2-Up ATVs and Side-by-Side UTVs

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Originally Posted by sawbill

I wonder who is going to pay for the increased maintenance of roads once these machines get the green light to travel along the shoulders. The damage they've caused locally is more than apparent and a regional municipality that is already cash strapped won't have increased funds for the grading that becomes necessary.

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I can't believe the size they're allowing, up to 2.03 M wide and up to around 1700Kg, that's wider than the aver compact car and weighs more..just wait the the shoulders get torn up. Then the trails will have to be widened. Nuts.
7. (1) If the off-road vehicle is a multi-purpose off-highway utility vehicle, it must, (a) weigh 1,814 kilograms or less; and
(b) have an overall width not greater than 2.03 metres, excluding mirrors.
(2) If the off-road vehicle is a recreational off-highway vehicle, it must,
(a) weigh 1,700 kilograms or less; and
(b) have an overall width not greater than 2.03 metres, excluding mirrors.

If you've ever ridden the trails around the Haliburton Highlands (Popular area) you'll see quite a few serious off road Jeeps. I even saw a new or newer Range Rover $$ with mud tires, going through a deep water hole half way up the doors. I guess if he can afford to bash that offroad, he can afford to get it fully cleaned out as well. Haliburton has plenty of trails wide enough for Jeeps, and the communities that are around the trail system should benefit from this, I'd think.

The government is actually unbanning something!:scream:

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Originally Posted by last5oh_302

If you've ever ridden the trails around the Haliburton Highlands (Popular area) you'll see quite a few serious off road Jeeps. I even saw a new or newer Range Rover $$ with mud tires, going through a deep water hole half way up the doors. I guess if he can afford to bash that offroad, he can afford to get it fully cleaned out as well. Haliburton has plenty of trails wide enough for Jeeps, and the communities that are around the trail system should benefit from this, I'd think.
The government is actually unbanning something!:scream:

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I'm more wondering about the roadside damage than the mud flying in Haliburton.

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Originally Posted by Fisherman

I'm more wondering about the roadside damage than the mud flying in Haliburton.

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I don't see it being a problem if it hasn't been an issue thus far.

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Originally Posted by last5oh_302

I don't see it being a problem if it hasn't been an issue thus far.

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There's just a little bit of difference between a quad that weighs 300kg and another weighing up to 17-1800kkg, and width wise most of the single/2 ups aren't that wide that they take more than the road shoulder. Now the side by sides are a lot wider, you can't argue that and that it hasn't been a problem yet, well they were just legalized.

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Originally Posted by Fisherman

There's just a little bit of difference between a quad that weighs 300kg and another weighing up to 17-1800kkg, and width wise most of the single/2 ups aren't that wide that they take more than the road shoulder. Now the side by sides are a lot wider, you can't argue that and that it hasn't been a problem yet, well they were just legalized.

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They'll have to make sure the roads that permit off-road vehicle travel have wide enough shoulders then. It's not that big a deal and in my experience the roads that permit travel now have decent, wide enough shoulders. Side x sides have been doing it illegally for a while now.

Wow people whine all day long about the govt banning this and that and when they finally give us some freedom the whining begins again. Can't win I guess.

Nice of the government to download the final decision onto the local Municipalities. They will have a better idea of which roads are suitable for the vehicles.

Anyone concerned about the need to widen shoulders, well it's going to happen anyway with a huge push by the cycling community lobbying for bicycle lanes. In Renfrew County , the county has started to change the standard road allowance from 66 feet to 88. As soon as a new road improvement project circulates for public consultation, the cycling clubs jump on it. Example Hwy 41 from Pembroke to Eganville is being rebuilt this summer and it will have bicycle lanes to satisfy the 21 member cycling club in the area.

i can't see municipalities opening this up to any and all roads.

every time a government gives us a little more freedom to make decisions for ourselves is a good day.

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Originally Posted by last5oh_302

Wow people whine all day long about the govt banning this and that and when they finally give us some freedom the whining begins again. Can't win I guess.

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I'm not whining, just bringing forward a point of view.

Here in Marionville we have Golf carts, UTV's and ATV driving along the side of the roads and there has never really been a problem. The only problem I have ever had is the fellas racing around in the bush, last year 2 of them lost control coming around the corner on the wrong side of the forest road they were very lucky that I heard them before they got around. They also seem to have a habit of destroying the paths in some places to the point that even they cannot get through.

The region of Sudbury passed a similar bylaw a few years ago to allow ATV's on certain roads. Of course these guys took advantage of the bylaw and drive just about anywhere they please. The police certainly don't have time to enforce the legislation and by-law officers are usually desk bound anyway.
When you see the ruts along the shoulders of main highways leading in and out of town then you'll understand the damage being caused.