I have read through the above posts and am very concerned.
I ride in Larose at least 10 times per year, I taught my son to ride there and hope to teach my daughter there. It would be a shame to lose this riding area.
I would like to make a few points that can explain why the two wheel ban is inevitable and then propose some next steps.
1) This is private land owned by the township of Prescott Russel. If this ban goes through you will be trespassing with or without proper license and insurance.
2) The majority of decision makers of this land are in some way involved with ATV's and snowmobiles. Say what you want about land damage, this is not going to influence the decision makers, it may even work against you.
3) Most of the problem comes down to the behaviour of a few bikers. There have been several times that I have been in the staging area and observed bikers being very irresponsible. Yes, ATV's are also in this category but my experience has been mostly motocross bikes. On several occasions I have witnessed very impressive (stupid) acts of catwalks, wheel stands, circular burns outs, beer drinking, and racing right in the parking area. I once witnesses a horse trailer unload hores only to be almost dragged by their horse after a load bike decided to roost past. I do not see plates on many of these bikes and I assume they are not insured. Another issue is the noise generated by these oncorked bikes. Usually there are ATV riders watching in annoyance. For all I know these are the executives making the decisions on the fate of the forest. Even my son being 11 at the time has called them "idiots" before I said the same. On two occasions I have been upset enough to often confront a riders for almost running my son over and roosting my truck with rocks. It may be a few riders but for some reaon this area brings more fools than other areas I ride in.
I'm not saying that I am not an aggressive rider who rides fast and hard. The difference is that I don't do it in the parking lot or in the presence of oncoming traffic of anykind. Most of the ATV riders are riding to observe scenery and get there family out for a pleasant ride. They don't want to feel like they have stumbled onto a race track by accident.
4) Sales 101, What benefit do we 2 wheelers bring to the decision makers in this forest? Very few of us are in the Prescott Russel distirct. (I don't) If anything I believe we are appealing for change of understanding about the perception of who we are. I think we are on thin ice but it is not hopeless. Don't be fooled into thinkg that we are "owed" anything.
The best we can do is to assist with the percetion of who the majority of us are. We also need to find a way to police abusers regarding common sense in the forest. Perhaps signs regarding proper behavior may help. Maps indicating where to ride and where to avoid would help. The signs Private Property" "obey laws or permission revoked" helps on the sledding trails.
One thing that the leaders must understand is that they will never stop bikes from riding in the forest. They will also be stuck with a higher ratio of bad apples then they have now. Education and regulation is the best solution.
We can chat all we want but we need to take action. I suggest that we need a strategy to draft some of these suggestions and others for the Prescott Russell exectutive and present them. We could generate a petition that must include business leaders such as Wheelsport, Loiselle, and others. Other than the petition we would also need a large delegation of responsible people attending a meeting.
I am prepared to become involved but would need lot's of help. It would also be very helpful to have one of our leaders from the district and be billingual.
Steve Lowe
