Crowdog
04-12-2005, 07:37 AM
Quads causing trouble in town
Municipal employees receiving numerous calls from irate trail users
By Bradley Fehr
bfehr@bowesnet.com
Monday April 11, 2005
Hinton Parklander — Cliff Parkes was walking with a friend near the entrance to the Thompson Lake Trail about a week ago when he heard a quad approaching.
He stepped to the side of the trail and flagged down the rider, who said he was unaware that non-highway vehicles are prohibited in town.
Parkes has been a Thompson Lake resident for last eight years and has done a lot of walking in the area. He’s also noticed the damage caused by off-road vehicles.
“They’re just tearing up the trails,” he said.
He has no objection to quads themselves, but said operators need designated trails away from pedestrians for both environmental and safety reasons.
He doesn’t see the motorized vehicles very often, but since the snow stopped falling he’s seen at least two on the trails near his home.
Ken McLeod, supervisor of parks and recreation in Hinton, said he’s received more complaints about quads on town paths this year than in years past.
He said with the trails as soft as they are, the quads are really tearing up the walking paths and leaving large ruts behind.
Signs prohibiting motor vehicles have been torn down in years past and now the town is going to go with an education program in order to combat the problem.
“There will likely be a public meeting in May,” he said.
He said the meeting will focus on how to keep quads off the trails and may include discussions about placing barriers at trail entrances.
The problem of motorized vehicles on walking paths is nothing new.
“This is an ongoing thing year after year,” said bylaw officer Bev Bentley.
He said the municipal bylaw states that off-highway vehicles, such as quads and snowmobiles, can’t be operated within town limits.
Violators are subject to a $50 fine for the first offence.
However, there is one exception to the rule and that is if someone is using a quad to pick up litter from a sidewalk near their home.
Bentley said it is very difficult to enforce the bylaw. He’s patrolled the walking paths with a quad of his own, but with very little to show for it.
“Catching them red-handed is very difficult,” he said.
He said most complaints come after hours so, by the time he loads up his quad and makes it to the site, the offenders are usually long gone.
“Usually the quads are stunting on the way out, racing up and down the street,” he said, which only adds to the destruction of the trails.
He said each vehicle should be registered and insured. In addition, the operator is required to wear a helmet.
Those who observe quads on the trails are encouraged to write down the licence plate number if possible.
http://www.hintonparklander.com/story.php?id=154070
Municipal employees receiving numerous calls from irate trail users
By Bradley Fehr
bfehr@bowesnet.com
Monday April 11, 2005
Hinton Parklander — Cliff Parkes was walking with a friend near the entrance to the Thompson Lake Trail about a week ago when he heard a quad approaching.
He stepped to the side of the trail and flagged down the rider, who said he was unaware that non-highway vehicles are prohibited in town.
Parkes has been a Thompson Lake resident for last eight years and has done a lot of walking in the area. He’s also noticed the damage caused by off-road vehicles.
“They’re just tearing up the trails,” he said.
He has no objection to quads themselves, but said operators need designated trails away from pedestrians for both environmental and safety reasons.
He doesn’t see the motorized vehicles very often, but since the snow stopped falling he’s seen at least two on the trails near his home.
Ken McLeod, supervisor of parks and recreation in Hinton, said he’s received more complaints about quads on town paths this year than in years past.
He said with the trails as soft as they are, the quads are really tearing up the walking paths and leaving large ruts behind.
Signs prohibiting motor vehicles have been torn down in years past and now the town is going to go with an education program in order to combat the problem.
“There will likely be a public meeting in May,” he said.
He said the meeting will focus on how to keep quads off the trails and may include discussions about placing barriers at trail entrances.
The problem of motorized vehicles on walking paths is nothing new.
“This is an ongoing thing year after year,” said bylaw officer Bev Bentley.
He said the municipal bylaw states that off-highway vehicles, such as quads and snowmobiles, can’t be operated within town limits.
Violators are subject to a $50 fine for the first offence.
However, there is one exception to the rule and that is if someone is using a quad to pick up litter from a sidewalk near their home.
Bentley said it is very difficult to enforce the bylaw. He’s patrolled the walking paths with a quad of his own, but with very little to show for it.
“Catching them red-handed is very difficult,” he said.
He said most complaints come after hours so, by the time he loads up his quad and makes it to the site, the offenders are usually long gone.
“Usually the quads are stunting on the way out, racing up and down the street,” he said, which only adds to the destruction of the trails.
He said each vehicle should be registered and insured. In addition, the operator is required to wear a helmet.
Those who observe quads on the trails are encouraged to write down the licence plate number if possible.
http://www.hintonparklander.com/story.php?id=154070