CARA survey says, keep current ATV bylaw

On August 10, Clearview council voted against a public survey to determine voters’ preferences on increased access for ATVs and SxSs to Clearview’s roads and trails. As a result, Creemore Area Residents’ Association (CARA) decided to develop a short, objective survey of its membership and some former members to learn their views on the proposed bylaw that is coming before council on Sept. 28. We received an impressive 146 responses, representing over 400 residents.
The key information obtained from CARA’s August survey are:
• Fully 92 per cent (N=134) of respondents do not want increased road access for ATVs and SxSs in Clearview.
• No one favoured increasing access to all roads, unopened roads, road allowances and trails.
• 86 per cent (N=126) expressly favour keeping the current bylaw in place.
• 85 per cent of the survey respondents live in Clearview. Within this group, 71 per cent live in Ward 5 (Creemore, Avening), 26 per cent in Ward 2 (Duntroon, Glen Huron, Dunedin) and zero per cent to two per cent in the other five wards. 11 per cent were from Mulmur, from which the residents come to Creemore to enjoy Creemore’s shops, activities, services and the village character.
• The vast majority of Clearview respondents to our survey live in Ward 5 (71 per cent) or Ward 2 (26 per cent).
• 14 per cent of respondents own an ATV, four per cent own a SxS and 84 per cent do not own either an ATV or SxS.
• Of the small number (seven per cent, N=12) who indicated a preference for some increase in ATV and/or SxS access:
• Eight believe they should be allowed on roads with adequate gravel shoulders;
• Eight believe they should not be allowed on roads with high traffic volumes;
• Six say they should not be allowed in residential areas;
• No one mentioned wanting access to gas or stores.
• Survey respondents who favoured retaining the existing 2017 bylaw cited a number of concerns regarding noise, safety, underage drivers, negative impact on the environment, trespassing, lack of adequate policing and lack of compatibility with Creemore’s ‘brand’ and village character. The lack of sidewalks in Creemore may increase the municipality’s liability in the event of an accident.
• Many comments referenced specific observed incidents by some in the ATV community and a culture that has not respected existing bylaws or laws.
• There was clear support by many respondents for an approach that would exclude Wards 2 and 5 from any proposed increase in ATV access.
Anyone interested in more details can read the longer summary of the survey results and the four pages of additional comments made by the respondents available on CARA’s website, creemoreresidents.ca (and sent directly to the Mayor and Councillors with the survey results.)

CARA Corner is authored by Greg Young and Val Dyer for the Creemore Area Residents’ Association.