KVR trail trouble

[Mike Ryder]

Below is copied from a story this morning in a local news website.
Castanet reports:

http://www.castanet.net/edition/news...-27-.htm#83575

KVR trail trouble
by Deborah Pfeiffer - Story: 83575
Nov 21, 2012 / 5:00 am


Photo: Deborah Pfeiffer
The KVR Trail above Naramata
For as long as he can remember, Gary Dicken has driven his car on the Kettle Valley Rail Trail to take in the view, access historic sites and get away from it all in the pristine wilderness.

So Dicken is among those who have formed a group dedicated to preserving access for all to the KVR above Naramata, in reaction to the BC Government's proposal to cut off all motorized traffic along the old railwaybed.

"It's a big part of the Naramata lifestyle being able to drive up here, especially for people who have lived here a long time," said Dicken, whose family has been a part of the community since 1909.

The group, Keep Our KVR Accessible to All, KOKATA, came into existence following a heated September meeting in Naramata, where John Hawkings, the provincial trails manager for the Ministry of Forests, Lands and Natural Resource Operations, laid out a plan that included trail use designations ,motorized opportunity development and KVR trail development.

Among the designations were non-motorized with motorized access for tenure holders from Penticton city boundary to Arawana Road, non motorized from Arawana Road to Little Tunnel and shared use from Little Tunnel to Glenfir Trailhead.

The plan is to be implemented over the next two years based on available resources.

The proposal was not well received from the get go. Several angry residents stood up and told Hawkings they were opposed to the idea because the KVR is considered to be Naramata's backyard.

"People were surprised when they went to the meeting and saw the draft plan because it stopped all passenger vehicle access," said Dicken.

KOKATA has met since and created a website with a core agenda that includes:

To preserve passenger vehicle access to the Little Adra Tunnell, Big Tunnell, Rock Ovens Park, power lines roads and the Elinor Forest Service Road.
To preserve current levels of access to the affected areas for the disabled, elderly and infirm.
To preserve Crown land values and current levels of access to the affected areas for gatherers of firewood and hunters.
To identify and resolve issues that may prevent future access to the affected area for any and all users.
To ensure they get heard, the group is circulating a petition that now has about 600 signatures, said Dicken. It is available online at their website, and at businesses including the Naramata Pub and Penticton Honda Centre.

The hope is to present the petition to Hawkings at a meeting in December.

Hawkings said he has been in contact with the group and plans to meet in the Penticton area.

"My primary goal is to listen to them, understand what their concerns are and provide them with a little bit of context on the trail and how the province approaches the management of trails," he said.

As they wait for the meeting, they are asking for more volunteers to help with the cause. Once the meeting is over they will take it from there, said Dicken.


Photo: Deborah Pfeiffer
Signage on the KVR Trail
"It's one of those things. We can't just let it go by. We have to say something," he said.

The effort has created some polarization in this small community nestled by Okanagan Lake.

At the September meeting, several residents said they would like to see the trail used for only hiking, walking and horseback riding because it is a wilderness area with an abundance of wildlife.

Aimee Oakley, the social media liaison for KOKATA, said it is because of the natural beauty, that it should not be restricted to anyone.

"There are going to be people on both sides of the issue," she said. "All we are trying to do is keep something that been a part of the culture of our community.

My husband has a disability and to think he couldn't go up there with our children just breaks my heart.".

[Lycan1]

I am glad I rode it when I did. Funny and sad, how selfish these individual groups being, are under the guise of "protecting and preserving".

[Deadly99]

What always gets me in the horse crowd being granted access. Hoof prints wreck a trail as much if not more than a bikes tires....oh and last time I checked my bike doesnt shit all over a trail

Sucks the greenies are more organized than the "normal everyday people"

[shuswap biker]

Rant On
The original charter for the trans Canada trail was for all persons to access regardless of mode of transport.

What makes you shake your head is they will allow snowmobiles in areas were motor vehicles are not allowed, is this do to the fact that there are no peddle bikers, hikers or horsey folk using the trail at that time??

Snowmobilers best watch out that the X country skiers don't get there panties in a bunch and start whining.

And how about the section between Faulder and Osprey lake that they turned into the road, are they going to kick the cars back to the original POS road?

If you were lucky enough to ride all the old rail beds on Phoenix MT (C.P/Great northern) your lucky as they are now all off limits to motorized vehicles. Peddle bikes, hikers, horsey folk and X country skiers only

Do the forestry managers have an agenda, because this is not the same as deactivating an old logging road, these trails are maintained but only for a select few.


Rant Off

[Mr. Canoehead]

So, where do we sign the petition?

