BC - KVR emails

[Jim]

Well I have been trying to figure out the deal on the kvr, and have been in contact with trails bc, I don't think I will be getting any more information from them, so here are the emails incase anyone would like to digest them... What it looks like is we need to start sending letters to someone, not sure which dept of the govnt would be concerned here...

Emails at the top are newest
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I can only repeat, that the final decision about the users of rail/trail
will ultimately be decided by the Provincial Government and we are waiting
to hear..........Sue
----- Original Message -----
From: <me>
To: "Trails BC" <>
Sent: Monday, April 23, 2007 8:18 PM
Subject: Re: KVR - DualSport trip?


>
> I can see how that would be very frustrating. However, as you say there
> are many
> logging roads out there that could be used, the main thing is they don't
> have
> the rich scenery and heritage as we could learn and appreciate from sites
> such
> as the KVR. I will admit that I haven't been out building and maintaining
> these
> trails, however I don't want to be trekking out onto the KVR with my
> dirtbike to
> find I am breaking any rules either, so I have no idea what goes on when
> used by
> other riders. I just assume that it was a trail originaly built to
> withstand
> locomotive and rail traffic that it should be able to support light use by
> dual
> sport bikes? I'm not even looking at the whole of the TCT here, I would
> really
> just like to get out and make a long weekend trip of the KVR and see many
> of the
> sights it has to offer. I would understand new sections of the TCT that
> are
> being constructed specifically for use by non-motorized users to stay that
> way,
> it is just a shame to see existing trails with so much to offer such as
> the KVR
> being shut down to certain groups enjoyment. Do you not agree that it
> would be
> possible for all groups to share, possibly if there were some posted
> regulations
> and safety tips possibly posted at the entrances to the trail and along
> various
> points (safe operation, sharing, respect the enviroment and other trail
> users,
> etc)?
>
> Thanks again for the friendly communications and information,
>
> Jim
>
>
>
>
> uoting Trails BC <>:
>
>> Hello Jim -- we are all volunteers doing our best to get the Trans Canada
>> Trail on the ground. The shared use designation refers to hikers,
>> cyclists,
>> equestrians,cross country skiers, and snowmobilers where accepted by the
>> community. There are thousands of miles of useable logging roads in the
>> province that are used by ATV's etc -- why is it so unreasonable to want
>> the
>> TCT to be non-motorized? I can believe that you have the best intentions
>> and would travel carefully, and it would be nice if all motorized folk
>> were
>> as careful and thoughtful--but our excperience has proved that this is
>> not
>> the case. The Trail has been destroyed in several areas, and when
>> rebuilt,
>> is destroyed again over a weekend.....it is very discouraging.
>>
>> Sue
>> ----- Original Message -----
>> From: <me>
>> To: "Trails BC" <>
>> Sent: Monday, April 23, 2007 10:11 AM
>> Subject: Re:KVR - DualSport trip?
>>
>>
>> >
>> > Sue, I am wondering, why are you struggling to limit the experience of
>> > these
>> > trails to only certain groups of Canadians? We are all tax-payers, and
>> > we
>> > would
>> > all love to see and enjoy our country. I think if you are struggling to
>> > limit
>> > the trail usage to certain groups that you should maybe change your
>> > statements
>> > about it being a SHARED-USE trail... Why can't we all share, not just a
>> > few
>> > groups. I don't see any atv or dual sport riders trying to take over
>> > any
>> > trails
>> > and kick other groups out... Is it just that they are better at
>> > sharing?
>> > Would
>> > it not be better for all to rather then restrict usage only to certain
>> > groups,
>> > to rather post some fair usage guidelines, for those who maybe don't
>> > think
>>
>> > ahead
>> > about other trail users... What I mean is allow for dual sport or atv
>> > riders,
>> > but have posted guidelines for them, such as be respectful of all other
>> > trail
>> > users, pack out anything you bring in, slow down while passing
>> > non-motorized
>> > users, and consider shutting down the engine if passing a horse. I
>> > don't
>> > know
>> > too much about the quads, but I know the dual sport motor cycles meet
>> > all
>> > of our
>> > emmisions standards and are equiped with mufflers to keep the noise
>> > down.
>> > I'm
>> > not here trying to create problems, I am just asking, why is it you
>> > don't
>> > want
>> > your groups to share with the rest of us British Columbians who would
>> > love
>>
>> > to
>> > get a chance to explore our province.
>> >
>> > -Jim
>> >
>> >
>> >
>> > Quoting Trails BC <>:
>> >
>> >> Hello again Jim -- I say "technically" because Trails BC and the TCTF
>> >> intend
>> >>
>> >> the TCT to be used for non-motorized travellers, but because we are
>> >> relative
>> >>
>> >> late-comers to the trail scene, folk who have been using the rail bed
>> >> for
>> >> motorized continue to do so, and we have no means of policing the
>> >> situation.
>> >>
>> >> It is our hope that the Provincial Government (who owns the rail/trail
>> >> systems in the Province) will take a non-motorized stand, but it is
>> >> still
>>
>> >> in
>> >>
>> >> the works. In the meantime, we struggle to keep the Trans Canada
>> >> Trail
>> >> non-motorized.........Sue
>> >>
>> >> ----- Original Message -----
>> >> From: <me>
>> >> To: "Trails BC" <>
>> >> Sent: Sunday, April 22, 2007 10:12 PM
>> >> Subject: Re:KVR - DualSport trip?
>> >>
>> >>
>> >> >
>> >> > Hello Sue,
>> >> >
>> >> > Thanks for the quick reply and the info. I am wondering though...
>> >> > what
>> >> > do
>> >> > you
>> >> > mean by "technically"? Also, does Trails BC have any info on trails
>> >> > that
>> >> > are for
>> >> > use by dual sport motorcycles, or is it mainly for equestrian,
>> >> > hikers,
>> >> > and
>> >> > cyclists? Thanks again.
>> >> >
>> >> > -Jim
>> >> >
>> >> > Quoting Trails BC <>:
>> >> >
>> >> >> Hello Jim -- The KVR is technically a non-motorized
>> >> >> route........Sue
>> >> >>
>> >> >>
>> >> >> ----- Original Message -----
>> >> >> From: <me>
>> >> >> To: <>
>> >> >> Sent: Sunday, April 22, 2007 5:45 PM
>> >> >> Subject: KVR - DualSport trip?
>> >> >>
>> >> >>
>> >> >> >
>> >> >> > Hello there, I was thinking of planning a little weekend trip,
>> >> >> > and
>> >> >> > was
>> >> >> > looking
>> >> >> > at the KVR rail trail... What I am wondering is whether or not
>> >> >> > dual
>> >> >> > sport
>> >> >> > (street legal) motorcycles are allowed to travel along the
>> >> >> > trail...
>> >> >> > Assuming of
>> >> >> > course they were acting safely and responsibly, and with concern
>> >> >> > and
>> >> >> > respect for
>> >> >> > any other trail users. I've read a write up about a guy who made
>> >> >> > the
>> >> >> > kvr
>> >> >> > trip on
>> >> >> > his dual sport bike and looked very nice... Any information would
>> >> >> > be
>> >> >> > greatly
>> >> >> > appreciated, thank you in advance.
>> >> >> >
>> >> >> > -Jim
>> >> >> >
>> >> >> >
>> >> >>
>> >> >>
>> >> >
>> >> >
>> >> >
>> >> >
>> >> >
>> >>
>> >>
>> >
>> >
>> >
>> >
>> >
>>
>>
>
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[TheOtherRide]

