1. princess030303

    princess030303 Limited User

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    Someone Needs to look into why Parkhill and the Saddler tracks are closed this year. Ausauble River Riders operated it. They are a decent club but couldn't keep it open. Isn't the OFTR suppose to get involved and try to help keep it open. I really wish there was something that could be done to keep them open. They were nice trails to ride and close to home. I had no problem buying passes to ride there. We have three Dirt Bikes and have to now travel 3 hours away. They should open up the rail trail to bikes to make it fair for everyone. We have all kinds of rail trail in the area that's not used hardly at all.
    I'm sure I'm not the only person bummed out by the news.
  2. CoyoteJeepGuy

    CoyoteJeepGuy Ride Organizer

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    Town:
    Guelph
  3. 3BeeJay3

    3BeeJay3 ODSC Past President

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    Near Stratford
    This was a unilateral decision by the new area conservation manager, without consultation or notice. The Ausable riders club had stopped OFTR affiliation a year or two ago and has since closed due to that decision, so not much the OFTR can do about at this point. We're not happy about the decision.

    I would suggest looking into the conservation act and see if this action was within their mandate, then consider the next step.
  4. Kevin KO

    Kevin KO Limited User

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    Jul 4, 2012
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    Town:
    Whitby
    Oftr mandate.

    To source, create and maintain a trail network in Ontario for safe, family use by off road motorcyclist, as well as any other good intentioned users. To provide a strong voice supported by a substantial membership to represent trail users to ensure, to our best ability, that these trails continue to be available.

    Wouldn't we as off road enthusiasts be better served if the oftr were to be that voice rather then a small group of random individuals.
  5. Neil Edmunds

    Neil Edmunds ODSC Executive

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    Town:
    Gormley
    Think of the OFTR as the umbrella group for all the clubs. If a local club disbands there aren't any "boots on the ground". OFTR planning and direction is fine, but local help is also needed for land stewardship. Both things go hand in hand.
  6. millicat

    millicat Ride Organizer

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    Hi Kevin, so there's no confusion, the OFTR did get involved, we spent a fair amount of time researching to try to determine what had happened and we had a number of discussions with the "powers that be". Ultimately, it was made very clear that the forester who had retired was the only reason we had been able to keep access to the riding areas there, and the new forester has no interest in allowing us or ideally anything motorized in the forest. And without any local people to rally the troops and light a bit of a fire under the local politicians, we don't have any clout to affect this decision, at least not at this time.

    The OFTR has upheld its mandate, but we can't push things further without a groundswell of local support in that area; when the local club went dormant two years ago, we lost the few organized individuals in that area we had.

    If anyone from that area wants to get motivated and organized, the OFTR would be interested in supporting them in any way we can, please reach to our Executive Director, Dave Grummett, daveyg@oftr.ca or email me @ dave@oftr.ca, PM me here, or give me a call.

    Dave Millier
    President, OFTR
    416-277-8959 Mobile
  7. QuickTD

    QuickTD Limited User

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    Town:
    Dashwood, Ontario
    I am the secretary from the ARRC. The ausable bayfield conservation authority was solely responsible for the closure of the sadler and parkhill areas to ORV's. There was no discussion nor any opportunity for argument. The ABCA simply sent us a letter informing us of the termination of our long standing agreement. As far as the club was concerned 2014 was going to be business as usual, we had not become "dormant". I was not contacted regarding any assistance from the OFTR nor were any other directors, at least to my knowledge. I'm not sure that anything could be done anyway, it appears that there has been a change in direction at the ABCA.

    Regards,

    Bruce Andrews,
    Secretary, Ausable River Riders Club