Foo - Local ATV Club wants to use the Trans Canada Trail

In my neck o the woods here we have a 15km secion of Trans Canada Trail. This trail will be further extended by another 10km within the next year or so.

The local ATV club wants to start using this trail to drive their ATvs on.

I am dead set against this. These traiks are used by hikers, XC skiers, snowshoeing (me), cycling (me), etc. Now we may have to start dealing with 600 pound machines that can obtain speeds of 70km/h, or more, ripping past. It's just a matter of time before someone is hurt or killed by these things. People walk their children and dogs on this trail, now they (we) will have to step aside when these ATVs show up to let them pass.

This will destory the trail for XC skiers as it will churn up the snow and ground underneath, in the spring it will be VERY muddy with the winter run off. This will erode the trail more and mean more maintenance.

Now we will hear nothing but the roar of these engines all day scaring off the wildlife that we try to see when using these trails.

This motorized culture that we have is getting out of control.

I was at a meeting the other night and the Trail Association handed out a questionaire. I filled it in stating my case against ATVs. But seeing how our local MLA and councilor both own an ATV I guess it will be hopeless.

I grew up with an ATV in my family. Being a kid at the time they are fun and we had used it to haul wood as it was our main source of heating fuel. But now, I see what they can do to the country side.

They have enough trails around here without having to have access to the Trans Canada Trail.

Digger

I agree. Most trails like that are posted "no motorized vehicles". Is this one posted? There is a trail along the McKenzie River here in Oregon that is for horses, hikers, mtb'rs only. Clearly marked "no motorized vehicles" and shows who is to yield to whom.

I agree. Most trails like that are posted "no motorized vehicles". Is this one posted? There is a trail along the McKenzie River here in Oregon that is for horses, hikers, mtb'rs only. Clearly marked "no motorized vehicles" and shows who is to yield to whom.


The official Trans Canada Trail is marked no motorized vehicles.

The one 'in the works' is not marked. BUT when it does go to an official TCT it will should be marked no motorized vehicles.

In my neck o the woods here we have a 15km secion of Trans Canada Trail. This trail will be further extended by another 10km within the next year or so.

The local ATV club wants to start using this trail to drive their ATvs on.

I am dead set against this. These traiks are used by hikers, XC skiers, snowshoeing (me), cycling (me), etc. Now we may have to start dealing with 600 pound machines that can obtain speeds of 70km/h, or more, ripping past. It's just a matter of time before someone is hurt or killed by these things. People walk their children and dogs on this trail, now they (we) will have to step aside when these ATVs show up to let them pass.

This will destory the trail for XC skiers as it will churn up the snow and ground underneath, in the spring it will be VERY muddy with the winter run off. This will erode the trail more and mean more maintenance.

Now we will hear nothing but the roar of these engines all day scaring off the wildlife that we try to see when using these trails.

This motorized culture that we have is getting out of control.

I was at a meeting the other night and the Trail Association handed out a questionaire. I filled it in stating my case against ATVs. But seeing how our local MLA and councilor both own an ATV I guess it will be hopeless.

I grew up with an ATV in my family. Being a kid at the time they are fun and we had used it to haul wood as it was our main source of heating fuel. But now, I see what they can do to the country side.

They have enough trails around here without having to have access to the Trans Canada Trail.

Digger

Welcome to Ohios dilema. Most trails we can use are multi-purpose trails.

Funny isnt when you were a kid bikes were fun , but now that your older and more of a complainer you hav no use for them.The way i see it youd better pull your bicycle off to the side and let the bikes pass,The Trans Canada Trail will be used for all sports and recreation,its all a matter of time.By the way im both owner to 4-wheelers and bicycle.

Fruita Colorado used to be all mtb, now that they have let atv and motorcycles ride that land, it has practically been destroyed for anyother use.

Funny isnt when you were a kid bikes were fun , but now that your older and more of a complainer you hav no use for them.The way i see it youd better pull your bicycle off to the side and let the bikes pass,The Trans Canada Trail will be used for all sports and recreation,its all a matter of time.By the way im both owner to 4-wheelers and bicycle.


I can see how my response could give you that impression.

Well, not quite, there are uses for them. I just don't want them on the TCT. I don't ski on the other trails that ATVs are allowed because it is impossible as the trail is churned up. It is supposed to be a national park and I would like to ski there.

Pull my bike off to the side and let them pass???!! Isn't that what the motorists want us to do on the roads? Now, we have to do it on the trails? I am tired of being second class, I am tired of having to give way to ATVs, automobiles, and seadoos. Why don;t peole who want to walk, run, cycle, kayak, etc just give it up for the motorized vehicles and stay in the house. We are obviously in the way......


