By Dan Sullivan on Unrecorded Date: Edit

Parliament a few years ago had discussion of alterning the Snowmobile Act and possibly incorporating ATV's under the same laws. Has anyone heard of any new information?

By David Keeso (Argomag) on Unrecorded Date: Edit

Dan, I have used the snowmobile trails up at my cottage on the Bruce Penninsula. I don't think anyone really cares that much as long as you aren't ripping things up and you are being responsible and safe

By Laurier on Unrecorded Date: Edit

Here is some of the information that can be found on Changes to Ontario’s Off-Road Vehicles Legislation/Regulations. I think it is more for 4X4's then 6X6 or 8X8.

http://www.ofatv.org/index.cfm?action=orvAct

By Laurier on Unrecorded Date: Edit

Here is what I have found on the OFATV.org web site.
Here are some of the changes. It does not give us free access yet.
Changes to Ontario’s Off-Road Vehicles Legislation/Regulations
Off-road vehicles (ORVs) now have more access to the shoulder and paved portions of some Ontario highways. These new regulations, effective July 31, 2003, apply to one category of ORV only. This particular “all-terrain vehicle” (ATV) is defined as an off-road vehicle that:

Has four wheels, the tires of which are all in contact with the ground
Has steering handlebars
Has a seat that is designed to be straddled by the driver
Meets requirements of federal Motor Vehicle Safety Act (MVSA) and American National Standards Institute (ANSI standard)
Is designed to carry a driver only and no passengers.
New regulations do not apply to other types of off-road vehicles such as mini bikes, dirt bikes and moto-cross bikes, nor to all other categories of ATVs, including three-wheelers, dune buggies and snowmobiles.

Where ORVs Can Travel

Prohibited from 400 series highways, Trans Canada Highway
Access to highways 500 to 899, 7000 series and Summer Average Daily Traffic (SADT) less than 5,000. Specific highways are defined in the regulation schedules
ORVs can operate on shoulder; move to travelled portion of highway if shoulder is impassable/unsafe
Speed limit lower than posted limits (same as snowmobiles)
20 km/h - highways where speed limit is 50 km/h or less
50 km/h – highway where speed limit is over 50 km/h
Not allowed on rights-of way (e.g.: medians) between opposing lanes of traffic
Riders must operate their ORV in the same direction of traffic
Cannot operate in a construction zone, on a closed highway or within a provincial park unless allowed by the park
Municipalities may pass by-laws to decide if, where and when off-road vehicles can be used on local roads.

By Kevin Percy on Unrecorded Date: Edit

I think permission to use the sled trails for other than winter use (if that is what we are talking about) would depend to some degree on who owns the land. Some of it is Crown owned and some is private. As far as vehicles other than Snowmobiles in the winter, it makes sense to me that anything that doesn't tear up the groomed trail should be allowed, ie a 6x6 with tracks, if the owner pays the $$$ for the permit.
My $0.02

By P.J. on Unrecorded Date: Edit

F.Y.I.

Vehicles such as an Argo, Max etc. are not covered by the Off Roads Vehicles Act of Ontario. They do not fit any definition as advanced by the Act.

The snowmobile fraternity would be well advised to permit the use of trails that they maintain to be used by AATV's. They could use the revenue. The problem, as they see it, is damage to the trails and the fact that they often traverse water
(ice in the winter). Well, water might stop a four wheeler, but not one of our machines. It seems a natural fit to allow amphibious 6 and 8 wheelers to use their trails when there is no snow on the ground. As much fun as "mudding" can be, that would be the one thing that would spoil it. For miles and miles of all-day touring fun it would be great to use their trails.

P.J.

By Laurier on Unrecorded Date: Edit

It would be grate if we could all us the trails. They should allow only ATV's and AATV's with tracks on the trails this would not harm any thing