ATV Clubs / Is There A Reason For Them

[sawbill]

Why should the CN offer up their time and resources to repair one of their structures for someone else 's use? I'm assuming the bridge is no longer used by the CN but its still in their inventory and their offer is simply that of being community minded. They wouldn't need the clubs permission to upgrade the thing but at the very least the club should show their appreciation for the offer of resources.

[Snowwalker]

Damn your story changes Snowwalker.
First you claim you offered to donate the cement ties to now CN would do the engineering study, work and maintain responsibility.
If the CN controlls the bridge why do they need the clubs permission?

First lets look at the bridge..
https://youtu.be/mManSZ3grRE

No that is not me in the video.

Now some background.
Karen and I are planning a three week offroad( as much as possible), trips across northern Ontario on Trails, Logging roads, and cut lines.
During my research I came across one spot on the trail that was possibly a problem..... This bridge. If we and the other people and vehicles can't cross the bridge, it removes the North Bay to Sudbury offroad section from the trip.

Well talking about the trip with friends in our club( not an atv/snowmobile club), John told me that CN some times will donate to projects that help the community( like donating an unused railway line and it's bridges to the TCAT), but he would need to make a call or two to see if CN would be interested in helping fix the Bridge.

Now a little later I get an email from him saying since the bridge and railbed was donated by CN for the TCAT originally, they had an interest in the Safety and condition of the bridge.

Through miscommunications I ended up as the proud owner of a pile of used cement ties.......If I could get the executives from my "club" to send a written request to CN. I am not a member of an ATV/Snowmoble club in Sudbury, but I could contact them.

So I contacted people in clubs in the Sudbury area by Email. In the emails I explained that CN was willing to come out and replace all the wood ties with cement ties, and install a railing system on the bridge.

So yes I was donating the ties, because CN was offering them to me because when John had to give them contact info and a person's name....that was me.

As for needing permission. They don't need permission to do anything, including tearing the bridge down. They needed a written request, simple so they can say they got a formal request for a "Worthy" community project and write the cost/expenses of the used ties and the work off.

The written request was for tax purposes, not legal permission to do it.

[delmer]

First lets look at the bridge..
https://youtu.be/mManSZ3grRE

I can't believe that the railroad hasn't blocked access to this bridge. Even if the ties were in good condition, without guarding or railing it seems to be unsafe for recreational use. I know of similar bridges in the Long Lac area that have had fencing and gravel piles installed at their entrances to prevent access for just this reason.

[Snowwalker]

I can't believe that the railroad hasn't blocked access to this bridge. Even if the ties were in good condition, without guarding or railing it seems to be unsafe for recreational use. I know of similar bridges in the Long Lac area that have had fencing and gravel piles installed at their entrances to prevent access for just this reason.

Maybe a dangerous oversight when the bridge and railway bed were donated. It could explain why CN was willing to do and pay for all the materials and labour costs.

[trimmer21]

Just curious what everyone's thoughts on ATV clubs are...

Personally I have no need or desire to be a member of an ATV club.
For the most part they just hi jack snowmobile trails in the snowmobile's off season.
I don't need a club to try and take my money so that I can drive my licensed and insured atv on crown land.


Your thoughts?

To get back on track with the origin of this thread........NO........I see no reason for ATV or snow mobile clubs. Having said,that,though,if folks want to form a club and finance it themselves,knock yourselves out,but,don't expect non-members to pay fees or buy "licenses" over and above provincial licenses and insurance.

[Fisherman]

To get back on track with the origin of this thread........NO........I see no reason for ATV or snow mobile clubs. Having said,that,though,if folks want to form a club and finance it themselves,knock yourselves out,but,don't expect non-members to pay fees or buy "licenses" over and above provincial licenses and insurance.

Well who is going to pay for trail construction, expansion, maintenance, signing and insurance? The province doesn't, it's the clubs that do that on top of a lot of volunteer work, without which you may as well ride around your back yard. Then there's the club/private landowners interaction when there's no way of getting from one trail to another short of riding on roads which may or may not be allowed in certain municipalities.

[Snowwalker]

Well who is going to pay for trail construction, expansion, maintenance, signing and insurance? The province doesn't, it's the clubs that do that on top of a lot of volunteer work, without which you may as well ride around your back yard. Then there's the club/private landowners interaction when there's no way of getting from one trail to another short of riding on roads which may or may not be allowed in certain municipalities.

All good enough questions for southern Ontario, but why does a club get to take over a logging road on crown land that log trucks drive up and down all spring summer and fall. The logging company grades the road, and puts in bridges, but the clubs act like it's their private property.

Half the time clubs and their members sound like the sea gulls from "Finding Nemo"....mine ..mine ...mine.

[Fisherman]

All good enough questions for southern Ontario, but why does a club get to take over a logging road on crown land that log trucks drive up and down all spring summer and fall. The logging company grades the road, and puts in bridges, but the clubs act like it's their private property.

Half the time clubs and their members sound like the sea gulls from "Finding Nemo"....mine ..mine ...mine.

You have a good point there, I don't know the answer for the northern logging roads and trails, although you are right about the Finding Nemo mine part.

[trimmer21]

Well who is going to pay for trail construction, expansion, maintenance, signing and insurance? The province doesn't, it's the clubs that do that on top of a lot of volunteer work, without which you may as well ride around your back yard. Then there's the club/private landowners interaction when there's no way of getting from one trail to another short of riding on roads which may or may not be allowed in certain municipalities.

If clubs want all these trails,they can pay for them themselves. Private clubs that get to charge fees to access public land is BS and should never have been allowed. It needs to stop.

[B Wilson]

Well who is going to pay for trail construction, expansion, maintenance, signing and insurance? The province doesn't, it's the clubs that do that on top of a lot of volunteer work, without which you may as well ride around your back yard. Then there's the club/private landowners interaction when there's no way of getting from one trail to another short of riding on roads which may or may not be allowed in certain municipalities.

I have yet to see an ATV club construct or expand any trails. Not saying it hasn't happened, just have not seen it in Eastern Ontario. Can you provide some examples that might sway opinion on why people should pay for an ATV club membership.

Also curious to see what success rate ATV clubs have obtaining permissions on private property.