City councils have asked staff to prepare draft statutes for discussion at a future meeting
Wellington County is considering allowing all-terrain vehicles such as ATVs, side-by-side motorcycles, and off-road motorcycles on the county’s roads.
Currently, six out of seven municipalities in the district allow off-road vehicles on their municipal roads, but the robust means of transport are not allowed on the district’s own traffic arteries, which tend to have higher speeds and traffic volumes. In a report until Tuesday’s county road committee meeting, staff recommended that things stay that way.
“The current ORV ban on district roads is effective, reduces liability and contributes to the safe and efficient use of the district road network,” says the report.
The Mayor of Pushlinch, James Seeley, disagreed.
“In my opinion, they should be allowed on county roads. It’s not an issue, ”Seeley told the committee, noting that as the southernmost parish in the county, Puslinch probably has some of the busiest roads.
Current regulations, Seeley said, put drivers in a position to get tickets just for the ride from home to nearby hiking trails on a neighbor’s property, something they were already making safe.
Jeff Duncan, Councilor for the City of Erin, echoed these comments.
“I can’t legally imagine how you can ride a bike in the lane of a county road, but you can’t have an ATV on the hard shoulder,” he said.
The staff report recommended that if the council were to lift bans on all-terrain vehicles on county roads, a detailed study worth approximately $ 25,000 should be conducted to “provide a comprehensive approach and statute.”
Seeley said it was “convenient” to ask employees to come up with draft statutes approving ORVs on county roads without completing the study.
At the same time as preparing the draft statutes for discussion in a future session, city councils directed them to also seek feedback from the OPP on the matter.
Erin, the only Wellington County’s parish not currently legal off-road vehicles on township streets, is considering changing its rules.
City councils instructed staff to await Erin’s decision before submitting the draft bylaws.
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