BY ROBERT TAGLIALEGNE
A working group was formed last month to look at the possibility of creating a new ATV club or building a Sudbury chapter. Around 70 people - most of whom were all-terrain vehicle riders - attended a meeting at T.M. Davies Community Centre/Arena in Lively in February. Between 40 to 50 people signed up to participate in the working group.
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Around 40 to 50 people signed up to participate in a working group to discuss the possibility of starting an ATV club in Greater Sudbury. |
The meeting brought together representatives from the Rainbow Routes Association, the Ontario Federation of All-Terrain Vehicles Clubs and the public.
The meeting was called by the Rainbow Routes Association in response to complaints from property owners and trail users who say some ATV riders are causing problems on paths that form the Trans Canada Trail, a network of trails linked from coast to coast.
One of the bigger bones of contention is that ATV enthusiasts are riding on part of the trail between Centennial Park in Naughton to Black Lake Rd., which is reserved for walkers and snowmobiles.
Since a portion of the trail is on private property, snowmobilers have land-use agreements and third-party liability, whereas ATV users do not. Property owners are concerned about potential lawsuits should an ATV accident occur on their land.
If ATVers are part of an organized club, like the Ontario Federation of All-Terrain Vehicles, they?re entitled to third party liability, which in turn protects property owners.
Debbie McIntosh, executive director of Rainbow Routes, said it was important to involve ATV users when it comes to solving these problems and educating riders. ?We want them to work out the problems,? she said, adding only five percent of ATV riders are problematic.
Federation executive director Rick Antaya said there is support in the Sudbury area for a club but the ?impetus must come from residents in the area.?
Judging by the turnout at the meeting, he said there is obviously enough interest in Sudbury for an ATV club.
Aside from providing third party liability insurance, the federation also provides a unified voice for ATV enthusiasts and promotes trail building in the province.
The working group will meet to decide how it should proceed. The date for the meeting is yet to be announced.
