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.

Bridging the Gap!

For those of you who were wondering about the South Bridge on the walking path, down near the Public Works Yard, it will be reconstructed in the spring.  The other two bridges are now complete and they look great!  They have been raised up so they should be high and dry when that newly deepened ditch fills up this spring. 

We are hoping that the improvements to that drainage canal will help in moving all that run-off water from Rocky View County lands through the village, and out the East side.

I suspect that part of the delay in the reconstruction of the South Pedestrian bridge was a result of the vandalism done to the second bridge.  Senseless vandalism costs us all. 

By the way, I noticed tracks across the pedestrian bridge behind CHS-DynAgra which appear to be made by some kind of ATV, perhaps a quad.  A reminder to all that the bridge was built as a pedestrian bridge.   Motorcycles, ATVs and snowmobiles should not be using it.

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.

Spring Brings out the ATVs!

Along with garage sales and yards sales, the arrival of spring in Beiseker is also heralded by the dirt bikes and ATVs!

Those enthusiasts have brought their machines out of winter hibernation, and tuned them up for another summer of riding.  Over the cold months of winter, though, some of those same folks seem to have forgotten Beiseker's generous bylaws regarding the operation of their machines within village limits.  The bylaw dealing with ATVs and dirt bikes is very much the same as those governing the operation of snowmobiles in the winter months.

These machines must be driven through town along back lanes, ditches and streets only where nessesary, taking the shortest possible route out of town.  Their speed must be less than 20 km/h.

Of course, if the machine is insured and licenced for road travel, its operation is then covered by the provincial Traffic Act.

Communities experiencing difficulty with ATVs and dirt bikes often tighten their bylaws to restrict their use within the municipality.  That would mean having to have these vehicles trailered in and out of town, and not permitted on any public road, laneway or ditch in the village at all!

I and the rest of council do not want to do that, but we may have to if the situation continues to worsen.  Please remind any ATV or dirt bike operators you know of the current bylaws.

Off-Road Problems

Sgt. Patricia Neely of the RCMP visited Village Council last night to give her regular report on policing in the Village of Beiseker.  The one topic which took up much of our time was the use  (or misuse) of off-road vehicles within the Village!

At present our by-law permits the operation of an off road vehicle within the Village under certain stipulations;

1. they are restricted to lanes and alleyways.
2. their speed can not exceed 20 km/h
3. they must take the shortest and most direct route out of the Village.
4. they must be operated as quietly as possible into and out of the Village.
5. applicable registration and insurance will be carried by the operator

Most off-road vehicle operators comply to our by-law but there have been a few exceptions which are spoiling it for everyone!  If we cannot achieve compliance with our current by-law, then council will have to look at simply banning the operation of off road vehicles within the Village completely. 

That would mean that all off-roaders would have to shut off their vehicle and push them in and out of the Village or trailer them in and out of the Village!  It would be a shame to spoil it for most off-roaders because of the actions of a few.

What Can You Do?

If you see someone operating an off-road vehicle (quad, snowmobile, or dirt bike) without heeding our by-laws, please report them to our RCMP detachment at (403) 947-3496.  If you know someone who operates an off-road vehicle in the Village, ask them to review our very generous by-law regarding their use within the Village.