By Carolyn Sloan

Spectator

NovaNewsNow.com

A group a municipalities, community organizations and residents in the Annapolis Valley are forming an alliance to advance non-motorized use of off-highway vehicles within their communities.

Currently in its formative stages, the Coalition for Quiet Living represents the community of Paradise, the Town of Annapolis Royal, the Kieran Pathways Society, the Coldbrook Community Association, and the Cambridge Woods Sub-Division, with interest in joining from Kentville and Wolfville as well.

Bob Connell is the managing director of the Cornwallis River Pathways Society in Cambridge, Nova Scotia, which is currently pursuing a letter of authority to develop a six-kilometre section of the abandoned rail bed as a non-motorized trail. As the founder of the new coalition, he has been approaching other communities and organizations in the Valley who are also advocating for non-motorized use of the corridor.

“Until now, we haven’t organized into one voice,” says Connell. “I’ve been feeling out people that I felt were like-minded…[and] I guess the thing we value the most is to be able to enjoy our backyards and our families and not be invaded by unwanted intrusions by motorized vehicles.”

He adds that if citizens don’t work to maintain the peace and quiet of their rural communities, they will lose the quality of life they enjoy now and for future generations.

“[We’re] creating an opportunity within our communities that will be there for our children and our grandchildren,” he explains. “Unless we do act now, we’re going to lose some of this.”

Both the town council of Annapolis Royal and the concerned citizens group in Paradise have been advocating non-motorized use of the corridor through their communities, and have been successful thus far in barricading sections of the trail to prevent OHVs from passing through.

Both Connell and the citizens group in Paradise emphasize that while they are committed to non-motorized use of the trail within their communities, they are not opposed to OHV use in general.

“Our group is interested in the Coalition for Quiet Living,” say the concerned citizens in Paradise as part of a group statement, “but we want to be clear that we have always been strong advocates for the development of an alternate trail for OHVs.”

Annapolis Royal mayor John Kinsella is encouraged by the creation of the new coalition having recently received correspondence from the office of Health Promotion and Protection, confirming the department’s commitment to helping trail groups attain their vision of developing the corridor into shared-use trail, open to OHVs.

“Limiting the rail trail in your town to only non motorized use presents considerable hardship on trail groups, who are building the Trans-Canada Trail,” wrote HPP minister Barry Barnet in his letter to Kinsella, “as the geography does not readily provide for easy and inexpensive answers for an alternate route.”

As a town that promotes active living, the mayor is troubled by what he sees as provincial endorsement of OHVs.

“How is it that the office of Health Protection and Promotion is advocating for the use of ATVs?” says Kinsella. “Is that a healthy activity?”

In Lawrencetown, there have been mixed feelings surrounding the issue of motorized use, with similar concerns raised as those in Paradise and Annapolis Royal, given the corridor’s proximity to local residences.

Village resident Barry Hawkins believes that it is possible to find a solution that will suit both non-motorized and motorized users, but says that “simply putting up barricades without any alternate route will solve nothing,” so it is now up to the provincial departments and elected representatives to step in and take some direction.

“If the members of the trails society were given ample time by the province to work on an alternate route around Paradise and, for whatever reason, have not come up with one, then it’s up to the minister as well as DNR to make that decision for them, and for our MLA Stephen McNeil to take a more active role in assisting all stakeholders in reaching a resolution,” he says.

As trail groups across the province are working on developing a multi-use trail on both the DAR and CN corridors, Hawkins would prefer that the later be developed specifically with motorized users in mind, while the former is kept for non-motorized use only.

“It makes no sense to develop two multi-use trails within a short distance of and running parallel to each other and have them serve the same range of users,” he says. “The opportunity is there for a win-win. Minister David Morse has put the incentive in place to explore this by announcing the restrictions around Paradise. Now is the time for opposing user groups to set aside their differences and work toward a fair solution for everyone.”

UNITED WE STAND DIVIDED WE FALL


What next .no more highways,don't know how many times i've seen guys blast through these area on bikes and sleds,seems like all the guys with loud pipes etc. are the trouble makers,when there gone there gone and these same will still continue to break the laws and drive through banned areas,its time we OHV er's start to police our own,where i live in fall river i used to be able to leave from my backyard for a day trip ,now because of the young kids using heir atv's as cars they have ruined it for aall the people inthe area,they think its cool that they outrun the cops,but now i used to go on day trips and sometimes have a couple of beer on the way i know longer can go without the proper paperwork or even 1 beer fo r fear of fines,gone are the good ole days of having fun ,now the people of nova scotia want walking trails and serenity

Self policing will cure the problems,...only problem is,.....these people are not even willing to compromise for the responsible riders, complete ban, ALL or NOTHING...

Best part is,....the founder of the Coalition for Quiet Living sits on the gov. group that say's what happens to our $40

Yes, he sits on the Advisory Committee but that money is for OHV trails or Multi-use trails, not for walking trails. But I agree, its a problem, and it needs to be addressed.

