skidooboy Posted January 11, 2022 Share Posted January 11, 2022 1 hour ago, manotickmike said: No enforcement, no consequences, and everyone knows it. Not a recipe for longevity. Sorry for the negativity, but as a somewhat new return to sledding, I just can't understand this. no budgets for opp, or town constables to enforce traffic laws, how are they supposed to enforce recreational travel rules? you think it is bad in the more southern regions? you should see it in the "wild west" of the real true northern Ontario. take Dubreuilville for example. no one, and I mean, no one, follows the speed limits in town for autos, bikes, atv's sleds. all of them ripping around town at all hours of the day/night, way over the limit, brappp cans, loud truck exhaust etc... there is no OPP presence and, the town knows it. with this lack of penalties, people do what they want. trespassing? even if you had pics, and video of the offender, go to their home, the parents say... "that isnt my child". but, here is the proof... " I dont care, I am telling you, that is not my kid". they put up extra stop signs, and even speed bumps when entering/leaving town. with winter, they removed the bumps to ease plowing issues. they replaced the bumps with 2 stop signs... everyone rolls through them, like they did before... cop didnt see it, I didnt do it. sad really. but, you see with the town basically turning into a large mining camp now, there will be the need for 24 hour OPP, or town constable presence. many dont believe it will come but, you can see the writing on the wall. all it will take is a child, or a senior adult to be killed in the township limits (all under 50kph limits), and then it will become important. Ski 1 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Strong Farmer Posted January 11, 2022 Share Posted January 11, 2022 10 hours ago, Spiderman said: Can't fix stupid, but we're getting to the point where snow fencing and/or some form of a "block" need to be at easy trail access locations until they are open. It's a late start - people are "itching" etc. No win - only a lose for everyone I agree but even if you block a trail with a log or snow fencing in south, easy to go around. Not like it is solid bush. Some sections have gates like farmers pastures, so those would be a dead end anyways. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
PISTON LAKE CRUISER Posted January 11, 2022 Share Posted January 11, 2022 1 hour ago, Crow said: The above pic shows me that they obviously have no respect for their own property (sleds) so why would they have any respect for someone else’s property or a closed trail for that matter. Our club lost a trail that’s been in existence since ‘78, and a long time landowner had enough and there is no route around him, we tried. I am curious how many ride right past my 12 Trail Closed signs. I'm told by a very reliable source that the OFSC doesn't want clubs to use "Trail Closed" signs. They want the ITG to be THE source for trail availability information. It doesn't seem that's working well for them. I still use them on my trail section. I turn them immediately when status changes. My belief is that the Trail Closed signs pretty much do away with the validity of any excuse a closed trail rider may have. 3 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Turbo Doo Posted January 11, 2022 Share Posted January 11, 2022 While this is yet another blow to landowners, Volunteers and the majority of decent sledders, no matter what we do, you will never stop the idiots and the entitled. Period. 1 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Panther340 Posted January 11, 2022 Share Posted January 11, 2022 3 hours ago, skidooboy said: no budgets for opp, or town constables to enforce traffic laws, how are they supposed to enforce recreational travel rules? you think it is bad in the more southern regions? you should see it in the "wild west" of the real true northern Ontario. take Dubreuilville for example. no one, and I mean, no one, follows the speed limits in town for autos, bikes, atv's sleds. all of them ripping around town at all hours of the day/night, way over the limit, brappp cans, loud truck exhaust etc... there is no OPP presence and, the town knows it. with this lack of penalties, people do what they want. trespassing? even if you had pics, and video of the offender, go to their home, the parents say... "that isnt my child". but, here is the proof... " I dont care, I am telling you, that is not my kid". they put up extra stop signs, and even speed bumps when entering/leaving town. with winter, they removed the bumps to ease plowing issues. they replaced the bumps with 2 stop signs... everyone rolls through them, like they did before... cop didnt see it, I didnt do it. sad really. but, you see with the town basically turning into a large mining camp now, there will be the need for 24 hour OPP, or town constable presence. many dont believe it will come but, you can see the writing on the wall. all it will take is a child, or a senior adult to be killed in the township limits (all under 50kph limits), and then it will become important. Ski So true, I live in another Northern Ont town serviced by OPP, my wife and I make it a conversation event if we see an OPP cruiser on our long fairly busy township thru road, and when we do see them it is a Monday or Tuesday morn , when all the DUI are never around. So expecting OPP on the trails is pie in the sky. 3 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Crow Posted January 11, 2022 Share Posted January 11, 2022 4 hours ago, Gadgetman said: Agree. Lost this season, or in the past? A D1 trail, and where if you don't mind saying? thanks. Gadgetman, yes in D1 lost for this season and probably beyond. It’s a club trail, but I’ll leave it there for now. 3 hours ago, PISTON LAKE CRUISER said: I'm told by a very reliable source that the OFSC doesn't want clubs to use "Trail Closed" signs. They want the ITG to be THE source for trail availability information. It doesn't seem that's working well for them. I still use them on my trail section. I turn them immediately when status changes. My belief is that the Trail Closed signs pretty much do away with the validity of any excuse a closed trail rider may have. PLC, we don’t use them normally as too much driving around to change them, and Yes, refer to ITG is what we follow. The TC signs I put up are for the sheep that just know where the trail has always been, even though there are no other trail signs installed this season. I also put them up to show our former landowners that we still care about their property, in hopes of returning someday. 