BC seems determined to kill motorcycle tourism. First the draconian speed laws and "no standing on the pegs" laws, now closing backcountry access.

[Lycan1]

Originally Posted by Mr. Canoehead

So, where do we sign the petition?

BC seems determined to kill motorcycle tourism. First the draconian speed laws and "no standing on the pegs" laws, now closing backcountry access.

Washington and Idaho have great scenery, better roads, cheaper fuel, motels, and food. Well you get the idea. I used to bike every year, several times a year in B.C. Now I find it more bang for my buck to go state-side. It cost me more for 5 days in B.C. than 14 going to Moab and back.

B.C. government doesn't want me there (or wants to rob me to go) then there are so many other places to see. I thought socialists considered everyone equal???

[amk]

I rode part of it this past summer. The biggest gripe were landowners and their chained gates, every 500m. There were many slides and washouts which nobody was going to repair. Every single sign I have seen said "no motor vehicle allowed", but I met a uniform policemen on the track who said nothing.

I, personally, will vote to close it to all motor vehicles due to evident erosion and degradation, unless extensive repair and maintenance are scheduled.

And I will not go there for 2d time because of the farmers' barricades.

[Mike Ryder]

Originally Posted by Mr. Canoehead

So, where do we sign the petition?

BC seems determined to kill motorcycle tourism. First the draconian speed laws and "no standing on the pegs" laws, now closing backcountry access.

petition at

http://kvrnaramata.com/

[Mr. Canoehead]

Signed

Sent from my Droid Tablet using Tapatalk

[RED CAT]

I agree. Montana, Idaho and Washington are all better riding than BC. Everything is 1/2 price compared to BC. BC defintely stands for BRING CASH. There isn't a cop behind every corner either. My wife and I are planning summer holidays south as much as possible now. Getting tired of BC. Its becoming another Nanny State like Ontario.

[triplenickel]

The gov. definiteley has an agenda, motorized isn't welcome. It's the same for winter sports, XC and heli get the nod and sleds are punted. Trails BC is an advocate for the non motorized users, they get like $13 million per year from the gov. BCORMA for the off road motorcycles gets zero and is left to fight with what they can do on their own so everyone that's complaining should be a paid member if there's any chance of fighting the man. Membership dues are pretty much the cheapest part of our sport. We need to get our shit together in a big way the KVR is just the beginning.

[Lycan1]

Originally Posted by triplenickel

The gov. definiteley has an agenda, motorized isn't welcome. It's the same for winter sports, XC and heli get the nod and sleds are punted. Trails BC is an advocate for the non motorized users, they get like $13 million per year from the gov. BCORMA for the off road motorcycles gets zero and is left to fight with what they can do on their own so everyone that's complaining should be a paid member if there's any chance of fighting the man. Membership dues are pretty much the cheapest part of our sport. We need to get our shit together in a big way the KVR is just the beginning.

I am no where near naive enough to think that this isn't the norm with all governments. It is however VERY WRONG to champion the cause of one group with tax payers money, of any amount. After all they are using your own money to limit your choices in favour of another group.

All B.C. motorcyclists should be outraged. What they fail to consider (as a government) is how much tourism they actually discourage by such actions. I may be unusual, but being a motorcyclist is a big part of who I am, and when a provincial (or state) government take actions that are prejudicial against me and my favorite sport, they lose all my tourist dollars, not just when I travel by motorcycle. We as motorcyclists need to start making ourselves as heard as the other special interest groups do. B.C. ferries revenue down for 2012? maybe 2013 will be even worse.

[Lav1200]

Signing petitions is fine, but it's a short term band-aid for access issues.

Instead I would encourage all to join their local off-road motorcycle organization that is working hard to preserve single-track access. One such group here in Calgary is the Rocky Mountain Dirt Riders. Sign up at their booth at the Calgary bike show so they can put your membership dues to work. All other user groups have strong organizations that get their voice heard - motorcyclists, especially single-track riders, need to get on that game plan.

[folknride]

I signed and am 100 percent behind keeping and expanding access. BUT, there is an elephant in the room that we have to acknowledge - noisy and irresponsible riders and quaders. There are just too many idiots riding out there with exhausts and behaviours at best suited for race and closed courses. I know I'm preaching to the choir here (mostly), but there are way more people who object to this behaviour than there are petition signers for open trails, so we are doomed to more and more closures.
We were out at a local off road area in the fall, stopped for a break, and a handful of screaming competition 2 strokes went past - we all looked at each other and someone said "no wonder everyone hates us".

[Lycan1]

This situation has already been brought to light. http://advrider.com/forums/showthread.php?t=843085

I have signed the petition for what it is worth.