Summertime ATV Woes!

It seems every year at the beginning of summer and at the beginning of winter we must remind those residents who own ATVs, off road motorcycles, and snowmobiles what the bylaw says about their use within village bounds. 

We have a very generous bylaw here in Beiseker which is in jeopardy of being toughened up every year because of a very few who do not comply with it.

In short, the bylaw says;

• These machines can be operated within the Village of Beiseker on trails and back lanes. 
• Riders are to take the shortest distance from their home to the outskirts of the village
• Speed is not to exceed 20 kmph.  
• Noise is to be kept at a minimum.

Every year, the village office receives complaints which are brought to Village Council.  Some members of council are proposing we tighten up the bylaw to insist that all of these types of off-road vehicles be trailered into and out of the village and operation of them within the village would be prohibited.

I would hate to see such a restriction placed on these fun recreational vehicles.  Please support our bylaw, so I and other councilors can support their continued use within the village.

Snowmobile Woes!

It seems that every winter. when the snow is down and the weather warms up, we get complaints about snow machines and their use in Beiseker.

Snowmobilers, please remember that our traffic bylaw here in town stipulates that your speed must be kept to 20 km/h and your route must be the shortest way out of the village.  No off-road vehicles can operate within village limits between 11 p.m. and 8 a.m.   And, you must stick to laneways as much as possible and you must stop and check carefully when proceeding across streets. 

Our bylaw regarding off-road type vehicles is much more generous than other municipalities.  Some communities prohibit the use of such vehicles to operate within municipal boundaries at all.  In those centres, snowmobiles, quads and dirt bikes must be trailered into and out of town. I for one would not like to see those sort of rules here in Beiseker!

If you know of someone who snowmobiles, please remind them of our traffic bylaw.

Snowmobile Complaints

With all the snow and the nice weather we've had, the snowmobilers have been out in full force.

I used to snowmobile every winter, years ago, until a spell of several seasons when we had little or no snow. I enjoyed the snowmobile experience very much, and I envy those I see zooming across the snowy fields.

But, as with any motorized sport, there are a couple of folks out there who have trouble following the rules, and end up spoiling it for the rest.

Our village's bylaws regarding snowmobiles, ATVs, and dirt bikes are quite lenient. They require riders of those machines to proceed out of the village by the shortest possible route using back lanes as much as possible. Their speed must be kept below 20 km an hour. When crossing a street or road the operator must stop his machine, check for traffic and proceed slowly across.  Riders must avoid private property.

At our last Council meeting, we addressed complaints from residents about snowmobiles on streets and on private property. I know that almost all the snowmobilers I see are obeying our bylaws, but there's always a few who don't comply.

Other municipalities faced with this problem have passed much stricter bylaws regarding these kind of vehicles. They require the riders to trailer their machines out of town before starting and riding them.  I think a bylaw such as that would be counterproductive and punitive to those obeying our current bylaws.

I would be against such a strict bylaw, but I only have one vote in five!  As the complaints increase in frequency the village council may be forced to act!

Tell me what you think.