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www.northumberlandtoday.com _ . 2 Local News * omm O ts line up _ TV proposal for XTV battle _ offers open rides a P * ® i ® " In Alnwick/Haldimand Township Y th restrict (ELboxmue CHra6A ClE & j V NI FESUTL1IC 1JO0nsSs By Bos O 3 Two years ago, he and about 60 5 ; § § ; } . 10Wen@xp]!vril:t,com 3JKEY: l//07 others formed the ATV club to ‘The content of a proposal to allow ATV use on promote safe and respectful use of _ Alnwick/ Haldimand Township roads was put Groups on opposing sides of â€" ATVS: Their membership has â€" before council July 5 but not discussed. allowing allâ€"terrain vehicles «SNOW! to 142. He says they _ Some of the restrictions include: § _ ATVs) on Alnwickâ€"Haldimang Continug: t0 get calls from . . + speed restrictions of 20 km/hour on roads fownship roads are lining up in interested riders. â€" which have speed limits of 50 km/hour, preparation for the anticipated Mr. Ainsworth feels the. _ + speed restrictions of 35 km/hour on roads fight for council votes. township has to have a bylaw. . with 50 km/hour speed limits; U . Alnwick/Haldimand Township The PONSE want it so they can |_ + no riding between 10 pm. and 8 a.m. . \Council passed a motion July 5 to have something to enforce, he +all riders must wear approved helmets, hold ‘obtain further advice on the SAYS: He is adamant his group â€" valid driver‘s licences, and have valid insurance. question. After the advice from| wants) to _ work with the « ATVs may not carry passengers while on its lawyer and the provincial municipality and the police. . roads; & Municipal Affairs Department is He says the irresponsible _ â€" ATVs must have licences. § received, the township is 4CME people sometimes observe + riders must travel on the shoulder of the .« lexpected to hold a public meeting is the result of having no bylaw: . road unless it is unsafe. + to gather further input before â€" "iders sit.on the side of the road. |‘os vexharsh syctems must meet the "â€" makinga decision.. Waltmg for a chance to avoid .. manufacturer maximum noise level Grefchen Harris speaks on Getection as they race to the next + other required equipment is also listed. â€" ® behalf of the Friends of: Offroadaccess point. Those meeting the requirements would be Northumberland County Forest. _ He alsoestimates ATV owners . allowed use of all Alnwick/Haldimand Township «She raises two reasons for Ereatly outnumber those in | roads if the proposal became a bylaw in its banning ATVs from township opposition". He guesses there are. .. current form. f roads and on the Oak Ridges 4 couple of thousand ATVs in / s Moraine. Alnwick/Haldimand. £ According to Ms. Harris, the The president of the ATV club .. s : * Oak ~Ridges Moraine feels the criticisms that paint ]â€" * 7 Conservation Act passed on ATV riders as drinkers who drive Nov.15, 2001 states that if it is not too fast on vehicles that are too & ‘a legally existing use at that time, large are ridiculous. The average Tt cannot be done. Ms. Harris says age Of his club membership is 42â€" â€" there is no county or townshipâ€" 44 years. The membership is ; . ibylaw allowing ATVs on public Te@uired fo ride safely and â€" +property and has legal opinion to respectfully, he says, and \back up her statements. complaints refer to about five per a * ‘The Friends or cent of ATV riders, not the Northumberland County Forest. MAJOMty, _ . {position asserts that county forest _ . . No bylaw is not the answer, in | within the Oak Ridges Moraine his opinion, because that won‘t j boundaries is considered natural St0P ATV use. Having a bylaw core land, the most highly with strict limitations is the : ples sensitive land on the moraine _ SAfest thing to do, he maintains. â€" that must be protected. As part of his club‘s safeâ€"use > _ ATVs have never been legally PrO8"am, the club initiated the *allowed on the land and as such formation of the ATV Safety â€" smust _be . considered . an Coalition . which has 15 4 Sunpermitted new use, the group stakeholders from police, fire naintains. departments and other safetyâ€" ‘+*If the forest and moraine are oriented groups in the.county. Xaken away from the ATV riders, They have enlisted Honda * That will take away the honey CANada to help promote the pot," Mr. Harris asserts. message of safe respectful use. * if the township chooses to They hope to capture parents and ‘Allow ATVs on other roads, she young people with their safety ‘feels there will be increased ATV message. trafficand increased Hability for " _ "People. don‘t want to see past "the township from collisions with kids riding up and down the s ‘cars and trucks. roads. They uncover the dirtiest § : *o: With access to more remote rock and paint everyone with it," «Sections of the township riders notes the ATV club president. & wiill trespass on private property, Shelter Valley Voices, whose : igommit irresponsible acts and mandate is to preserve the . :Ie‘ave property owners liable. . ?HVIron‘ment, has taken some : *%~* She hopes the township takes a interest in the debate but has not "Close look at the new reality if it taken an official stand. Its board 5 ‘passes a bylaw allowing use of of directors has forwarded a copy township roads. of a petition opposing an ATV Mike Ainsworth speaks on bylaw to its members, says behalf of the Northumberland * bresident Carol Hanley, > â€" ~District ATV Riders Club. Healso . While careful to clarify that s chaired the committee that / her position is in no way that of 9 drafted the proposal the township . the board she heads, Ms. Hanley < is baving reviewed. â€" feels that, "if a bylaw is passed, it ©. He sees another, completely is one more intrusion into the s R «@ifferent side of the ATV issue. sanctity of the area." 4 %