4 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ox Posted January 11, 2022 Share Posted January 11, 2022 Not puting a "closed" sign up, and to us the app? Seriously? And then fussing b/c someone rode through when it's not posted? We don't all check online guides when we ride. Heck, some of us don't even have a computor in our pocket. (believe it) If there wasn't a sign, then no-one has any business being upset at someone riding through. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Panther340 Posted January 11, 2022 Share Posted January 11, 2022 1 hour ago, Ox said: Not puting a "closed" sign up, and to us the app? Seriously? And then fussing b/c someone rode through when it's not posted? We don't all check online guides when we ride. Heck, some of us don't even have a computor in our pocket. (believe it) If there wasn't a sign, then no-one has any business being upset at someone riding through. I think your right, .....I had to post my 40 acres with 3 inch red dots on white background signs on border trees, to inform all that it is private , no hunting. If I didn't I would not have legal leg to stand on to uphold my land rights. ( or else it would be assumed crown land) Imagine me expecting people to go on the Ontario crown land website to determine it as private. Its too much to expect. 6 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Zertrider Posted January 12, 2022 Share Posted January 12, 2022 5 hours ago, Ox said: Not puting a "closed" sign up, and to us the app? Seriously? And then fussing b/c someone rode through when it's not posted? We don't all check online guides when we ride. Heck, some of us don't even have a computor in our pocket. (believe it) If there wasn't a sign, then no-one has any business being upset at someone riding through. You don't have one in your pocket, but you have one at home before you leave obviously, as you are on this website Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sksman Posted January 12, 2022 Share Posted January 12, 2022 Unfortunately this sport has had such rapid growth and a lot of the newer riders have not grown up being taught about the trail system. And it will only get worse as the self entitled brats of today’s society continue to screw up our society. Its all about instant gratification they can get. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Spiderman Posted January 12, 2022 Share Posted January 12, 2022 I like the idea of the "closed" sign - so at least it's there - in your face - and you can "think about it". That said, some would blindly ignore it anyway. Using the ITG as the tool - I get it from the one side perspective -that's our system - and that's how we run it - it's one thing - simple and easy - and real time. On the other end - I'm fairly young - but not a gadget or tech person - I have never downloaded any app and it's a tool I simply will not use, so hopefully someone I would be riding with does, otherwise it's an unknown to me and not something I will bother to get familiar with. 3 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sksman Posted January 12, 2022 Share Posted January 12, 2022 Hopefully in future someone can develop a smart app based on cellphone gps. Riding an area not open open and get a text message. Do not get out of closed area a fine. Found with phone turned off in a closed area you get a big fine. I know lots of reasons this will not work but it would at least increase awareness. But most of trespass/ closed trails area issues are in areas with cellphone coverage. 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Panther340 Posted January 12, 2022 Share Posted January 12, 2022 As an example of the lack of commonsense in new riders . i have a relative that lives on North Mary Lake near Huntsville that bought his first ever snow machine ( a couple years old 1200cc MX ? Skidoo,) for him and his 14 yr old rookie son to use. He posts how he has been riding private trails in his area. I see from FB that a neighbor informed him the last year sticker on his machine is not valid. So he promised neighbor he would pursue. But unless there is truly a lot of private trails in his area , then he is freeloading probably on closed trails. . And this is a well educated IT Manager that unfortunately has no common sense . I also suspect the 1200 cc is going to maim him or his son , but that is another story still to be written. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Blake G Posted January 12, 2022 Share Posted January 12, 2022 1 hour ago, Spiderman said: I have never downloaded any app and it's a tool I simply will not use, so hopefully someone I would be riding with does, otherwise it's an unknown to me and not something I will bother to get familiar with. If someone doesn't want to bother with the app, they can still access the basic ITG on the web. Just go to https://ofsc.evtrails.com/ It still requires internet access, of course. Sometimes I look at the ITG at home, and grab screen shots to take with me on the trails. 4 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
AC+YA Posted January 12, 2022 Share Posted January 12, 2022 12 hours ago, Zertrider said: You don't have one in your pocket, but you have one at home before you leave obviously, as you are on this website I go for a week ride and what if I don't ever look at my phone? I know where I have planned to go and actually don't need any mapping device to ride all around Northern Ontario. The trails were closed on me once in the middle of loop, and I had no idea and NO CHOICE other than to ride back. 4 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
