The Reminder is making its archives back to 2003 available on our website. Please note that, due to technical limitations, archive articles are presented without the usual formatting.
Loading up the ATV on a trailer and moving it out of city limits before driving it can be a bother at times. Now Roger Armstrong and other ATVers are hoping to change by-law 45(91), which prohibits the machines from running within city limits. ÒWe want to use access...through town to get out of town,Ó says Armstrong, who will be bringing the matter up with city council in January. Armstrong and his group hope to have 1,000 people sign their petition to allow the machines to use back allies as access routes. Director of Works and Operations Rick Bacon says he sees it as a good idea for the group. ÒI agree with it in the community,Ó says Bacon. ÒI mean, we allow snowmobiles and there is no reason we (shouldnÕt) allow ATVs.Ó With that said, Bacon says as long as a registered quad is driven properly, there shouldnÕt be a problem. ÒPrimarily, it gets you out of town and into the bush,Ó says Armstrong. With the hope of pretty much all back allies in Flin Flon being opened to ATVers, Armstrong says this would cut down on the burden of moving a quad to the legal limits. Armstrong adds that itÕs not the snowmobile trails they are after Ð itÕs the back allies. ÒAs far as IÕm concerned, weÕre not using their trails,Ó he says. But the activists are hoping for the same rights. ÒWe are just hoping to gain access roads out of town Ð basically the same right to access the city limits as snowmobilers,Ó says Armstrong. Bacon says his recommendation to council Òis to allow ATVs in town as log as there is a group looking after the routes Ð similar to the Flin Flon Border Explorers Club.Ó Bacon adds that the group should provide council with a map detailing Òwhere they want to be and what routes they want to access.Ó A concern for any machine is gas, and Bacon says thought has to be put into that as well. As for taking the issue up with council, Armstrong says he thinks a decision will come out in their favour. ÒI think it will pretty positive,Ó he says. ÒI donÕt think there are too many people have have a problem with ATVs as a whole. ÒI assume some of the people on city council have ATVs as well,Ó he says. Armstrong notes that petitions will be at various businesses around town, including LloydyÕs, Gas Bar and Gateway. Anyone who is interested in supporting this group is asked to contact Armstrong himself or Wayne Pachal, Ralph Campbell, Ron Mendro or Todd Simms.
