OHVs allowed in parks...could your riding place be next?

[Wayne P]

I don't doubt anyone's experiences, but I would like to always make the point in these threads that most motorized off road users are not the enemy nor are irresponsible.

And believe me when I lived in North Van I felt somewhat anti-moto, probably because I wasn't exposed to it being in the little bubble that mountain biking is there.

[juan]

Originally Posted by Wayne P

I don't doubt anyone's experiences, but I would like to always make the point in these threads that most motorized off road users are not the enemy nor are irresponsible.

And believe me when I lived in North Van I felt somewhat anti-moto, probably because I wasn't exposed to it being in the little bubble that mountain biking is there.

It is a good point wayne.
The common enemy all user groups share is ignorance and miseducation.

[legionnair]

On another forum I posted for motorized vehicles, having a background in both mtb, quading, and motorcycles and got scorned and quite a bit of hate thrown my way. I try to see all points of view. Heres my take Harbour View is a very vast area it could support a multi-use trail system. I understand some people feel like if motorized use is allowed them all there trails will be gone. As I said on the other forum and I will repeat if you want your trails to be safe from motorized riders then you have to make filters so quads and 4x4 cant get into them.
I think a multi-use area is a great idea for sooke it will bring alot people out to see the sooke hills.
Let the hate begin

[pedalhound]

I think I have already seen trails that were built by MTB'ers out in sooke get pretty messed up by quads, that is not cool. Period.

I have no issues with people out riding moto's or 4x4...but when you start messing up other users trails...that's just not ok behavior. If all users can respect the others users right to be there and their trails then I have no problem.... but since it is obvious in those video's that some users do not share that same philosophy....we'll that's the issue.

I see other areas like up at doumont in Nanaimo where OHV users and other users share the area and there is garbage all over the place...broken glass...just crap dumped...it's not a good situation. Is that how we want the sooke hills?

OHV users do have more area than MTB...all that has happened for us lately is area after area being lost to developments and golf courses....so now the only totaly legal place we have to ride in the victoria area is hartland...I love hartland but we need more area to ride.

I know that the OHV community had this area taken away and are pissed off about it, but the CRD parks mandate is no vehicles in their parks, it will be interesting if this group can change that....it will open up all of their parks, quite the shitstorm IMO.

[Aeropusher]

Originally Posted by pedalhound

..I see other areas like up at doumont in Nanaimo where OHV users and other users share the area and there is garbage all over the place...broken glass...just crap dumped...it's not a good situation. Is that how we want the sooke hills?...

...the area around duomont has been like that for a long long time...dumping crap and partying out there has established itself in the fabric of nanaimo's *culture*...you cant pin the blame for that mess on the area's recreation users....it's the asshats who don't want to pay 5bucks at a transfer station or aren't willing to spend an extra 15 minutes driving out to the landfill



btw: not agreeing with what happens out there...I've called in the plate numbers of quite a few people....

[strahan]

Originally Posted by legionnair

if you want your trails to be safe from motorized riders then you have to make filters so quads and 4x4 cant get into them.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_CoYXp8Bm-4

check out 4:21. exactly how do you "filter" out quads when people take this kind of action?

by the way, this video is all in the area proposed to be a park, now being considered as open to OHVs.

[DarylMac]

What does OHV stand for? Off-road ___ Vehicle?

[Oldfart]

OHV = Off Highway Vehicle. The Motor Vehicle Act defines highway includes pretty much anywhere a car goes. Therefore off highway doesn't mean just slow vehicles.

[Bryce]

Originally Posted by Aeropusher

...the area around duomont has been like that for a long long time...dumping crap and partying out there has established itself in the fabric of nanaimo's *culture*...you cant pin the blame for that mess on the area's recreation users....it's the asshats who don't want to pay 5bucks at a transfer station or aren't willing to spend an extra 15 minutes driving out to the landfill

true, but if the gate is open, its open to anyone, asshats included. And Doumont is really gross.

I'd support separate playgrounds, not mixed use

[legionnair]

Originally Posted by strahan

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_CoYXp8Bm-4

check out 4:21. exactly how do you "filter" out quads when people take this kind of action?

by the way, this video is all in the area proposed to be a park, now being considered as open to OHVs.

I great filter is a suspended log(at least 2.5ft in the air) or 2 logs in the form of an "X"at the top of a short hill or in a tight area. If you strip the logs then paint them yellow. This type of filter will keep 99% of OHV out esp. quads and 4x4. Now there is the ass hats like you showed in the video does not matter if it is park, gated, or filters are in place they will get around. That is why I support plates for OHV's to identify and report abusers.

heres why I support an area either Harbour view or else where for muti-use is because if you allow an area closer to the users then they will be less likely to ride in MTB/hiking areas. Alot of them the idiots mostly are to lazy to travel the distance to areas where they are allowed.

As stated above we have lost alot of riding areas in and around Victoria but alot of those areas were lost because we were riding on private land and the owner/property managers sold the property. This is the case with skirt(Millstream rd) and Nield Rd.

[enduramil]

This is what they use in the UK to deal with them.

[HIBuLlitT]

The problem is access points. We would need a fence a few miles long on either side of the road. These guys will just mow down the smaller trees with their
quads and go around anything we put in. They are like bed bugs, creepy and hard to
get rid of once there.

[strahan]

for the record, i support OHVs having a place to recreate. However, the nature of the vehicles (noise, damage to tread surface, speed, etc) and the type of people often attracted to them (garbage, drinking, destruction, etc) means they can't play in the same space as other users.

Yes this is a stereotype. But this is the reality. OHVs should not be allowed in Harbourview.

[Adam West]

Originally Posted by strahan

for the record, i support OHVs having a place to recreate. However, the nature of the vehicles (noise, damage to tread surface, speed, etc) and the type of people often attracted to them (garbage, drinking, destruction, etc) means they can't play in the same space as other users.

Yes this is a stereotype. But this is the reality. OHVs should not be allowed in Harbourview.

Exactly.

[legionnair]

Originally Posted by HIBuLlitT

The problem is access points. We would need a fence a few miles long on either side of the road. These guys will just mow down the smaller trees with their
quads and go around anything we put in. They are like bed bugs, creepy and hard to
get rid of once there.

Again why I believe Harbour view is going to be a never ending fight against OHV's because there is access from so many different places and the area so vast you will never be able to keep them out. So why not allow them but set up trail systems clearly marked for each user.

I hate when people blame OHV's users for bringing in garbage and drinking. Do not make this sterotype it just spreads ingornace. How about talking with the reponsible users and learn that we pay for insurance for our vehicles and the insurance has Zero tolerance against alcohol. Also alot of groups go out on clean up rides.

Looks like we will see what happens. I support the multi-use area but do not think it will get passed.