CBS hears pro and con on ATV pilot project for town streets

Corey Bridger, left, who moved to CBS in 2007, told a public session on ATV use on town streets that he supports the pilot project, which starts May 15. Listening on, from left, are Deputy Mayor Andrea Gosse, Town Clerk Gail Pomroy, and Municipal Enforcement Manager Ed Jarvis. Chad Feehan Local Journalism Initiative Reporter photo

By Chad Feehan / Local Journalism Initiative Reporter

The Town of CBS got a full house and half a house full of residents at the two meetings held last week to discuss possible ATV routes through town.

The first session was held at the Lions Club in Long Pond and was full. The second session was held at the Parsons Rotary Clubhouse in Seal Cove and also attracted a good number of participants.

Residents were given the chance to provide feedback on the Town’s proposed pilot project that would see ATVs allowed to traverse some streets.

The sessions began with a presentation by the Town’s Municipal Enforcement Officer Ed Jarvis on the regulations governing the operation of ATVs on municipal roadways to access Schedule A designated trails. The rules are listed under the Off-Road Vehicles Act.
The pilot project would see ATVs allowed on parts of Seal Cove Road, Anchorage Road, a number of roadways within a one kilometer radius, and potential and existing staging areas to access the off-road routes.
Councillor-at-large Paul Connors, who has been chairing a committee of ATV users on behalf of council for the past several years, explained why these sites were selected to allay potential concerns of residents in the areas.
“We were looking at roads that had access to pathways or historical trails,” he said. “The purpose of the pilot project is so people who live on Anchorage Road or the connecting streets around it can leave their house and go on their bike.”
CBS Resident Gord Waterman asked if education about ATV use on designated roadways could be brought into schools, as youth riders, he said, might be more inclined to do as they please.
“When the kids see enforcement, when they see police, the fact is they’re going to flatten it,” he said. “We need to change that mentality, so can we somehow get this into the schools… somehow make it fun for them so we can change that mentality.”
Despite those who break the rules, Waterman said, the benefits of having ATVs in the community outweigh the negatives.
“Before I left (home tonight) I saw a 12-year-old doing donuts,” said Waterman. “He needs to be educated more. I see him going up and down the road on the back wheels all day. It pisses me off, but I will never ever be against it because the good outweighs the bad every time.”
Connors said while the Town’s three enforcement officers won’t have the ability to issue tickets, they will help enforce the rules. And the Town will also work with the RNC to develop responses if issues indeed arise.
According to the RNC, Connors said, similar initiatives in Corner Brook and other areas have been successful amongst responsible, law-abiding riders.
“Do they still have issues with the fellows going up the road on their back wheels doing donuts like everyone’s talking about? Of course. That comes down to an education piece, like we discussed,” he said.
Some residents had questions and reservations, despite a general approval of the pilot project. Robert Dawe was against the project outright. He said ATV use has turned living on his property, which he referred to as a “piece of heaven,” into a nightmare. This project, he said, won’t fix that. Like some other residents, he wondered about enforcement.
“I don’t want any part of it, I think it’s crazy,” he said. “If there was as much effort put into our enforcement side as you put into this presentation and this program, I think we’d have a lot less problems.”
Connors said the Town needs to find out what transpires as a result of the pilot project before it decides what enforcement will be necessary.
“Right now we do have an issue with illegal activity,” he admitted. “Every town, every community across the province got the same issues, and everybody is trying to figure out a way to address it, and education is one piece that would help it.”
Dawe however argued that rules and regulations are toothless without enforcement, and despite the intention to use approved roads to access approved trails, ATVs and residential areas go together like oil and water.
“Why not just put your bike on the trailer and bring it somewhere where you can not bother anybody,” he argued. “Why are we having ATVs driving through a residential area? I feel like I’m in the Twilight Zone and I’m going to wake up in a second.”
Another speaker, Corey Bridger, described his family as avid ATV riders, having driven all across the province. He agreed with Dawe’s sentiments about enforcement and said he has seen both law abiding and law breaking riders throughout his travels.
Bridger said he supports the project, because for him, using the roads as access points to the trails line up with how he rides anyway.
“I don’t want to be on the road no more than I’ve got to be,” he said. “I’d rather be on the road as little as possible, I’m for it, but I’m also listening to the homeowners.”
The pilot project will run from May 15th to November 15th.

CBS resident Don Kennedy said he supports a pilot project that will allow ATVs on some town streets, but has some reservations. At a public session held in Seal Cove last week, Kennedy voiced concerns about riders who have a disregard for safety, and noted the lack of road shoulders in some of the designated areas which riders are permitted to ride on. Chad Feehan Local Journalism Initiative Reporter photo