ATV Clubs / Is There A Reason For Them

[B Wilson]

Not everyone was talking about crown land as far as exemptions go.

Yeah we were talking about crown land. I completely understand that I can't drive across private property without permission from the land owner.

[oaknut]

I completely understand that I can't drive across private property without permission from the land owner.

But there are hundreds of slickers that come riding up our way every year who don't understand this. They think if there's a trail of any kind they're good to go. The B.S. backroad mapbooks don't make things any better as people follow them like the gospel.

[laker taker]

I am with B Wilson on this one. No need for an atv club what so ever. I do a fair bit of
riding in the Griffith area as that is where my camp is and also hit some of the speckle lakes
up there as well. I don't want or need some wanna be trail boss telling me where I can
or cannot ride my bike.
Laker

[trimmer21]

But there are hundreds of slickers that come riding up our way every year who don't understand this. They think if there's a trail of any kind they're good to go. The B.S. backroad mapbooks don't make things any better as people follow them like the gospel.

Just make sure your property is properly signed and gated. If you find them trespassing,have them charged.

[WTR388]

I was a pretty avid sledder. I didn't mind one bit tossing money in to a club to use their trails. Bridges aren't cheap. Fuel in the groomers isn't cheap. Repairs for equipment isn't cheap. There are thousands of hours volunteered by a handful of guys to clear trail, set up signage and then to patrol it.
Any ATV rider who knowingly enters an OFSC trail in the winter deserves to be punished. The trails are paid for by the thousands of sledders that use them. They paid to have well kept SAFE trails. The ruts made by quads in the right type of snow condition could prove deadly if a ski drops in to one and the sled will get basically locked in. With the speeds some guys go, it's not a fun ride.
Those bridges you use to cross unpassable obstacles (or even use them just to make it easier to cross something you could cross without the help) have been paid for by people that plan on them being servicable when they need to cross it.
It's posted, very clearly what the charges are. The trails are OPP patrolled, we abide by the law, and the responsible users who don't want shut down trails stick to the trails. If we just let anyone use the trails without accountability, we would have riffraff in doing all sorts of things that would end up with the trails being shut down. The sled community is pretty good with self monitoring, and that is what the ATV group needs to do as well. Being part of a club brings responsibility and attracts those who understand that being able to ride across private and public land is something they want to keep open.

As for across crown land when the sled trail isn't in season, I see no reason why ANYONE can't go in there and use the trail. Dirt bikes, ATVs, Rock buggy's, 4x4s, hikers etc. etc. have the right to be using them. Only issue are these very expensive bridges that have been built and funded by the sledders should be off limits other than to light vehicles and foot traffic (dirt bikes, ATVs and smaller) just to reduce the wear and tear on them.

I no longer sled, cost is a big part of the reason, but I grew tired of the stress of not knowing who was coming over the next hill or the next corner on my side of the trail and out of control... I race motocross pretty seriously (you want to talk about an expensive hobby...) so I know risk and I'm not afraid to take my chances, but closing speeds of over 300km/hr with oncoming sleds in 10' wide trails is not the best idea.

[DanO]

Well stated WTR. In the upper Ottawa Valley were my camp is located they need to pull the RIDE programs off of the highways in the summer. Do a RIDE program on any of the heavily travelled ATV trails. The impaired drivers have found a way around the RIDE program if they're travelling locally. Witness the number of injuries each summer.
Dan O.

[Pat32rf]

Maybe if the OFSC trails were not so smooth and flat the sled drivers would be forced to keep the speeds down. Could also get the OPP to take the radar guns and move around to new spots.
It seems that over 90% of the accidents are either speed or booze related. They could even recruit some ATV owners to chew up the trails a little.....
When the skidoo craze started in the sixties we made our own trails or just rode to our destinations thru the deep snow. We were under the assumption that the sleds were designed to let us get there despite the snow. Now we find that most drivers seem to want a hard packed surface so they don't get their fancy snow suits wet.....

[greatwhite]

Not sure what you mean, I have used thes for quite a while and log hundreds of miles with them.

But there are hundreds of slickers that come riding up our way every year who don't understand this. They think if there's a trail of any kind they're good to go. The B.S. backroad mapbooks don't make things any better as people follow them like the gospel.

[trimmer21]

Maybe if the OFSC trails were not so smooth and flat the sled drivers would be forced to keep the speeds down. Could also get the OPP to take the radar guns and move around to new spots.
It seems that over 90% of the accidents are either speed or booze related. They could even recruit some ATV owners to chew up the trails a little.....
When the skidoo craze started in the sixties we made our own trails or just rode to our destinations thru the deep snow. We were under the assumption that the sleds were designed to let us get there despite the snow. Now we find that most drivers seem to want a hard packed surface so they don't get their fancy snow suits wet.....

Absolutely! It should have left that way. Your last sentence says it all.

[oaknut]

Just make sure your property is properly signed and gated. If you find them trespassing,have them charged.

I don't get to spend much of the summer around the property due to work so catching them ripping up my property is out. It is posted but if they see the trail on a map they must be good to go. Why should I put myself out of time and money to gate my own personal trails? It makes no sense. Eleven navigable trails through the property equals eleven gates. Who's going to pay for that.