Everyone loves hikes through nature
Queen's Park had second reading of Bill back on Feb. 18
By
Mark Schadenberg
Everyone
loves nature.
Trails
through nature are great for the environment as green space can be the life and
breathe around communities – trees and recreation, flora (plants and their
roots) and fauna (animals and many other assorted critters).
Trails
are multi-use as they are terrific recreation for walkers, long-distance
hikers, joggers, cyclists, horse-back riding, 4x4 riders, nordic skiing and
snowmobiles. I’m not a fan of motorized vehicles on public lands as erosion can
be a huge negative.
Currently
the province of Ontario (Ministry of Transportation) is attempting to meld a
series of laws, bylaws and guidelines into one law (Bill 100). This law would
affect municipalities, counties, land owners, cycling clubs, snowmobile clubs,
conservation authorities, environment associations, cottagers, and many many
other interest groups.
However,
one set of rules for everyone makes sense.
In
the case of a land owner – often a farmer – there needs to be exact parameters defined
and signatures on an agreement to permit anyone wanting to have a right-of-way
(It’s trespassing without an agreement with a land owner of course) over any
property.
The
Ontario Trails Act 2015 (Bill 100) had its first reading last May and its
second reading in Queen’s Park on Feb 18, 2016.
It’s
the minister of Tourism, Culture and Sport – Michael Coteau, who is
spearheading this blanket-covering legislation. I haven’t read every word of
the proposed law, but must suggest it’s a great idea, but at the same time it’s
going to be difficult to combine all land situations in Ontario under one
trails umbrella as the land on the border of farm land and the Thames River in
Oxford County can not be compared to a vast trail system in the hinterland
north of Kenora, or abandoned railway lines scattered around Ontario, or for that matter a relatively secluded nature trail near the
Don Valley in the metropolis we call the GTA.
In
the mean time, as snow disappears be sure to check out the spectacular trail
system around Woodstock. If you ride a bike – go to The Pines and also be sure
to buy a membership with the Woodstock Cycling Club.
LINKS:
Mark Schadenberg, Sales Representative
Senior Real Estate Specialist (SRES designation)
Royal LePage Triland Realty Brokerage
757 Dundas St, Woodstock
(519) 537-1553, cell or text
Email: mschadenberg@rogers.com
Twitter: markroyallepage
Facebook: Mark Schadenberg, Royal LePage Triland
Discussion . . . Direction . . . Determination . . .
Destination
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