Breaking News
Today at a press conference in Porters Lake, the province announced that the “Share the Road Pilot Project” will commence on October 1st 2018, with six of the nine chosen locations. We are including a copy of the government press release and my remarks on behalf of ATVANS. We will be sending out the two page hand out as soon as we receive an electronic copy. We also live streamed the media event and you can view it on the ATVANS Facebook page. We will be posting other media in the next days including video from the event.
A number of media were present and did interviews including, CBC television, a local Eastern Shore paper and I did a call-in radio interview on 95.7
This is a big step forward; however we have lots of work ahead. Thank you again to all the members, clubs and supporters who helped advance this project. Thank you also to the elected leaders who demonstrated their support and trust in our sport and organization.
Barry Barnet
Executive Director ATVANS
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Thank you, speaker Murphy
On any given weekend families across Nova Scotia enjoy the outdoors on an ATV. These are hardworking fun-loving Nova Scotians who love the outdoors and love adventure.
The sport of ATVing is enjoyed by tens of thousands across Nova Scotia. The All-Terrain Vehicle Association of Nova Scotia, supports the organized responsible use of all-terrain vehicles through our 42 clubs and thousands of members. ATVANS is the third largest ATV federation in Canada serving members for over 20 years.
Our sport contributes greatly to the rural economy of Nova Scotia and we can point directly to many businesses that benefit from our members and other riders.
One example is the Walton Pub and eatery. I recently met with the owners who expressed full support for the pilot project and indicated how important the sport of ATVing is to their business.
For us, access to services like food, fuel and lodging along with trail connectivity has been an issue for many years.
For over eight years we have been working with government to help advance our sport by providing access to existing built infrastructure, like the shoulder of the roads, bridges and overpasses.
We, along with our members and clubs, began reaching out to our elected leaders and key staff within government departments. I want to thank those many members and clubs who took the time to introduce themselves to their local councillor or MLA and help advance this idea.
The Isle Royale ATV club in Sydney and their president, Dan Fraser, is one such example. They were like a dog with a bone. Every time a visiting MLA or the Premier came to their area they found a way to respectfully meet up and deliver the message.
We had many champions within government as well, municipal leaders like Councillor Eldon Hebb from East Hants who helped lead the charge with his municipal collogues, MLAs like Gordon Wilson who always returned calls and immediately saw the value and importance in what we were requesting.
Minister Hines who provided leadership and direction within his department and of course the Premier who assured us this would happen. Ministers Miller and now Rankin, thank you for your support. I would also like to thank the many other government and opposition members who took the time to meet with us as we advanced this cause.
On a personal note I would like to thank a few key staff and others who continued to be supportive and answer our calls and e-mails; Royden Trainer, Doug Oliver, Matt Parker and Deputy Paul Lefleshe, our OHV partners at SANS and NSORRA and our own Corey Robar.
Two final points:
First, our work is far from finished as we still have a great deal of education safety awareness messages to deliver. This, folks, is really just the beginning for us. For this pilot project to move forward and be successful for our members and all OHV riders we need to prove ourselves and the concept.
And finally, last but certainly not least:
I would also like thank and point out the hard work of our board and staff who never cease to amaze me with the amount of passion and tenacity they have for this sport. On behalf of our president Vince Sawler and the entire board thank you.
Ride safe.
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TRANSPORTATION/INFRASTRUCTURE RENEWAL--
Province Launches Off-highway Vehicle Pilot in Six Communities
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Nova Scotia is launching a pilot project, effective Oct. 1, in six communities to enhance trail connections for off-highway vehicles.
The pilot enables them to use the shoulders of roadways, and the roadway itself where necessary, in order to safely travel in select areas from one trail to another or to access services.
“This three-year pilot will enhance trail connections and associated off season tourism opportunities while providing us with an opportunity for further study,” said Transportation and Infrastructure Renewal Minister Lloyd Hines. “The locations for this pilot were selected weighing factors such as trail connections, traffic volumes and road speed.”
Only registered, licensed and insured off-highway vehicles can operate on the shoulder, or the roadway, in these six pilot areas as long as the operator has a valid driver’s licence. Drivers holding a learner’s licence are not permitted to participate. No passenger on one of the vehicles operating in the pilot area can be younger than nine years old.
The six communities chosen for the pilot are: Porters Lake, Halifax Regional Municipality; New Germany, Lunenburg Co.; Weymouth, Digby Co.; Walton, Hants Co.; Sherbrooke, Guysborough Co. and Gabarus, Cape Breton Regional Municipality.
“We’re pleased the government has fulfilled its commitment to advance this project,” said Barry Barnet, executive director of the ATV Association of Nova Scotia. ”This will go a long way to support our work of building an interconnected trail network across Nova Scotia and spreading the message of safe responsible off-highway vehicle use.”
Further information on the rules of the road for the pilot in these six communities is available at https://novascotia.ca/ohv-pilot/ .
----------------------------------------------------------------FOR BROADCAST USE:
Nova Scotia is launching a pilot project in six communities
to enhance trail connections for off-highway vehicles.
The pilot, which begins October 1st, enables them to
use the shoulders of roadways, and the roadway itself where
necessary, to safely travel from one trail to another or to
access services.
The locations for the three-year pilot project were
selected weighing factors such as trail connections, traffic
volumes and road speed.
Only registered, licensed and insured off-highway
vehicles can operate on the shoulder, or the roadway, in the
pilot areas as long as the operator has a valid driver’s
licence.
Drivers holding a learner’s licence are not permitted to
participate. No passenger on an off-highway vehicle
operating in the pilot area can be younger than nine years old.
The six communities chosen for the pilot are Porters Lake
in Halifax Regional Municipality, New Germany, Lunenburg
County, Weymouth in Digby County, Walton in Hants County,
Sherbrooke, Guysborough County and Gabarus in Cape Breton
Regional Municipality.
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Media Contact: Marla MacInnis
Cell: 902-499-6428
Email: Marla.MacInnis@novascotia.ca