I just wanted to state that in my opinion Bob Connell is not trying maintain a way of life in these communities he is trying to change it.People have been driving OHVs in rural communities for ever.As far as i am concerned one of the benifits of living in a rural community would be having the freedom to do such things.This is why i purchased a lot and built a camp in the valley area.I hope someday to be able to build a house and retire there and be able to snowmobile from my yard any day of the week instead of living here in the city waiting for the weekends.The other thing is that i think these people forget there used to be a train that ran through there and i am sure that was louder than a snowmobile. Also as far John Kinsella sugesting that OHV riding is not healthy he must have never drivin one to realize the amount of exercise you receive. I think a lot these veiws are coming from people that are not originally from these rural communites so they do not understand.Maybe they should move back to where they came from instead of trying to change things that have done for years.They have possibly retired to these communinities maybe with a bit of money and we all know money means influence.However there are some people that have to learn to slow down in these areas.Some are still driving way to fast on the tracks which just makes it worse.

I agree 100% Barry.

Don't forget the Economic Benefit from people o/s these communities that would not normally be there and spednign all their money.

Its at least $100 in gas alone every time I go sledding.

Maybe all the walkers and hikers should be required to by a trail pass and put a license plate on themselves to use the so-called multi-use trail.

Seeing how most of the work being done on the trails are by the motorized users, maybe they should be multi use motorized and ban walkers, hikers, bikers, etc.... have yet to see anyone walking, hiking, biking, etc...carring a chainsaw to clear the trail after a storm.

If I buy a fishing license that gives me the "right" to go across your property to access water, I pay $51.35 for my sled & $51.35 for my atv, and am told it's a "privilage" to ride, logistics??? I am paying for something and when paying, one does acquire "rights", it's in many legal decisions

The walkers and hikers should "trailer" themselves to the provincial and national parks if they want serenity.
Where the hell is the money going? Upgrading infrastructure on trails that won't exist next year?

Nope.Pretty sure its a privilege to ride a ATV,sled,car,or purchase a fishing license for that matter.

MORE GOD DAMB BULLSHIT. MAYBE ILL HAVE TO TRADE THE SLED AN THE BIKE IN FOR RUNNING SHOES.YOU KNOW IF MORE PEOPLE WOULD GET OUT ON THE TRAILS AND SEE HOW NICE IT IS THEY MIGHT ENJOY THEMSELFS AN MAYBE THIS SHIT WOULD BE AVOIDED OR JUST COME TO SOME AGREEMENT IM SORRY BUT ITS JUST ONE THING AFTER ANOTHER.THEY WANT TRAILS TO WAKE OR HIKE ON BUILD SOME THATS WHAT WE ARE TRYING TO DO,AND PEOPLE LIKE THIS ARE TRYING TO TAKE THEM AWAY.MY TWO CENTS........

this really is unbelievable! i put off buying another sled for a couple of years just because of this bullshit and i thought it was dying down so i bought another one,as far as i am concerned all this political correctness and these enviormental guru's are going to far!! maybe we should all go back to horse and wagon and candle light,its about time someone started standing up for the majority of every day working people in this country,and stop listening to the fringe but very vocal element!!!

I think maybe some of you are looking at this from the wrong angle.
Snowmoibiling has been around for a long,long time. It is not new that the average person likes to have a certain amount of privacy and quiet in their lives and around their homes,that is normal.So what has changed over the last 40 years or so since the snowmobile has become popular.
First and foremost snowmobiling has evolved into something completely different than it was just a few years ago.The trails themselves have become smooth and fast and inspire the use of ever increasing higher speed sleds,no longer is a snowmobile trip a group spending hours at low speeds breaking new trails to the hunting camp in the woods.Now the talk is always how many KM you put on in a day and how long it took. As much fun as this new style of snowmobiling is you should understand that it is just not as compatible with the general population as it was years ago.Groomed trails,fast sleds and communities just dont mix.
So,when we complain that we are being regulated to death,losing land and our riding privileges, we and the snowmobile industry have to take much of the blame.In the end it is not the average homeowner that has changed, it is us and this sport. that has changed.
To make matters worse the average person is now subject to year round, high speed traffic everywhere, on road and off road, and some are now pushing back asking for some breathing space...

Good point of view, you old dirt biker,
40, even 30 years ago the train was on those trails and we were stuck in a drift beside a hedgerow in a farmers field on an Olympique 399. No groomer in sight!! No noise issues either, as I recall. The howling wind carried the noise away, and there were no $300,000 retirement homes nearby as well. I remember spending all day going 15 miles on a 294 TnT in snow up to your waist. We are a victim of our own success (excess?) when it comes to groomed trails.
Membership comes with responsibilities. We need to act appropriately to safeguard the right to ride for our kids, grandkids and beyond.
Hang tough and fly right, the pendulum swings both ways...

what nsman says is 100% true BUT in the same hand life in general is changing and to think that we can stop it is a sign of being narrow minded, we all have to give and take a little, i think reality TV sucks but most people love it so i deal with it and keep my comments to myself,i think that going south and spending $2000.00 on a dominican vacation is a waste of money but u know what those people say about sleds, life is getting faster and more eventfull everyday .. u can't just enjoy all the luxurys that u want and not want others to enjoy their activitys thats what is always preeched to me, and like barry p said, people must of really hated the train going threw there years ago... is that why there is no more trains?... if so we don't stand a chance (lol) one more thing.. what will happen to harleys and loud cruisers driveing thew the valley on a nice summer day? ...will everyone have to put silencers and stealth exhaust on there lawn mowers? who knows... just MY 2 cents.....no offence....