Off-road vehicles (ORVs) now have more access to the shoulder and paved portions of some Ontario highways. These new regulations, effective July 31, 2003, apply exclusively to one category of ORV. This is defined as an off-road vehicle that: has four wheels, the tires of which are all in contact with the ground; has steering handlebars; has a seat that is designed to be straddled by the driver; and meets requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Act (MVSA) and American National Standards Institute (ANSI standard). New regulations do not apply to other types of off-road vehicles such as mini-bikes, dirt bikes and motor-cross bikes.

As of July 2003, municipalities were given the authority to determine whether or not off-road vehicles (ORVs) should be allowed access to highways under their authority. Municipalities must put a by-law in place for ORVs to be allowed access to their highways. Municipalities can determine which highways, where on the highway, time of day, and season that ORVs are allowed access. They can also set speed limits that are lower than those set out in the regulation. If a by-law does not exist, ORVs are not allowed access to that municipality's road. Municipalities may pass by-laws to decide if, where and when off-road vehicles can be used on local roads.

We support the Kawartha ATV Associations request to the City of Kawartha Lakes Council to pass a By-law to allow ORVs, specifically ATVs, road access to the designated arterial highways, including all gravel roads and unassumed road allowances, as well as direct access from a residence to a designated arterial road, trail head or service (restaurant, repair, gas) within the southern part of the City of Kawartha Lakes, which includes Manvers, Mariposa, Emily and Ops townships.