Digger

oh UGH! Gawd I hate those things...so, if they're truly ALL terrain vehicle, why in God's name do they need to use someone's road??? I thought the idea was that they could go anywhere on 'em. It reminds me of when I was up at the local groomed XC ski trails, and here comes a group of geezers on snow shoes, mashing up one of the 2 diagonal tracks, just beaming at me with big *****-eatin' grins on their faces. Like, we bought these at Costco and aren't they GREAT!!!

oh UGH! Gawd I hate those things...so, if they're truly ALL terrain vehicle, why in God's name do they need to use someone's road??? I thought the idea was that they could go anywhere on 'em. It reminds me of when I was up at the local groomed XC ski trails, and here comes a group of geezers on snow shoes, mashing up one of the 2 diagonal tracks, just beaming at me with big *****-eatin' grins on their faces. Like, we bought these at Costco and aren't they GREAT!!!


Well, I don't hate em, it's the operator. Especially the damned kids! ATVs have there uses and I grew up with one. It's just that they have enough places to drive those things than the trans canada trail.

Umm, I am a snowshoer also, but I 'shoe next to the ski track (when on a trail) not on it. I know, being a skier myself, that this just makes people angry to have a screwed up ski track. They just don't know the difference, ask them nicely not too.

Digger

Wow, I must say I've seen what four wheeled vehicles can do to trails. I've seen countless times trails get rutted all to crap and basically renders it useless for some nice hiking and unless there's a lot of snow useless for XC skiing and snowshoeing.

I hope you guys can fight this.

Most of the trails around my house are either are like this, where it's rutted all to crap by trucks and atvs alike, or it's simply too steep at times for a motorized vehicle. Which means it's perfect for biking. Those trails are so vrey scarce though, but once you find them, you gotta ride them as much as you can.

Which means it's perfect for biking. Those trails are so vrey scarce though, but once you find them, you gotta ride them as much as you can.


Ya can argue that mountain biking destroys a trail also, there are groups against MTBing on trails also. Well, they are right. But one can argue hiking does damage. Both are at a much lesser degree than an ATV.

It's extreme to not allow mtbing or hiking on a trail, but if we want to cause absolutely no damage then we'd have to stay at home. Yes, there are mtbers that ride fast and cause some safety concerns for pedestrains/hikers.

It's all about lessening our impact. The ATVers say that they don't drive fast, they don't skid, fish tail, spin tires etc. Well, SOME don't, but most do. Those things have fairly big engines and with the soft suspension system it is difficult to resist the urge to go fast and have fun on 'em. The TCT is straight and level and well groomed. They can't convince me that speed won't be on issue.

Digger

I would be dead set against it if the trans canada trail was free built, but if they took parts of trails that were already made by atv users then they should be allowed,

That happened alot where I lived. When I was younger I lived in small towns in northern ontario, where we made our own ski doo trails to get around. They were really handy for young kids to get around on trails who couldn't yet drive around on roads. When the Ontario snowmobile federation started building their network of trails through Northern Ontario, they took over the majority of these already made trails and started charging people to use them. SO none of the younger kids had any trails left. And anyyone else who wanted to use them had to pay the annual trail usage fee which last I heard was around 100 bucks.

As far as I am concerned if they wanted to charge people to use trails they should have cut their own instead of taking over trails that we made and used for years before they put their trail system in place.

Just my opinion

As an avid ATV'er, I can tell you that EVERYONE that uses a trail on wheels needs to band together. Currently every sect is against the other - biker vs ATV, Snowmobile vs ATV, horses vs bikers, walkers vs bikers, etc. As you said, all the same arguments can be made against MTB's. "They go 20mph and zoom by, you can't hear them coming", etc. I'm telling you, band together. Plus, the ATV'ers are a big group and usually contribute lots of $$$ to the trail system, overall improving it.

Eventually the nature nuts will attempt to ban every fun activity from the trials. I think we all can use the trial, and certainly some will be open to all, and some restricted. Here in WI, ATV's are only allowed on the trails after the ground is frozen, but not covered in snow. That way, no damage occurs and it really doen't affect anyone else as it's so cold the hikers and bikers stay home.

Pat

Here in WI, ATV's are only allowed on the trails after the ground is frozen, but not covered in snow. That way, no damage occurs and it really doen't affect anyone else as it's so cold the hikers and bikers stay home.

Pat


That's a good idea! If it came down to allowing them on the trail, I'd be happy with restrictions on WHEN they can use it.

Say after June when the mud is gone up to when snow starts to accumulate. Interesting.....

But it doesn't address the speed/safety issue tho.

Digger