ATVs vs Snowmobiles: who can use the trails?
Last Updated: Wednesday, January 17, 2001 | 5:44 PM ET
CBC News
Snowmobiling is big business in New Brunswick. It's worth $140 million. Snowmobile clubs and the province have turned an expensive hobby into a lucrative winter tourist industry.
But it has left owners of ATVs wondering where they fit it. Already the four wheeled drive vehicles outnumber snowmobiles by about two to one. Furthermore, the snowmobile season is short but ATVs can operate year round.
Snowmobilers, on the other hand, have spent hundreds of thousands of dollars to groom their trails and Jim McNamara says they don't like what the four wheelers do to them.
"ATVs can do a lot of damage to a groomed trail and then again when you're a snowmobiler and you pay your $75 or $100 for your trail pass, you certainly don't want to see the trails messed up."
Frank Graham sees both sides of the argument because he uses an ATV and a snowmobile. But as president of the New Brunswick ATV Federation he says he has to make sure his members have a place to use their machines.
"We have enough people in place at the upper level to make sure that this system works. We're mandated to work together, we want to see it grow as two recreational bodies. We're supporting each other. In areas right now we seem to agree to disagree. However that's the process of dialogue. We'll get through this."
However, Ross Antworth, the general manager of the Federation of Snowmobile Clubs, says there is already an agreement but he says ATVers have simply chosen to ignore it.
"The agreement says there will not be all terrain vehicle activity on snowmobile trails and all we're asking is that the all terrain vehicle federation, their member clubs and all recreational enthusiasts respect the law of the province."
Antworth says ATVers must have a trail system of their own.
Frank Graham says there's got to be a way to work things out The two groups will meet later this week to try to resolve their differences.
