CARA voices opinion on ATVs

Editor:

Council voted 6/3 Monday to direct staff to prepare a plan to allow greater access to ATVs and “Side by Sides” on township roads and trails for approval tentatively on September 28, 2020. The motion was introduced by Councillor Broderick, owner of J&R Cycles, an ATV and Side by Side dealer citing a study of the health benefits of ATVs. It coincided with a deputation by an ATV advocate with a large number of signatures heavily promoted on social media with default pre-programmed addresses purporting to be from residents of “Creemore.” Following are a few of the points we raised with council.
The issue of using ATVs on township roads was raised in 2008 and 2016 and was rejected by council at that time. In 2017, council struck a balance between the interests of local residents opposed to ATVs on our roads and ATV users (mostly from outside Clearview) and allowed a substantial number of roads in Clearview to be used by ATVs. We believe the compromise adopted in 2017 should remain in place. It provides ATV users with more than adequate access to township roads and trails.
A staff report should be delayed until after the Emergency Orders are terminated and until Ontario is 100 per cent open for business. It is wholly inappropriate that this issue be decided at a time when indoor meetings are limited to 50 people and only if each person can be 2 meters apart.
We observe that many ATV users now driving on Clearview roads are underage, drive too quickly and often unsafely, 2 or 3 abreast. They lack any sense of the rules of the road. We question whether they are licensed. The OPP reports an alarming increase in ATV fatalities.
We recognize ATVs can be useful in farm settings. In reviewing the case for increasing access by ATVs, there are very few benefits offset by a large number of liabilities including risks to safety, noise, speed, damage to local trails, wildlife and deterioration of the village and rural character of our community. It is clear there are substantial liabilities with no apparent benefits to the Township or its residents.

Greg Young, CARA President
Valerie Dyer, CARA Secretary

Creemore and Area Residents’ Association