VERY BAD NEWS: all off-road bikes now banned in Quebec, Canada
Matty
I just read the most recent Quebec Highway Safety Code and the
accompanying "Act Respecting Off-Highway Vehicles". From what I can
gather (I'm no lawyer), almost every full-time off-road bike has now
been banned in the province of Quebec.
Not just banned from trails, but banned pretty much under any
circumstance. It seems that the only time these bikes can be used
legally is during an official race. And for riders under 14 years, the
only circumstance under which they may use such a machine is during a
race that -- now get this -- has had the approval of a particular
government minister. And no person under 12 years may operate an
off-road vehicle under any circumstance whatsoever.
All my fellow Canadians should consider themselves as having a vested
interest in this issue: remember that it’s very common for one
province or state to conveniently adopt a bill or law from a
neighbouring area in the blink of an eye. I suggest you read the
Quebec Highway Safety Code (at
http://publicationsduquebec.gouv.qc.ca/fr/cgi/frameset.cgi?url=/documents/lr/V_1_2/V1_2_A.html
), and also the Code from your own area. Tell us what you find. I've
read and re-read the Quebec code, and I’m pretty sure I understand it;
it's just such a shock that I'm constantly second-guessing myself.
Here are my findings; I think you'll see why I'm pissed.
First, the Quebec Highway Safety Code defines a off-highway vehicle as
"a motorized all-terrain vehicle equipped with handlebars and at least
two wheels, that is designed to be straddled and whose net mass does
not exceed 600 kilograms".
Here is the excerpt of the Code that causes many bikes to be outlawed.
"AN ACT RESPECTING OFF-HIGHWAY VEHICLES:
CHAPTER II: MANDATORY EQUIPMENT: Regulatory equipment.
2. No off-highway vehicle shall be operated without the following
regulatory equipment:
(1) one white headlight;
(2) one red tail-light;
(3) one red stop light at the rear;
(4) one rear-view mirror firmly attached to the left side of the
vehicle; ...
(7) a speedometer... "
This clause means that all Honda CRs, XRs, all Yamaha YZs, TTRs, WRs,
PWs, all Suzuki RMs and most DRs, and all Kawasaki KXs, KLXs and KDXs
ARE NOW ILLEGAL TO RIDE IN QUEBEC. To my knowledge, NONE of these
bikes have speedometers, most don’t have stoplights, and some have
NONE of the above-mentioned equipment.
Another excerpt:
"12. No off-highway vehicle may be operated within...30 metres from a
dwelling, a facility operated by a healthcare institution or an area
reserved for cultural, educational, recreational or sports
activities..."
This means that it is actually illegal to operate your off-road
vehicle on your own property, if it is within 30 meters of a
neighbour’s house, without their explicit permission. It also means
that no off-road vehicle can be operated within 30 meters of a hiking
trail, a campground, a park, a soccer field, or a beach, because those
are considered recreational or sports activity areas.
And regarding young riders:
"2. To drive an all-terrain vehicle, a person must be not less than
14 years of age. A child 12 years of age or older may drive a
learner's vehicle under the following conditions:
...(3) the vehicle is equipped with an emergency cut-off allowing the
adult supervising the child to stop it from a distance."
Excuse me? A remote-controlled cut-off switch? What minibike has this?
So for all of us currently in Quebec, or for those who were thinking
about doing some riding up here, it looks like it's game over forever.
I don’t know what the laws are in Ontario, Manitoba, Sask., Alberta,
or BC, but I really hope it isn’t as bad as it now seems to be in
Quebec. Again, I may be wrong in my interpretation; I am not a lawyer.
Now go do some research in your area. If you love to spend hours and
hours, weekend after weekend riding, then I certainly hope you can do
a few hours of homework to protect your rights. I guarantee you that
if in six months riding was banned in your area, and authorities were
saying “well, no one objected to the changes”, you’re going to want to
kick yourself. I don't know who was behind the movement to outlaw all
dirt bikes out here, but don't let it happen in your area too. Fight
for your rights now, or you'll regret it later.
Please someone, tell me that I've totally misinterpreted this...
--Matty
$XR250@$canada.$com
Take out the $'s to send me mail
mike
scrape at mindspring dot com
>VERY BAD NEWS: all off-road bikes now banned in Quebec, Canada
>
>I just read the most recent Quebec Highway Safety Code and the
>accompanying "Act Respecting Off-Highway Vehicles". From what I can
>gather (I'm no lawyer), almost every full-time off-road bike has now
>been banned in the province of Quebec.
Is this all brand new code or is this some bullshit that's been there
forever that isn't enforced? The first thing I'd do would be to call
any local dealer and see what they had to say about it. I'm sure
Honda, Kawasaki, Yamaha, Suzuki, KTM, etc would all be pretty
interested in this.
