Hey guys start a fresh link.

The report has dropped many of the things that were way off. There is a lot of suggestions that will do a lot of good for the sport. have a look at the new and then form your opinions.

Mandatory Ins, Mandatory permits, Trail Development etc.
I do agree that Snowmobiles and ATV's need to be presented more separately.

Have a good one!

The report does about what I expected, very little for our sport. Big fines, crazy rules about age that they can't enforce. They are still saying a bike and a sled are the same thing. One of the biggest things they could have done was mandatory passes for bikes, but they said they didn't have a trail system so they don't need one. They are using our trails now! The trail pass revenue that could a have been gained by including four wheelers would have gone a long way to bettering trails and infastructure.(ie 40,000 bikes X $75/yr for a pass=$3,000,000/yr).
This sport is not going to grow in Nova Scotia until the goverment realizes how much revenue it generates. Some states in the USA I have heard, the DNR pays as much as 75% the cost of a new groomer. Wow what a help that would be to smaller clubs that can't afford better equipment.

Too true Steve. If they go ahead with the no trails through protected areas we're screwed here. A major portion of the 104 cuts through a small area of Gully Lake and to re-route would be difficult and expensive. With how promoted snowmobiling is in NB, ONT, QUE I can't believe the NS Government is so blind. As for enforcement, that's a joke. Basically it needs to be set down that when you buy a new sled or bike the trail pass cost is added on right at Point of sale, and maybe an information booklet on the value of clubs, regulations, penalties etc... I went and looked at a used sled with a friend the other day, he couldn't fathom having to register, insure and buy a trail pass to drive through the woods. Ignorance is bliss I guess. I told him tthat without the trail passes paying for trails and groomers you wouldn't get through the woods. Education and public awareness are areas that need lots of work.

The main problem I see is nobody making the final decisions is a Snowmobiler or atv rider. I gladly pay my trail pass fee, because I know it goes to a good cause.

you think you guys got it bad???

Trying living in the Northern Highlands of Cape Breton.
I got the Cape Breton Highlands National Park to my south, and you know there's no nothing allowed in a national Park. there's signs that say dont take a rock or a twig.

And to my north its all Polettes Cove/Aspy Fault wilderness protected area. So I'm only allowed to use my sled on my 5 acre piece of land? that's not even enough room for a drag strip.

Good thing they don't want to bother to enforce any of these rules.

Bad thing the ATV/snowmobile owners in the towns north of the park dont have a club they can join to help fight this thing

I got a paper the other day, Northern Views, and the front main story was on wilderness protected areas. There is currently 31!!!! wilderness areas, 286,302 Hectares in total! that is 707,468 acres of land that is protected from us!

They are currently trying to add gully lake, and Figg mountain to their list. 8.2% of N.S. is protected. I consider that alot, considering a fair bit of N.S. is developed.

I don't think there is any doubt that there are ATV's out there that are doing damage. [We've got an ATV, I know it's only a few bad apples]. It can be seen along roads all over the province. But they are applying no common sense here in that they are blanketing everything that doesn't travel on a highway with the same blanket. Snowmobiles are the only motorized vehicle that leave absolutely no damage behind. The snow melts and so do the tracks. What are they trying to save the wilderness from? Snowmobiles should be promoted as a means for people to get into and enjoy the wilderness that they are so desperately trying to protect due to their non-damaging nature, and not banished. I don't mean to step into the greenie zone, but think of the snowmobile related enviro-tourism possibilities. I think we should be emailing our MLA's on this. Mandatory trail passes is one good step, but once the extra registration money is in Government hands it likely won't make it to us, it'll more likely be spent on trying to chase the few outlaw ATV'rs that are causing all the problems in the first place, or gating existing trails so they can't be used any more. :frech32:

And about the age thing, our kids have a Kitty Cat and a Honda 50 bike. So you can guess what I think about that one. Once again, they are using the 'painting with a big brush' approach to try to get small kids off big ATV's, which is the real problem. And the motocross community is really up in arms, and with good reason.

And (again), did anyone see the blurb on CBC National news last night about how many kids get hurt each year on snowmobiles? I only half caught it, but it was something about being in epidemic proportions, and laws were needed to end the carnage. How many kids do you know that have been hurt on a snowmobile? I don't know any. How many kids get hurt on coasting hills, in hockey arenas, on ski hills, at the playground? Lots. I just don't know where they're getting this stuff...

OK, that's my weekly rant. Whew....

if anyone ever gets to bitch to someone in authority about the Wilderness Protected Areas....

please dont forget about us up north in CB. Grab the new NS Atlas and look. National Park to the south and WPA to the north

signed,
help,trapped

Hi, I wish I had a copy of this last week for the meeting with M. Scott in Sp'hill. Maybe you can send him a copy. He is interested.

2004mxz: I'm on my way to beddy bye, I left a message an hour ago, tell me about the meeting next time we're talking. Have you seen the big Yamaha sign in Springhill yet ?

No, I have not seen it, I just heard it was coming soon, I will have to check it out even though I really love the way the Rev works.. Maybe next time Sue's Yam will have a gas sipping partner in the shed.