Kettle Valley Railway Petition

[ZED]

I do not normally repost things like this but I do think this is important to all Canadian riders, in particular dual sport riders.

The Kettle Valley Railway (KVR) is shaping up to be the battle ground for non motorized users against motorized recreation users here in BC. Many of you may not use or care if the KVR is non motorized, but the KVR is Crown Land, plain and simple If they make this land non motorized recreation they can do it anywhere, without any consultation.

Each piece of our rights that we loose is one step closer to loosing the rest!

As I understand the rules now the KVR is Crown Land and we have access to it Except for
Inside a municipality, the municipality decides on the use
Inside a Park

Here is a link to the petition to keep the KVR open:
http://www.petitiononlinecanada.com/petition/stop-the-ban-of-motorized-traffic-on-the-kettle-valley-railway-kvr/169

Please sign the petition it only take a moment.

[Mrs. DantesDame]

Signed! The KVR is a beautiful and (should be) treasured. I feel privileged to ride the portion that I did.






Thanks for the heads up  

[birdrunner]

I already signed it.

[zarly]

I signed it too. The KVR is awesome, and I don't like that the non-motorized clan feel that they have the right to say who gets to use it.  We have just as much right, as long as we use it respectfully.  It's an awesome ride.

[Canuck]

Another signer here. Clearly there are some areas that should be kept more or less pristine and free from motorized vehicles, but this isn't one of them. It's an old railroad right of way after all. It was constructed for motorized vehicles.

[MstrJim]

Signed! The KVR is a beautiful and (should be) treasured. I feel privileged to ride the portion that I did.






Thanks for the heads up  

Signed.  I agree, too many of our areas are being closed to motor vehicles.  Some day I too may want to ride the KVR.

[Corbeau]

Signed (even if I'm thousands of km from there.)

[Baz]

So they are trying to keep a rail bed natural for the two people a year that may actually walk it?  

[Kootenanny]

So they are trying to keep a rail bed natural for the two people a year that may actually walk it?  

Baz, there's a rail bed near my home that's been converted to a "rail trail," and it gets LOTS of use.  From people just out walking their dogs to  joggers, people on bicycles, horseback riders, and XC skiers in the winter--every time I use it, I meet at least one other person, and often it's almost crowded.

Personally, I'd be more willing to sign a petition to keep these trails (including the KVR) free of motorized vehicles, than one to allow them on it.  The forests here in BC are lousy with logging roads, tracks, and trails--all of which are available to motorcyclists and ATV'ers, and indeed better suited to 'em (and more fun to ride!) than a level, graded rail trail.

If you wanna ride a rail trail, grab your mountain bike--no reason to take your motorcycle on it.  And while I understand that most motorcyclists and ATV riders are gonna be just as courteous and nice as anyone else, the fact is that there are always that percentage who aren't.  And besides that, no matter how nice a rider is, an engine--any engine--is disruptive in that environment.  

You're on a motorbike--just find a good road, and leave the rail trails to the pedestrians, bicyclists, and horseback riders.

[ZED]

I see your point Kootenanny and agree that there is more than enough trails in B.C. to have motorized and non motorized alike.  If it was all done with level headed thinking it could work.  However, I think we have to consider closures of places that were once open to motorized vehicles as a nail in the coffin.  It just takes a bit of a start and then they start closing more and more things.  I've seen it here in Alberta and in some of the states I've been through.  The non-motorized contingent usually represents the smaller portion of trail users in most cases but they always seem to have the louder voice.

I have spent a lot of time on the BCFS roads and hope to do more yet.  Unfortunately I can foresee the time when it will not be allowed because someone who never goes there decides that it's inappropriate use.  I wish to postpone that.

[birdrunner]

I see your point Kootenanny and agree that there is more than enough trails in B.C. to have motorized and non motorized alike.  If it was all done with level headed thinking it could work.  However, I think we have to consider closures of places that were once open to motorized vehicles as a nail in the coffin.  It just takes a bit of a start and then they start closing more and more things.  I've seen it here in Alberta and in some of the states I've been through.  The non-motorized contingent usually represents the smaller portion of trail users in most cases but they always seem to have the louder voice.

I have spent a lot of time on the BCFS roads and hope to do more yet.  Unfortunately I can foresee the time when it will not be allowed because someone who never goes there decides that it's inappropriate use.  I wish to postpone that.

Ditto,   there's practically nothing but bush north of Edmonton, yet you practically have to know  (blow??) someone to find a place to ride,  and forget about the east slope .... they're closing areas left right and centre.

[Mrs. DantesDame]

what I like about the KVR is that it actually goes somewhere. I could get on it northeast of Hope (Brookmere?) and ride it west for... well, at least to Summerland. With random FS roads, etc (at least in the States) I'm usually not sure where they'll head or if they'll go anywhere at all

[ZED]

That's actually a very good point.  The deactivated forestry roads, while very interesting, seldom connect anywhere.  Whereas, something like the KVR allows loops which is preferred.

[alphabet man]

Baz, there's a rail bed near my home that's been converted to a "rail trail," and it gets LOTS of use.  From people just out walking their dogs to  joggers, people on bicycles, horseback riders, and XC skiers in the winter--every time I use it, I meet at least one other person, and often it's almost crowded.

Personally, I'd be more willing to sign a petition to keep these trails (including the KVR) free of motorized vehicles, than one to allow them on it.  The forests here in BC are lousy with logging roads, tracks, and trails--all of which are available to motorcyclists and ATV'ers, and indeed better suited to 'em (and more fun to ride!) than a level, graded rail trail.

If you wanna ride a rail trail, grab your mountain bike--no reason to take your motorcycle on it.  And while I understand that most motorcyclists and ATV riders are gonna be just as courteous and nice as anyone else, the fact is that there are always that percentage who aren't.  And besides that, no matter how nice a rider is, an engine--any engine--is disruptive in that environment.  

You're on a motorbike--just find a good road, and leave the rail trails to the pedestrians, bicyclists, and horseback riders.

 Considering that 70% of the land mass in the East Kootenays in classed as non motorized already and whats left of the 30% very little is actually accessible by motorized recreation I find it hard to believe that hikers and skiers can't find the solitude they are looking for with some effort, non motorized recreation groups are only looking for the low hanging fruit, easy access with the greatest payback. There are more than enough closures in BC to support all user groups but the non motorized groups usually have a green agenda that reaches further than just keeping ATV's out. remember there is still a push for Y to Y  bit bu bit they will try to succeed

Why should my elderly uncle with failing health that has lived and worked in the kootenays his entire life not be able to enjoy what others can, he has more right than most and the only way he can get out to enjoy this and other outdoor activities is on his ATV