Off Road Vehicle Task Force

Off Road Vehicles (ORVs) such as All Terrain Vehicles (ATVs) are becoming more and more of a popular activity in and around Kawartha Lakes. With recent changes made to provincial legislation around ORV use on highways, in 2021 Kawartha Lakes Council struck the Off Road Vehicle Task Force, a team composed of members of Council, Kawartha Lakes Staff and members of the public.

The Task Force asked the public to comment and then made recommendations to Council in 2021. A two year pilot program was adopted that encompasses routes in several communities.

The approved pilot routes

View maps of the approved routes in this project under "Pilot Project Routes".

Download a PDF of all approved routes (11mb)

Read the background on the approved routes: Read the survey results, download supporting documents and watch the meetings that have taken place via You Tube. It's all on this project page.

Project completed: On March 22, 2022, Council adopted the By-law amendments to include details on how the pilot project will be monitored and enforced. This was adopted with the report outlining how the pilot program will be monitored and enforced to ensure safety and enjoyment of roads and trails throughout the municipality.

The Task Force asked the public to comment and then made recommendations to Council in 2021. A two year pilot program was adopted that encompasses routes in several communities.

The approved pilot routes

View maps of the approved routes in this project under "Pilot Project Routes".

Download a PDF of all approved routes (11mb)

Read the background on the approved routes: Read the survey results, download supporting documents and watch the meetings that have taken place via You Tube. It's all on this project page.

Questions for the ORV Task Force

Do you have a question or comment for the ORV Task Force regarding the proposed recommendations going to Council? Please use the platform below to reach out to the Task Force and a member will respond to you shortly.

You need to be signed in to add your question.

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Does the city record the number of ATV related complaints that are submitted to them and subsequently use those numbers of complaints to better assist the city with management strategies to deal with those complaints?

friendlyacresfarm asked 7 months ago

Yes, our Municipal By-Law department will be tracking all ATV complaints that are filed with the City. This will highlight problem areas that will require extra monitoring and enforcing.
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Why not run it up William to the rail trai at orchard park ?

TPC asked about 1 year ago

ATVs are currently not permitted on the trail located on William St and Orchard Park.
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How is this a survey? Only 2 questions, this is more of an informal vote

Harwill asked about 1 year ago

This survey was created to focus solely on the Lindsay ATV route and to gauge a response from residents to determine if they are in favour or not. This survey is being led by Council in order to make the best decision moving forward for the proposed route in Lindsay only. The Off Road Vehicle Task Force has provided multiple opportunities for additional public feedback and response throughout their initial studies, including a wider survey that ran earlier in the year as well as two public meetings.
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I don't know why the trail would not go the length of William St. Instead of Victoria drive.

Drewby asked about 1 year ago

Once you get to Springdale Gardens City infrastructure stops. Running parallel to the Victoria Rail Trail where ATV are not currently permitted could cause confusion and conflict.
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I live in Lindsay and have a atv. Am I allowed to leave my house on my atv and drive to the proposed trail through Lindsay to get to the Thunder Bridge Road rail bed trail?

Stilly asked about 1 year ago

Not at the present time. The proposed trial route will establish a data base of success or failure. Future Council may or may not choose to deal with that question but at least the decision will be better informed.
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Why not follow the original rail line. Lindsay is known in the snowmobile and atv world as the most unfriendly town . Before Victoria Ave was turned into a boulevard would have made a beautiful trail right tbrough town just as the trains of a few decades ago did.

Original KD asked about 1 year ago

You are right connecting the two trails using existing infrastructure would be the shortest safest and least disruptive route. A past Council banned ATVs on the rail trail from Logie St to Thunderbridge Road. This was reinforced when your suggestion was made during the 2010 session of Council. Those recommendations were rejected. This Task Force was charged with finding a link between the existing trails. Council could revisit the 2010 decision but it doesn’t seem likely.
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Can we suggest a route

Original KD asked about 1 year ago

Absolutely. The Task Force was struck to hear suggestions. Unfortunately for the most part all they got is why it should or should not happen.
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I Live in fenelon falls on county rd 8. And most days I don't see anyone drive by. They spend money in our restaurants and gas stations.It is busier on a side street on weekends atvs blend in like cars and at 20kmh there is hardly any noise. Most atv riders have respect children of their own. And face the same fines as a motorcycle or car. Not sure how to differentiate the two they both legally have to have passes licenses insurance and plates. It's a shame on weekends it would bring in loads of dollars to your community. So a question will be what harm are we going to cause at 20kmh when a motorcycle or car can do much more damage at high speeds. Consider the weight of a car God for bid, an atv is so much smaller. I believe it will be enforced? And I know it won't be a race course because of the respect of atv riders. What's next?

Dakotaflats asked about 1 year ago

Thank you for your question. The Task Force agrees with much of your preamble. What’s next is it’s in Council’s hands and the Task Force hopes to move forward and make further recommendations for the Bobcaygeon and the rural areas.
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A follow-up to my question about ATV manufacturers' warnings: You say that the rationale for manufacturers' warnings would be best discussed with the manufacturers. Is that something YOU, the Task Force, have done? It would seem reasonable to do so--Who, after all, knows better than the manufacturers themselves about the capabilities and limitations of the machines?

Jamie Morris asked about 1 year ago

The Task Force’s mandate is to make recommendations to Council for routes to connect the trails.
Like McDonald coffee cups, manufacturers are protecting themselves from liability so someone won’t try and drive on 400 series highways.
The Canadian Off-Highway Vehicle Distributors (COHV) who represent many of the manufacturers have been actively involved in the consultation process along with the OPP, Parachute Canada, the Ministry of Health and other stakholders many times over the years when the Ministry of Transportation is reviewing changes to ORV regulations including allowing ORVs to be used on roadways.
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We live in the former Mariposa township ,just wondering where we are allowed to use our orvs Thank you

Dave b asked about 1 year ago

ATVs are currently only permitted on trails that allow ATV usage.