capster59 Posted January 12, 2022 Share Posted January 12, 2022 Well I like having it...especially when I get lost as it shows me where I am. I won't ride with anyone that decides to go thru trail closed sign...no excuse for that 4 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Spiderman Posted January 12, 2022 Share Posted January 12, 2022 26 minutes ago, capster59 said: Well I like having it...especially when I get lost as it shows me where I am. I won't ride with anyone that decides to go thru trail closed sign...no excuse for that There was a time I don't think I could ever get lost within 200 mile radius of our place. Now, I could quite easily Ride safe 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
manotickmike Posted January 12, 2022 Share Posted January 12, 2022 If no trail patrol will be provided by those we pay to provide it... Let's not tolerate the bullshit where they won't allow us to patrol things ourselves. I cannot imagine asking/expecting people to invest vast quantities of volunteer time into something that has no protection. That's a sand castle. If you enjoy building something to watch it get washed away have at it. Don't ask me to help. I volunteer a LOT of time into our single track dirt bike trails. Nobody is going to stand in my way of defending them against idiots that contribute nothing except getting us closer to losing our privileges. The alternative is to sit home when yet another area gets shut down, and kicking yourself for doing nothing to prevent it. 5 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Wildman Posted January 12, 2022 Share Posted January 12, 2022 2 hours ago, manotickmike said: If no trail patrol will be provided by those we pay to provide it... Let's not tolerate the bullshit where they won't allow us to patrol things ourselves. I cannot imagine asking/expecting people to invest vast quantities of volunteer time into something that has no protection. That's a sand castle. If you enjoy building something to watch it get washed away have at it. Don't ask me to help. I volunteer a LOT of time into our single track dirt bike trails. Nobody is going to stand in my way of defending them against idiots that contribute nothing except getting us closer to losing our privileges. The alternative is to sit home when yet another area gets shut down, and kicking yourself for doing nothing to prevent it. This is one of the reasons I stepped back, it is total bs, and just watching freeloaders. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
UsedtoSkidoo Posted January 13, 2022 Share Posted January 13, 2022 16 hours ago, manotickmike said: If no trail patrol will be provided by those we pay to provide it... Let's not tolerate the bullshit where they won't allow us to patrol things ourselves. I cannot imagine asking/expecting people to invest vast quantities of volunteer time into something that has no protection. That's a sand castle. If you enjoy building something to watch it get washed away have at it. Don't ask me to help. I volunteer a LOT of time into our single track dirt bike trails. Nobody is going to stand in my way of defending them against idiots that contribute nothing except getting us closer to losing our privileges. The alternative is to sit home when yet another area gets shut down, and kicking yourself for doing nothing to prevent it. its the same damn argument every year and whats being done about it? Nothing. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
skidooboy Posted January 13, 2022 Share Posted January 13, 2022 2 hours ago, UsedtoSkidoo said: its the same damn argument every year and whats being done about it? Nothing. And it never will. this is recreational travel. yes, it puts money into the economy but, the govt gets a free ride on all the taxes we pay, to give them the economy boost, without any exposure themselves. why would they want to expose themselves, to more budget costs, to a sport that most could care less if it dies or thrives? at some point, this will all be taken away, and we will all be back, bushwhacking our own trails. Ski 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
UsedtoSkidoo Posted January 13, 2022 Share Posted January 13, 2022 1 hour ago, skidooboy said: And it never will. this is recreational travel. yes, it puts money into the economy but, the govt gets a free ride on all the taxes we pay, to give them the economy boost, without any exposure themselves. why would they want to expose themselves, to more budget costs, to a sport that most could care less if it dies or thrives? at some point, this will all be taken away, and we will all be back, bushwhacking our own trails. Ski agreed But I was really referring to the inadequacy of the OFSC and the hanging on by a thread policy they use to run this system. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
skidooboy Posted January 13, 2022 Share Posted January 13, 2022 same song, different verse... again, they collect our trail permit money, rely on volunteers, except for the main administration office staff, and reap the monetary benefit without the overhead. it is not sustainable. Ski 3 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
J Feces Posted January 13, 2022 Share Posted January 13, 2022 2 minutes ago, skidooboy said: same song, different verse... again, they collect our trail permit money, rely on volunteers, except for the main administration office staff, and reap the monetary benefit without the overhead. it is not sustainable. Ski I have said this for years, “it’s not sustainable” as it is currently …make the sled lic a trail permit and every sled in the province would have a permit. Need for enforcement would drop significantly. But this answer is too easy…let the bashing begin. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
skidooboy Posted January 13, 2022 Share Posted January 13, 2022 personally, I would like to see it go to a license the driver, not the sled. then if you have more than one sled, you can ride whichever one you like. permit the rider/driver, like hunting and fishing licenses. Ski Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Recommended Posts
Join the conversation
You can post now and register later. If you have an account, sign in now to post with your account.
Note: Your post will require moderator approval before it will be visible.