Are a few bad apples spoiling the bunch?
That was the question facing county council last week with regards to the issue of motorbikes on the Algonquin Trail trespassing onto private property.
The topic actually began on a positive note, with a presentation to council by the Ontario Federation of Trail Riders (OFTR), which has 1,440 members in this region, pointing out that its members follow the rules and then some.
“We educate our rider to make sure they stay on the trails, because we have a zero-tolerance policy for trespassing,” OFTR executive director Lisa Thompson told the county’s mayors and reeves, adding the federation has also advocated for increased fines for riders who do trespass.
“When you hit people in their wallets, they’re less likely to trespass again in the future.”
Thompson also pointed to the economic benefits trail riders bring to municipalities.
“Our average rider spends $200 per day trip in the province. That’s on gas. That’s on restaurants and local attractions, hotels and campgrounds and more,” she said.
“We believe that our community will continue to bring economic development and tourism to this community.”
Laurentian Valley, however, has passed a resolution calling on the county to prohibit off-road motorbikes from using the Algonquin Trail, citing issues including trespassing, noise and public safety.
“Off-road motorbikes are designed for rough and extreme landscapes,” Laurentian Valley Reeve Keith Watt told county council’s operations committee.
“They’re built for the young at heart, who enjoy spinning their tires in mud and gravel, and are naturally loud”…
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