Sharing the Road

Changes To ATV Laws in Sudbury and North Bay Could Allow Road Access

Update: Click here to read about the July 8th 2015 update to Ontario law allowing all Off-Road Vehicles road access!

The ongoing struggle to allow ATVs on the road in Sudbury and North Bay is heating up, and it appears there may be some success in the offing. Sudbury will conduct a full city council vote in the next two weeks to permit ATVing on about half of the town rural roads and residential streets, all outside the downtown area, which is totally understandable in larger cities. This will be for a two-year trial period.

There are however, some interesting caveats up for discussion, including three season riding only. This would still prevent people with snowplows on their ATVs from legally snowplowing their own driveway if they need to enter the street even a little to do it, and many with ATV snowplows like to do other people’s driveways in their neighbourhood for friends, elderly neighbours and the like. The claim is they will continually re-evaluate this annually, and adjust as needed. I personally believe this one should be accommodated, particularly in residential areas away from the downtown core, as this one applies to a surprising number of us.

15031055496 46ee19c9f9 z

North Bay is also in the throes of the same discussion, albeit with different caveats, including not being able to ride at night, which I find to be a bit shortsighted, considering that for significant portions of the year it gets dark well before 6 pm. Most ATVs have significantly better lighting systems than some motorcycles do. I for one have been out riding more than a few times, got stuck, or a bit lost, and ended up riding home on the road after dark. However, we live in Almaguin, where we enjoy year round road access with no restrictions other than we cannot ride on the four-lane, divided Highway 11, and even that, we get a tunnel under it for snowmobiles, ATVs and pedestrians to cross the highway, and plenty of bridges to cross as well.

15053692712 e21c975ee2 z

The North Bay council meeting is scheduled for 7 pm Monday, September 8 and it appears there will be a significant turnout. Nelson Fletcher, the president of the North Bay ATV Club, notes that people fishing on Lake Nippissing in North Bay are unable to access food, fuel, or accommodations without loading up onto their trailer to even cross the road, and this gives their southern neighbour, Callander, a significant advantage over North Bay because they do not have the restrictions in place so ATVers can ride to their fishing spot, it’s not hard to guess which place people will choose given the options.

Here is a map of North Bay that indicates the areas that are proposed to have ATV access.

North Bay map
  

If you're in the North Bay area and are interested in this issue, click here to learn more about the September 8 Council Meeting.

Best of luck to ATVers in both North Bay and Sudbury!

About Adam Columbus

Adam is the former webmaster for the Algonquin West ATV club webmasters. He lives north of Huntsville, Ontario with his family. He is also an ex-business owner from the GTA who is now semi-retired.

Related Articles

Vintage ATVs: A Guide to Your Favourite Rides

From Honda's FourTrax to today's bush-bashing UTVs, here's a brief history of the ATV (and why you should care).

Ride On

How to legally ride ATVs and Side by Sides

Everyone is welcome!

Law Change Allows All Off-Road Vehicles Access to Public Roads

Ontario ATV Events

Poker Runs, Mud Bogs, Charity Rides, Rallies and more!

Getting Started on ATVing in Ontario

Everything you need to know.

Guided ATV Tours

Are You Ready to Hit the Trails?

Will you ride the new electric wave?

Quieter, cooler, made in Canada, and better for the environment—these lean green ATVs have it all.

One of Ontario's best-kept secrets

World-class riding in Bancroft

Ride the North

5 ATV Adventures Worth Trailering To

6 Reasons Why Mattawa is Canada's Off Road Capital

Here's why VMUTS in Mattawa, Ontario is this rider's choice for the ATV (and UTV, and dirt bike, and ADV) capital of Canada.

ATV Clubs of Ontario

The Complete List

Off-road Adventures Close to Home

The 9 best ATV tours in "Southern" Ontario

Never Get Lost Again

With the OFATV QuadOn ATV trail app

Which Permit Do I Need for this Trail?

How to Navigate Ontario's ATV Trails

Powersports, Trailers and the Law

How To Avoid Big Fines

Central Ontario ATV Club

From Wasaga Beach to Barrie and beyond

Where to Stay in Ontario

10 Amazingly ATV-Friendly Lodges and Resorts

Family-Friendly ATV Riding in Ontario

Here are 3 spots to check out with the kids

You Want Adventure?

Get your adrenaline rush at Back Country Tours

Elliot Lake by ATV

Best Trails in Ontario