Northern bush under attack from ATVs - Glenn Murray

I read with interest Paul Denis' letter suggesting the city's manager of public works go see for himself the increased amount of dumping that goes on in the bush since the tipping fees were introduced.

The unfortunate fact is our bush has been under attack for a long time before the introduction of tipping fees and from several sources.

Polluters are not only the anti environmentalists who create havoc in our northern bush. There are others who are equally guilty. They include, but are not limited to, people who frequent the bush for either work or recreation who leave their garbage behind for others to despair over.

The biggest negative effect on the bush environment in the past number of years is, without a doubt, the ATV and to a lesser degree, their two-wheeled cousins, the motorized trail bike.

These, so called, recreational vehicles have turned the bush into an ecological nightmare. They are incapable of going anywhere without leaving a wide and deep footprint. The banks of creeks, ditches, and riverbanks are badly eroded from these machines. Creeks and rivers are affected as their bottoms are churned up and the watershed is polluted at the same time by dripping grease and oil.

Where once there was vegetation, mud and sand exists. Trails once used by everyone are now barely passable as these motorized monsters have spun their way through any soft or wet ground leaving dangerous sand traps or quagmires behind.

If the new city council has anything approaching an environmental conscience, members will take strong measures before we no longer have a bush left to enjoy. They can start by reviewing and even scrapping the tipping fees.

They can also be vigilant in tracking down those responsible for the dumping, regardless of who they are and regardless of where they dump.

They can also move to control the use of ATVs and motorized trail bikes. I suggest they start with the riders themselves and set a minimum age limit. Riders should also receive proper instruction before they can even legally turn the key. Areas where ATVs and motorised trail bikes can be used should be limited, and they should be banned from use on streets, roads, highways, sidewalks and pathways. Once people were able to walk safely in these areas, now they take their lives in their hands every time they go for a walk.

We live in a community that values the quality of life we emjoy. Council not only has a fiscal responsibility to the citizens, they have a quality of life responsibility as well. Where citizens of Greater Sudbury stand on lifestyle issues was made clear in the recent municipal election.

Val Caron