A bylaw amendment passed unanimously by District of Squamish (DOS) Council this week prohibits motorized vehicles from walking and cycling trails.
While the bylaw was being drafted it caused a stir in the dirt bike community as riders felt the bylaw was going to force the sport out of town.
Dirt bikers formed an association and entered discussions on the bylaw with the DOS and stakeholder groups like the Squamish Off-Road Cycling Association, the Squamish Trails Society and the Howe Sound Trials Riders Club.
"The input ranged from banning all motorized Off-Road Vehicles completely in the municipality, to persons wishing to find compromise for some joint use trails, to the other end of the spectrum whereby some were adamant there be no prohibition regulations at all," said Cliff Doherty, the director of protective services with the DOS. "From the meetings, a reasonable compromise was reached."
A key element of the bylaw is the acknowledgement of areas for use by trials motorbike riders and an off-road vehicle route through a corridor to the east of Hwy 99 just south of Depot Road. The corridor is mostly comprised of old roads.
"The bylaw does not permit off-road vehicle use in that corridor, rather it does not prohibit such use on a trail within that corridor and users would be required to conform to other regulations, such as licensing and obtain permission for such use from any land owners," Doherty said to Council on Tuesday (July 26).
The Squamish Dirt Bike Association website indicates support of the bylaw.
"The new bylaw has been drafted with our input and riders will be pleased, all riding areas have been saved," reads a message on the association website.
Doherty said enforcement measures will only be used if attempts to educate people don't work.A person who violates the bylaw could face a fine.jfrench@squamishchief.com
