United Counties of Prescott and Russell August 15, 2006
Louis Prévost, MCIP, RPP
Directeur / Director
Département d'Urbanisme / Planning Department
59, rue Court
L'Orignal ON K0B 1K0
RE: Proposed by-law for Vehicle Use of Larose Forest By-law
Mr. Prévost:
I was able to visit the Larose Forest in July and had a very pleasant day. I spent the morning riding only the trails proposed for use and the afternoon riding the trails currently posted as non-motorized.
I did not ride the horse trail improperly posted by CEREC as single use. I have contacted the Ontario Equestrian Federation (OEF) as CEREC is a member and may be using the OEF insurance policy to cover the 3rd party liability. The sign seems to assure equestrians that they will not encounter any motorized traffic even though I could have legally ridden the trail. This is a dangerous practice and we hope nothing arises from it.
The OFTR has advised our members that the non-motorized signs are not enforceable according to your email of June 22, 2006. We are also concerned that the county staff has been advising riders that a by-law has already been passed to support the signs. You have clearly stated the OFTR would be advised of any by-law proposals regarding Larose Forest so we may advise
During my visit there were many motorcycles and ATVs as well as some paint ball enthusiasts. I spoke with all of them about the forest and upcoming proposed legislation. I advised them that the actions of a few irresponsible motorized riders are causing concerns and to take the time to speak with others about their actions. I also had a pleasant talk with a nature photographer and a local landowner. This is a common OFTR approach in areas under concern and often provides a notable change in behavior.
Our experience has been that banning motorized users from forests causes enforcement problems and tends to escalate any conflicts that may exist. Bad behavior cannot be attributed motorcycles any more than automobiles. AN open line of communication and stewardship allows for education and an increased presence of authority which can greatly reduce any problems the county is experiencing in Larose Forest.
The ATV trail map directed me to mostly wide trails and the corners are banked in such a way to drive riders to the outside regardless of the direction they are traveling. I found this situation to be unsafe even at 50 kms. The trails off of the main forest roads are much safer and slower and provide a very enjoyable trails experience. I was also able to find some ‘single track’ which is commonly created by motorcyclists and often used by hikers and equestrians. During my ride, there were no signs of any other uses besides motorcycles on these narrow twisting trails. It is the preferred trail experience of our members.
The suggested area of use on the map only utilizes a small portion of what already exists in Larose. We have experience in this practice which tends to concentrate use and cause more damage.
Off Road Motorcycles (ORMs) and ATV enthusiasts require considerable distance for a quality outing. It is wise to plan multiple trail systems, each with adequate distances to provide several hours of riding without having to retrace part of the previous route. The lack of adequate trail distances for OHV recreation is one of the most serious problems facing public lands managers.
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While it is our intention to address fully the prejudice at times directed at motorized enthusiasts, it seems necessary to touch on the all too frequent strategy of closing trails rather than managing them equitably and competently. To be sure, there are times when temporary closure of a trail to ALL types of recreation travel is a reasonable option to consider. However, in the case of ORMs or ATVs, unwarranted trail closure has caused a reliable sequence of events of trail damage that leads to even more trail damage.
The events go something like this:
First minor damage is found on a few trails. The damage is the result of foot, horse and motorized use on improperly designed or poorly maintained trails. Trails are then closed to “prevent resource damage.†Interestingly, the trails are closed only to ORMs and ATVs or in some cases ORMs, ATVs and horses.
After the closure there are fewer trails available to support a growing population of motorized recreationists, and overuse begins to take its toll. Managers again close more trails and the processes of events have come full circle. The burden has once again falls on one or two groups of outdoor recreationists.
There is no substitute for adequate mileage of well maintained, competently designed trails, at least not for the conscientious land manager. Our goal is to provide recommendations that help Prescott-Russell forest managers meet their responsibility to provide high quality outdoor recreation opportunities for all users.
The united counties should first acquire an understanding of the recreation and its participants and then develop an analytic approach to developing and managing trails and facilities. With notable exceptions this happens all too seldom and the management process becomes an even greater burden. Local users groups supported by provincial federations provide planners with the information they need to competently locate, design, construct and manage motorized trails. The moral and ethical questions surrounding the problems of bias and even bigotry against motorized recreation need to be openly addressed and impartially resolved.
The OFTR and its local members would like to work with officials in Prescott-Russell to establish a Forest Recreation Policy that will provide a high quality trail experience for all types of users.
Yours Cordially,
Ken Hoeverman
Executive Director
khoeverman@rogers.com
CC: Stéphane Parisien, CAO UCPR
Bytown Motorcycle Association
