Noisy snowmobiles disturb the peace of neighbours
Editor:
I wonder if landowners who have allowed the snowmobile trails across their properties realize how complicit they are in disturbing their neighbours’ peace.
Those of us who prefer living in a natural environment and non-disruptive active outdoor recreation at a pace that allows nature to be observed, not scared away, get no benefit at all from this use of your land. We are becoming all too aware of the difference between the noise of snowmobiles with altered mufflers and the muffled four-stroke engine that goes by relatively quietly.
Many trails are far from the landowner’s house but pass much closer to those of their neighbours. That is like just letting your kids blare tunes at all hours while you are away. The noise bylaws that do exist, although worded in a 1950s form, are clearly designed to prevent this sort of disruption of one neighbour by another. But there is clearly no intent to enforce this law in Clearview. On weekends it sounds as if a Formula 1 race track has been built nearby. There would have to be a due process before that happened, but apparently drag racing snowmobiles in Clearview does not have that due process.
As we start to understand the damaging effects of our past practices, the trend is clearly that municipalities are developing more socially and environmentally conscious priorities. They know that these are important in attracting investment and jobs. So although Clearview does not have a council that has arrived there yet, it will happen. The trail system users should recognize that the trails’ continued existence should not be assumed, but should be earned by better control of the disruption. And landowners should be more aware of their contribution to the problem. Their permission should require the responsible users, represented by the clubs, to demonstrate an ability to limit the noise of all users. And, if as is currently the case, they can’t, then I do not see why my neighbours should be imposing the noise on me.
Peter Halsall,
Clearview.
But I guess all those noisy Harley-Davidsons you’re fine with!! I really wish people wouldn’t be so petty when it comes to a sport that’s two months out of the year.
As a Snowmobiler for many years I would apologize for the loud snowmobiles. I own a stock exhaust 4 stroke machine and feel it would be very hard for you or anyone else to complain about noise. The is a huge economic benefit to having good snowmobile trails in our region. Dealers for the snowmobile itself, trucks, trailers, gear, food, lodging all benefit from the trails this is multi billion dollar industry. No one complains about loud (even louder) Harley Davidson groups all summer long roaring down the road. But police are suppose to be issuing tickets for altered exhaust and have been so doing in some areas my suggestion to you would be to call the police and try to have them in your area and hand out tickets instead of making trouble with good neighbors that understand the value to the area of graciously donating their land for us to use.
I’ve been a snowmobiler for the last 45 years and driven over a hundred thousand miles on good trails and bad ones. The influx of money snowmobiling brings to some communities over the course of the winter months and some riders even return during the summer months.I would have to agree to a certain degree about the noise if every snowmobile that went by your house or property made excess noise, but then there is a time were I would have to disagree. Having a louder set of exhaust pipes or muffler could possibly save your life by allowing wildlife to know that you are approaching, so instead of hitting that animal it has run off the trail and now both of you are safe. I can attast to this because I purchased a new snowmobile years ago with a quiet exhaust and while riding in central Ontario with friends had a deer run directly at me and hit me in the front corner luckily turning the deer sideways when our body’s made contact so fortunately I was not hurt, but I know individuals who ended up in the hospital with broken bones their machines destroyed and the animal killed. So for people that complain about the noise I know it is unpleasant but like other individuals have noted the noise majority of Harley Davidson riders have installed louder pipes on their motorcycles that are ear drafting but no one complains about them and they disturb a great number of people wherever they ride. Their excuse is loud pipes save lives. Now if it is a parade of dozens of Snowmobiles going by time after time I’d say you have a problem but I’m guessing it’s two maybe three at a time and unless they are doing circles around your home they are more than likey are gone within seconds. And depending on the amount of snow on the ground also works to dampen the noise so poor snow condition can possibly contribute to making the noise reverberate faster instead of absorbing a certain percentage it before it reaches your home and the other question is how close to the trail is your home. I can sympathize to a certain degree with you but I also belief you are looking for something trivial to argue with your neighbor or You just don’t like snowmobilers. You don’t have to agree with me but I have seen both sides of this argument.