I find it interesting that snowmobilers are part of the shared-use group if they're trying to get non-motorized use only.

Are there any motorcycle/atv interest groups that volunteer to maintain these trails?

Sounds like you neighbors to the north are having a heck of a time with anti-motorcycle/atv laws. Where are these 'plenty of trails' that you can ride on?

[frostbite]

The sad thing about the TCT is in many cases existing trails are getting 'annexed' to 'build' the trail. In most cases I suspect these trails owed their existence to ATVs/dirt bikes/snowmobiles.

Here's a telling quote from the TCT site (http://www.tctrail.ca/faq.php)

The main trunk of the Trans Canada Trail will be about 18,078 kilometres in length Approximately 75% of the Trail will be built on existing trails,

I completely agree with keeping trails 'non-motorized' when close to or within a major population center. However, when you're 50 miles outta town trail traffic is sparse to non-existent.

[sheadouglas]

[quote="Jim"]late-comers to the trail scene, folk who have been using the rail bed
>> >> for
>> >> motorized continue to do so, and we have no means of policing the
>> >> situation.
>> >>

If I'm reading this correctly , why dont ya just go ahead and ride it???? It says they're not policing it.

[Jim]

Well that's actually my plan ;) But they said they are struggling to convince the provincial government to make it so we are actually not allowed there...

I agree with you Frostbite about that, like ride int he middle of calgary or abbotsford or something, it would be no problem to bypass... But who is going to walk all the way across canada? I can't take that much time off work, nor do I want too... This KVR is one of these existing trails they're trying to (or have) annexed...

@TheOtherRide, I'm not really sure who maintains them, it is really hard to find any information about this... but this one was an old rail line, so it shouldn't be too bad really... it has to be a solid gravel path there where the trains used to run along the tracks..

I'm just hoping these trails bc people don't succeed in taking over...

I believe they are allowing snowmobiles as part of the shared use because they created many of these trails that are being taken over... and who wants to hike across canada in the winter?

[mdsuave13]

i can see both sides of the argument, as a motorcyclist it would be fantastic to be allowed to ride thru some of my state parks and such, but i know that if they allowed motorized vehicles, people would not be respectful, or tread lightly.

I would think that your point of people being 50 miles out of town is kinda a silly thing to think. I would assume traffic would be almost nonexistent and it would be no big deal to allow dual sports to use the trail, assuming that they were respectful of others and didnt destroy paths or "trailblaze" random woods.

[Jim]

Well yes, but also this is not some random woods either, this was the kettle valley railway, it was made to support locomotive traffic... Dualsports shouldn't be a problem. It is not that they werent allowed there, it is that it's trying to get shut down to them. They have been using the trail for quite some time.