Rowdy
>
> VERY BAD NEWS: all off-road bikes now banned in Quebec, Canada
While i admire an alert person watching out for the bad guys, i hereby
just place a hip shot and suggest they talk about ending your leeway
of being allowed/tolerated to roam Quebec's HIGWAYS on a MX bike:
<snip>
> First, the Quebec Highway Safety Code
evidence A: Quebec "Highway" Safety Code
Only applicable at Quebec Highways, not on Quebec hiking trails.
<snip>
> "AN ACT RESPECTING OFF-HIGHWAY VEHICLES:
> CHAPTER II: MANDATORY EQUIPMENT: Regulatory equipment.
> 2. No off-highway vehicle shall be operated without the following
> regulatory equipment:
> (1) one white headlight;
> (2) one red tail-light;
> (3) one red stop light at the rear;
> (4) one rear-view mirror firmly attached to the left side of the
> vehicle; ...
> (7) a speedometer... "
evidence B: this doesn't look like the new MX race requirement but the
minimum stuff you from now on have to be sporting to be
considered roadworthy
> This clause means that all Honda CRs, XRs, all Yamaha YZs, TTRs, WRs,
> PWs, all Suzuki RMs and most DRs, and all Kawasaki KXs, KLXs and KDXs
> ARE NOW ILLEGAL TO RIDE IN QUEBEC.
on Quebec's Highways!
<snip>
> "12. No off-highway vehicle may be operated within...30 metres from a
> dwelling, a facility operated by a healthcare institution or an area
> reserved for cultural, educational, recreational or sports
> activities..."
This is the typical S-Type Jaguar neighborhood rule, that prevents you
from testing your jetting or practicing wheelies right through your
residential area.
Imagine a bunch of YZ426F lovers race up and down alongside a soccer field
or a school yard. (i guess that was the kind of stuff they were thinking
about)
> This means that it is actually illegal to operate your off-road
> vehicle on your own property, if it is within 30 meters of a
> neighbour’s house,
yepp. Picture yourself with a real hangover and the neighbor's kids
roar around their property onboard their PeeVees with "silencers"
with no packing left etc...
> without their explicit permission. It also means that no off-road
> vehicle can be operated within 30 meters of a hiking trail,
I'm not sure the Quebec HIGHWAY Patrol knows a hiking trail if it would
bite them in the ass. It would be very helpful to check what routes/ways
these guys have jurisdiction over. In most countries the Highway Safety
Agency is not responsible for land or trail management issues.
> a campground, a park, a soccer field, or a beach, because those
> are considered recreational or sports activity areas.
seems tough. But over here and even in paradise Italy you need a
registered bike to zoom around on any public road or way.
> And regarding young riders:
<snip>
> Excuse me? A remote-controlled cut-off switch? What minibike has this?
That's a first. Talk to the California HighWay patrol, they are
toying with making such a thing mandatory for ALL passenger cars.
<snip>
> Please someone, tell me that I've totally misinterpreted this...
Even though i really like to, i can't. I just tried to interpret
the news excerpts you posted as being written by some agency in
control of Highways. Those guys might not even know that these
damn non illuminated, non mirrored off road bikes might sometimes
not be used right on their highways.
I pray that i'm right and you aren't, or we all are doomed.
Rowdy
Kurt Penner
I just tried reading the Quebec OHV act as you posted. I can't imagine such
draconian measures anywhere, nevermind in Canada. Yet there it is. What do
these safety bureaucrats want? No one to take any risks for there entire
lives?
Speed limits on trails? Can you imagine your local gendarmes pulling you
over on their ATV with a radar gun on the top of the handlebars? 50 km/hr
unless the trail is marked? What are you smoking?
No dirt bikes unless they have working brake lights? Find one manufacturer
that makes such other than dual-purpose bikes.
No riders under 14 unless authorized by the state to partake in a
competition? I have ridden since I was 10 years old and was a better driver
then than many adults on the road now. Why do you think minibikes are so
popular? Most riders today got their start riding such, and are better
riders for it. How else do you learn the skills needed?
No modifications to the OHV allowed if such decrease stability, braking
power or increase accelerating power? "I'm sorry monsieur, you 'ave Twin Air
filter so you pay $200 fine now". God forbid they challenge the knobby tire
as a destabilizing factor on pavement.
Is there anyone from Quebec who can describe the current state of riding in
the province? Is it really as bad as this?
I notice also that this particular website was updated at the end of a
riding season, when dirt bikers are least likely to notice and respond to
it. Can you say deceptive?
How long before this bullshit hits Manitoba?
Kurt Penner
"Matty" <a@a.a> wrote in message news:3c99b0e9...@news.videotron.ca...
Jay C
>
> Speed limits on trails? Can you imagine your local gendarmes pulling you
> over on their ATV with a radar gun on the top of the handlebars? 50 km/hr
> unless the trail is marked? What are you smoking?
We have a global speed limit of 45MPH on all trails here in NH, unless
marked otherwise. It's set up for snowmobiles, but technically probably
applies to bikes and quads too. And yes, sitting with a radar gun on their
handlebars is exactly what they do.
We have sobriety checkpoints on the trails too.
Jay