The Community Services Committee of the regional district board passed a motion to support the Province of British Columbia’s provincial vision for a non-motorized trail, consistent with the Trans Canada Trail designation. They also sent a letter to the Minister of Forests, Lands and Natural Resource Operations advising them of this position, at last Thursday’s regional district board meetings.
The motion came on the heels of a verbal report by Summerland Trans Canada Trail Society President Marilyn Hansen, who informed the board of issues the society was having with motorized users of Summerland’s rail trails. The Summerland ATV Club had recently started a petition to claim use of the trail, and the society was finding itself at odds with the group, who they claimed were causing damage that rendered the trail unusable by non-motorized users.
Hansen noted that signage had been vandalized and ATV use was occurring on parts of the trail already deemed off limits. Motorized users were bullying other recreational users, and were responsible for destroying the trail surface.
“I’m not here to bad mouth them,” she told the board, “we just need to have separate trails. We are missing out on tourism benefits if we don’t get this settled.”
Members of the board questioned the validity of Hansen’s request, asking how the society would be able to enforce a restriction on ATV use. Hansen replied that increased signage and police enforcement items in the Forest Practices Code could apply to the situation. The province is expected to begin licensing ATVs this fall, she added, which would also aid in enforcement. She told the board that Quebec had a highly regarded trail system that served both user groups needs by twinning their trails.
“It’s impossible to maintain the trail surface for bicycles with ATV use on them,” she said.RDOS Chairman Dan Ashton reminded the board of the detrimental effects that off road mountain bikers have had on much of the natural environment stating that the issue over trail use could best be solved through mutual cooperation and education, not enforcement. As a motorcycle enthusiast himself, he reminded the board of the public money invested in parts of the trail like the Trout Creek bridge, expressing a will to continue to push for the rights of all users to use certain parts of the trail.
Special Projects Coordinator for the regional district Diane Vaykovich reminded the board that through ongoing discussions regarding the regional district’s Trails Master Plan, the regional district will have further opportunity to discuss the issue.