Statement by PZS President Bojan Rotovnik

Statement by PZS President Bojan Rotovnik regarding the draft of the Amendments to the Nature Conservation Act, which the Ministry of Agriculture and Environment submitted for public

consultation on Friday, January 24, 2014:

In PZS, we are surprised by the proposal to amend the Nature Conservation Act, as we advocate that

legislation must distinguish between driving in the natural environment with motor vehicles and cycling, since

the impact of driving motor vehicles on nature is significantly more harmful. Therefore, we support very strict restrictions

and high fines for driving motor vehicles in the natural environment. For cycling, we support milder

forms of restrictions and advocate that all uncategorized roads as well as

forest and field roads, i.e., all surfaces that are basically built for vehicle traffic, be opened for cycling.

Mountain trails that do not run along roads can also be opened for cycling if such

trail meets the adopted professional criteria and if the trail manager agrees, who must carry out

the prescribed procedure and appropriately mark such a trail. In the mountaineering organization, in 2013 we opened

the first mountain trail also for cycling, and for 2014 we are preparing the opening of new such trails.

These procedures proceed significantly faster where cyclists actively participate

in the arrangement and maintenance of these trails. On such trails, the principle applies that the pedestrian has absolute priority.

However, in PZS we oppose all driving, including cycling, on pathless terrain, on mountain trails above the forest

line or in high mountains (except on existing roads), on mountain trails across bogs and wetlands

and on loose-unstable terrain, on mountain trails burdened by mass

hiking, on mountain trails with installed metal and wooden safety devices, and in protected

areas, except on trails specifically designated for cyclists. For this reason, we also do not support the general

abolition of the ban on driving in the natural environment for cyclists, but advocate that cycling

in the natural environment be possible only on surfaces where it is explicitly permitted.

At the same time, we advocate that the state also legally regulate the conditions for establishing dedicated

sports polygons for mountain bikers and various motor vehicles, as we believe that in the case

of a sufficient number of such polygons, the burden on the natural environment would be significantly reduced.

President of PZS

Bojan Rotovnik