PHOTO BY CHALABALA
ATVING SOUTH OF OTTAWA
Meet a man who knows the territory : Dave Baker
Dave Baker taking a call and flirting with a mystery photographer .
It seems that once you ride an all-terrain vehicle ( ATV ) you are hooked for life . At least , that ’ s what happened to Dave Baker , who says he ’ s been at it since he was a kid .
Probably a good move . He ’ s now president of the Ontario Federation of All-Terrain Vehicles ( OFAV ) and past president – and energetic aficionado – of the Nation Valley ATV Club , named after the river that helps define the area .
“ I grew up on a farm , and my father was an avid hunter . At first , the ATV was a hunting tool and farm implement and then , much to my father ’ s disapproval , it became a pastime for me ,” near the family ’ s hunting cabin in the Stonecliffe- Mattawa area , said Baker , 37 . His love of ATVing continued in his “ backyard ” – the Osgoode , Mountain , Winchester areas south of Ottawa .
The Nation Valley club has about 150 members , both men and women . “ We are a family-oriented sport ,” Baker said proudly . The club aims to create safe , legal , sustainable trails for everyone to enjoy , to encourage local tourism , and to encourage access to food , fuel , and lodging for riders from their ATV .
Baker said club members are excited that the City of Ottawa has agreed that a former Osgoode bylaw now allows passage for their ATVs on the shoulder of some public roads in what is now a City ward , so they can connect to other trails . “ Eventually , we will work at expanding into other areas as well , to take advantage of other restaurants and businesses that would benefit from ATV traffic .”
It ’ s not hard to get him to extol the delights of ATVing , which allows “ everything from being able to get to places you would never be able to go , being able to enjoy nature and the outdoors , spending quality time with friends and family , the group-family atmosphere of a club , and being able to use your ATV generally year round .”
“ Motorized sports are more widely accepted these days than years past . Generally , we don ’ t receive many complaints .” When they do , they ’ re “ more
SHEILA ASCROFT
from people who do not understand the sport and off-road vehicles .”
The Nation Valley ’ s membership is spread across a relatively large geographic area . The trail system began and remains primarily in the Winchester area , but over the years , it has expanded south in North Dundas .
“ So it was only natural that with many members living within the City of Ottawa limits , that we would attempt to expand north into the Osgoode area as well ,” Baker said . “ The task of finding a suitable trail corridor , and getting permission for a trial period with the City of Ottawa was ( and still is ) a large task for the club to undertake .”
Dealing with local governments is a constant for clubs like Nation Valley . Rideau Lakes Township , for example , passed a bylaw in February allowing members of the local club to traverse some of its roads by ATVs . The township ’ s chief administrative officer , Michael Dwyre , said the club will bear the full cost of implementing and maintaining any conditions in the agreement . Baker said his club ’ s biggest event is the Ride for Dad in early March . This year marks the fourth year the club has staged it , and already $ 150,000 has been raised towards prostate cancer research and awareness .
As well , “ Educating people on ATV safety is very important ,” he said . “ Every club ride begins with safety tips and a driver ’ s speech about being safe out on the trails .” Trail rules are posted at each trail entrance , and trail etiquette is shared among members . And the Ontario Federation of All- Terrain Vehicles ( OFATV ) offers training .
The Nation Valley club is in District 1 of the Ontario Federation and works with five other clubs in this district . Its trails connect with those of the ATV Club of Eastern Ontario and will be joined to Johnstown ATV Club trails this year .
Bylaw opens some Osgoode roads to ATVs
By Sheila Ascroft
A temporary bylaw allowing ATV riders on some public roads in Osgoode ward has been extended until November 2017 . This will allow the City of Ottawa to gauge the impact of the project on local roads and traffic safety , figure out what it might mean for quality of life for rural residents , and assess any economic benefits to local businesses .
In 2013 , the city approved a temporary bylaw allowing a pilot project for ATV usage on certain roads and road allowances in Osgoode ward . Also included were strips of Crown land – known as “ unopened road allowances ” – held in reserve for future roads ,
Under the bylaw , only registered members of the Nation Valley ATV Club – which had pushed for the idea – can use the extended network . But it took almost two years for the club to map routes and put up directional signage , and the club has only begun testing the extensions . So the time frame has been extended .
The rules of these expanded trails are :
• year-round ATV access to the trails allowed , except during spring thaw
• ATVs allowed on trails from 30 minutes before sunrise to 30 minutes after sunset
• speed limits of are to be no higher than 50 kilometres per hour , lower in some areas
• no modified exhaust and / or two-stroke engines because they ’ re too noisy
• drivers must be a member or affiliated member of the Nation Valley ATV Club and the club must maintain a valid City licence .
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