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Hi Donna & All, Jan 24, 2016
But some people who do not own or use ATVs are also slobs. Should =
one therefore conclude that those who don't use ATVs should be excluded =
?
As for the other point--
"2. He believes that ATVers will just have to =E2=80=9Cpolice =
themselves=E2=80=9D."
So far as I am aware, ATVs must have a license plate (Has this changed =
?) Just about everyone carries a camera these days. If an ATV driver is =
out of line; anyone present (ATVer or not) should report it with a photo =
of the offending vehicle/driver.
My overall experience with ATVers has been positive; with the exception =
of kids and the very rare 'adults' who have never grown up.=20
A bit of toterance, patience and adult education will go a long way.
=20
The entrance to my woodlot is a convenient place for public dumping and =
necking. For several months after the start of each necking season I =
have to educate a new generation of users by picking up their trash =
until they take the hint and take their trash home. Should I demand that =
only people too old to walk, or engage in recreational activities, =
should be allowed to drive ?
Yt Dave Webster
----- Original Message -----=20
From: Donna Crossland=20
To: naturens@chebucto.ns.ca=20
Sent: Sunday, January 24, 2016 11:33 AM
Subject: [NatureNS] Protected areas; ATV use-some thoughts for moose =
and trout
Sadly, there is a minority among the ATV groups who have carelessly =
littered remote locations, and far worse, can fish out previously =
hard-to-get to remote streams with healthy trout populations. Fires =
have been carelessly started that led to wildfires (e.g., one that I =
have noted on the =E2=80=98fire roads=E2=80=99 recently, which we =
taxpayers must pay to put out. There is no =E2=80=98let it =
burn=E2=80=99 policy in place, as NS is too small for this concept which =
is more appropriate for other ecosystems such as the vast boreal). =20
=20
With respect to the road (or perhaps two roads!!!) that will =
apparently be open to ATVers which transects the middle of Medway Lakes =
Protected area, our Premier spoke of ATVer impacts directly to some of =
us last December, and made two points:
1. There is no money available to hire more Conservation =
Officers to police our protected areas to ensure illegal activities do =
not occur
2. He believes that ATVers will just have to =E2=80=9Cpolice =
themselves=E2=80=9D.
=20
I can accept the first statement, but was alarmed by the latter. The =
best predictor of future behaviour is past behaviour. I=E2=80=99ve seen =
some of the damage first hand, and I know some of the players involved. =
This simply won=E2=80=99t work, despite the good that some folks bring. =
Do drivers of vehicles on highways police themselves?? It is obvious =
that the ATV groups have placed a great deal of political pressure on NS =
politicians to give them access to many places where their travel does =
not serve the best interests of the common good.
=20
Also, when we think of the remote chance of a rare mainland moose =
wondering some of these protected areas, what chance will it have with =
ATVs zipping by? It is an unfortunate fact that currently when a moose =
is spotted in the southwest, some of the nonconformist and selfish =
members of our society come back with a flashlight, call it out, and =
that=E2=80=99s the end of the moose. The ATV is a necessary tool to =
haul out the meat. This is far less likely to happen if protected areas =
are open only to hikers, canoeists, and even those speeding cyclists. =20
=20
Some folks lament about owning an ATV with nowhere to drive it. Why =
did they not foresee this issue before making the purchase? But then, =
we have hundreds of km of trails and roads for ATVs already. My friends =
trailer their ATVs and haul them to wherever they want to explore and go =
from there. Pretty soon, the old railway track through the valley will =
have all of the bridges replaced and will be open for new traffic. =
(I=E2=80=99ll leave my personal opinion on this aside. The track runs =
through my property.) My point is that there are many places to ride =
ATVs without getting greedy and wanting to muddy up protected areas, =
too. =20
=20
We own an ATV and use it mostly for the woodlot, but sometimes we go =
on a recreational ride (it=E2=80=99s good to know both sides of the =
equation). But lest we forget that some wildlife like trout and moose =
pay for our selfishness when we open up still more remote areas to ATVs. =
=20
=20
Donna Crossland =20
(I always thought I=E2=80=99d marry a cowboy : ) -to =E2=80=98chime =
in=E2=80=99 to the preceding emails, ha! )
=20
=20
From: naturens-owner@chebucto.ns.ca =
[mailto:naturens-owner@chebucto.ns.ca] On Behalf Of John and Nhung
Sent: January-23-16 10:55 AM
To: naturens@chebucto.ns.ca
Subject: RE: [NatureNS] Protected areas; ATV use
=20
Yeah, the majority of folks in any particular group are sensible, and =
a few eejits can ruin the reputation of any group.
=20
Sensible folks can educate one another, admit to making mistakes, mend =
ways, and still recognize that they can educate other sensible folks.
=20
I shouldn=E2=80=99t have said =E2=80=9CCowboy,=E2=80=9D Paul. That =
was unfairly labelling a group who doesn=E2=80=99t deserve it.
=20
From: naturens-owner@chebucto.ns.ca =
[mailto:naturens-owner@chebucto.ns.ca] On Behalf Of =
rita.paul@ns.sympatico.ca
Sent: January 23, 2016 10:34 AM
To: naturens@chebucto.ns.ca
Subject: RE: [NatureNS] Protected areas; ATV use
=20
Well John that has been our observations on several trail groups I've=20
been associated with over the years. ATVers are very helpful.=20
I suspect closer to bigger centers Cowboys may be more plentiful=20
although I was a Cowboy myself in my younger days. The real kind who=20
worked with cows!=20
The worst are bicycles Those folks think they are better than other =
humans on=20
the trail and all should bow before them. but I guess its easier to =
stop an ATV=20
and get it up to speed than it is with a bicycles. And harde