To reduce illegal off-road riding in forests, damage to the forest floor, and harm to natural values, SIA “Rīgas meži” invites motorcyclists to ride their vehicles only in authorised areas. Specifically, this means using the Enduro moto trails specially created by “Rīgas meži”, forest roads, or natural tracks!

“Rīgas meži” offers: “Experience the forest on a bike!” on Enduro moto trails

As a socially responsible company, “Rīgas meži” has created Enduro moto trails in its areas for the convenience of motorcyclists and quad bikers. These were developed in cooperation with the Latvian Motorcycling Federation.

The trails are free for everyone to use and are located:

near the “333” Sports Complex, in Ropaži parish: https://ej.uz/zxke. The trail is approximately 12 km long and stretches through the Gauja forest district of “Rīgas meži”, between Gaidas, Mucenieki, and Silakrogs,

near Jaunmārupe: https://ej.uz/zsxm. The trail is over 16 km long. The route winds through the Tīreļi forest district of “Rīgas meži”, in the forest massif between Melnais Lake bog and Cena moorland.

The trail in Ropaži parish was opened in September 2021, and the one in Jaunmārupe in May 2022. They were created to offer moto sports enthusiasts the opportunity to pursue their hobby in places where it does not harm the forest and nature.

Andris Upenieks, a forester from the Gauja forest district of “Rīgas meži”, emphasises: “It is a pleasure that moto enthusiasts are using our Enduro moto trails! Generally, trail riders are disciplined and follow the rules. However, there are very frequent cases, also captured by our forest district’s video surveillance equipment. Namely, it is likely that people are deliberately riding in places where it is not permitted, damaging the forest floor and harming the forest. In such cases, vehicles typically move without number plates, which makes it impossible to identify their owners and prevents the responsible authorities from imposing fines.”

Meanwhile, Andris Greidāns, a forester from the Tīreļi forest district, notes: “It is particularly painful that illegal riders are damaging the natural assets that the Tīreļi forest district is especially rich in. For example, the Melnais Lake bog nature reserve is regularly ‘trenched’, and this is done quite brutally and without regard for nature reserve signs. Therefore, we continue to educate the public, install barriers, information signs, and video cameras in the forest, as well as cooperate with law enforcement agencies.”

“Rīgas meži” encourages everyone to follow ten principles of safe and ethical riding – the rules for using Enduro moto trails:

1. Riders must hold a driving licence of the appropriate category, and the vehicle must be registered!

2. You must only ride along the Enduro trail route marked on the trees!

3. You must keep track of your location so that you can report it in case of problems!

4. When riding on forest roads along the route, you must observe the Road Traffic Regulations!

5. You must remove any obstacles from the trail that could potentially endanger the safety of other riders!

6. You must respect the interests of other riders and help out if necessary!

7. You must ride carefully and use the power of your vehicle judiciously!

8. You must take care of cleanliness and order! Observe the principle: “What you bring into the forest, you take out of the forest!”

9. You must observe fire safety regulations. During periods when high-level fire hazard warnings are announced, the use of Enduro trails is prohibited!

10. You must respect the forest and those who live, work, or recreate in it!

Motorcyclists must ride along the trail according to the direction markings placed on the trees: circle – straight ahead; triangle – turn right or left; exclamation mark – danger!

Riding is permitted only on forest roads or natural tracks

According to the Forest Law, vehicles, including motorcycles and quad bikes, are permitted to drive only on forest roads or natural tracks (except in cases related to movement for the performance of forestry or national defence, public safety tasks, etc.). It is also not permitted to drive on mineralised forest strips, which sometimes resemble a road but are actually ploughed areas in the forest designed to limit the spread of fire.

At the same time, “Rīgas meži” invites other landowners or managers of territories, including forests, to be socially responsible and install similar trails where possible!