Off Road Vehicle Task Force

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Friends riding ATVs through the mud

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, Kawartha Lakes Council decided that it was time to review the municipality's current by-laws. The Off Road Vehicle Task Force, a team composed of members of Council, Kawartha Lakes Staff and members of the public, will work together over the next few months to take a closer look at the current rules around ORV use, focusing on approved roads and restricted areas. The goal is to provide Council with recommendations based on research and public consultation that will help expand and enhance ORV use activity across the municipality.

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, Kawartha Lakes Council decided that it was time to review the municipality's current by-laws. The Off Road Vehicle Task Force, a team composed of members of Council, Kawartha Lakes Staff and members of the public, will work together over the next few months to take a closer look at the current rules around ORV use, focusing on approved roads and restricted areas. The goal is to provide Council with recommendations based on research and public consultation that will help expand and enhance ORV use activity across the municipality.

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.

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    Why not run it up William to the rail trai at orchard park ?

    TPC asked 6 months 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 6 months 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 6 months 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 6 months 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 6 months 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 6 months 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 6 months 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 6 months 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 6 months ago

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

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    ATV manufacturers advise against driving these off-road vehicles on roads. A 2021 Polaris ATV for example, has a sticker that states "Improper ATV use can result in severe injury or death" and then says "Never use on public roads." Given this, why do you think ATVs on roads should be allowed?

    Jamie Morris asked 6 months ago

    The rational for manufacturers stickers would be best discussed with the manufacturers.

    Observation has demonstrated under certain circumstances ATVs can and are being operated safely on municipal roads.  The province of Ontario has endorsed the use of ATVs on municipal roads under strict guidelines by introducing changes to legislation under Ont. Reg. 316/03.

Page last updated: 15 December 2021, 12:08