Side-by-sides will not be allowed on the Haliburton County Rail Trail – after council denied a request for a two-year pilot project during a County meeting Nov. 23.
The decision followed a June 14 delegation from Carolyn Richards of the Kawartha and Haliburton ATV associations, seeking the trial. Council deferred a decision pending a staff report. Friends of the Rail Trail also voiced its concerns with the idea during the summer meeting.
Public works deputy director, Sylvin Cloutier, delivered information pertaining to both sides of the debate at last Wednesday’s meeting. He did not make a recommendation either way.
During deliberations, coun. Bob Carter expressed concerns with the ATV associations’ request.
“This trail is intended to be a multi-use trail and I don’t see how I could take my family, children, grandchildren or dogs along a trail where there are vehicles travelling at 50 km/hr. I just don’t think that would be responsible of me to do that,” he said.
He added he believes the trail is too narrow to add vehicles, which Cloutier said would be 64 inches across (5.3 feet). Carter said that would no longer render it a multi-use trail, but just a vehicle trail.
The Minden Hills mayor said it seems there are a lot of trails in the County dedicated to, or used, for ATVs and other motorized vehicles. And while understanding the rail trail is considered somewhat of a spine to access other trails, he was not convinced.
Warden Liz Danielsen agreed. While she complimented the associations on their work, she said the rail trail and its usage has been one of the biggest and most controversial files to cross the County table over the past decade.
‘True multi-purpose trail’
She said what is supposed to be a multi-use trail is leaning far more towards motorized use. She added the argument is it benefits the economy, however, “we might be failing in looking at the benefits to our economy from cycling as well. I just see that the more motorized vehicles we put on the trail, the more challenges there will be for walkers, hikers and cyclists… Naturalists enjoy the condition the trail is in now.”
She also expressed concern with the County’s ability to enforce bylaws, and extra trail surface maintenance costs, including the possibility of having to widen the trail.
She said with side-by-sides being able to travel on roads, “I’d rather see us not do this at all… and for it to remain a true multi-purpose trail for all users.”
Coun. Murray Fearrey also felt it best not to proceed at this time, sharing enforcement concerns. He also thinks it would be hard on the trail surface, causing ruts.
Coun. Jennifer Dailloux said the County has “a wonderful series” of trails for ATVs and side-by-sides. “What we don’t have in the County are any dedicated, maintained pathways for cyclists. We don’t have one apart from the rail trail.
She added, “given the number of kilometres we have for ATVs and snowmobiles already, we might preserve just this one stretch for non-motorized vehicle use, such as bicycles.”
Danielsen said, “I’m generally hearing that we want to retain the status quo.” Council then voted to deny the request.
