has engaged a Berlin-based law firm specializing in administrative law. The lawsuit was filed in October 2025 at the Meiningen Administrative Court, proactively targeting the upcoming season. The formal defendant is the Free State of Thuringia, represented by the Sonneberg district, and the amount in dispute has been set at 10,000 euros (approximately 11,460 US dollars). In substance, the lawsuit seeks to prohibit the defendant from “ab dem 01. April 2026 die Landesstraße L1152 zwischen dem Knotenpunkt K1/ L1152 und der Ortslage Schauberg an Sonn- und Feiertagen für Motorradfahrer zu sperren.” The goal is to establish legal certainty early on and make the road accessible again on all days.
The association argues that law-abiding riders must not be held collectively liable for the misconduct of individuals. Instead of a closure, it calls for targeted police enforcement and technical as well as structural alternatives that should be trialed first. The BVDM considers the rumble strips favored by the district to be ineffective, noisy, and too expensive, arguing that they would not compel modern sport motorcycles to reduce speed. According to the association, this proposal was not taken up at a special session of the accident commission on November 25, 2025.
What does the court date mean for the 2026 season?
For the current season, the lawsuit has not yet achieved its goal, as the ban took effect again on April 1, 2026, and was even expanded. In the meantime, the administrative court has set a short-notice hearing date according to the BVDM, which is not public. A ruling on the merits is therefore still pending. The positions of the parties involved remain entrenched. While the association opposes structural measures, the police point to an acute staff shortage that makes sustained enforcement difficult. The implementation of structural measures on the road section falls under the responsibility of the Free State of Thuringia and continues to be under review.
Road closures remain a nationwide point of contention
The Sonneberg case does not stand alone but fits into a whole series of disputes over motorcycle bans in Germany. The BVDM is also taking legal action at other hotspots against bans that single out motorcycles, viewing them as a matter of equal treatment in road traffic. For riders heading to popular winding roads in the low mountain ranges, this development is relevant beyond the region because a success or failure in court could set a precedent for comparable closures.
When does the motorcycle ban on the L 1152 apply in 2026?
The motorcycle ban on the L 1152 applies from April 1 through October 31, 2026. The road is closed to motorcycles on Fridays, Saturdays, Sundays, and public holidays; on all other days, passage is permitted.
Which section of road is affected by the closure?
The affected section runs along the L 1152 between the K1 junction near Jagdshof and the entrance to Schauberg. Mopeds and scooters are exempt from the ban, as are all other vehicles.
Who is suing over the motorcycle ban on the L 1152?
Two motorcyclists from the Sonneberg district are suing at the Meiningen Administrative Court to overturn the closure. The Federal Association of Motorcyclists (BVDM) supports the lawsuit, covers the costs, and had the amount in dispute set at 10,000 euros.
Why was the ban extended to Fridays?
The ban was extended to Fridays because accident activity shifted to other weekdays after the weekend closure, with a particular concentration on Fridays. The district bases this on police accident statistics from 2025.
