The City of Owen Sound is hosting a public meeting Tuesday, January 19 at 5 p.m. at city hall to hear from residents about proposed all-terrain vehicle (ATV) routes through the city.

The South Bruce Peninsula ATV Club has proposed a route from the north-west to the south-east of the city that will include both city and county roads. The city approved the concept in principal last fall conditional on determining "an acceptable route".

The province has recently allowed the off-road vehicles to use the shoulder of many secondary Ontario highways. The vehicles must be registered and insured, drivers must have a G2 or M2 (motorcycle) licence, and all drivers and passengers must wear helmets and seatbelts.

Residents are already discussing the issue on social media, primarily concerned about safety and noise. Theexisting Owen Sound noise by-law already restricts loud engines including snowmobiles from being used within the city between 7 p.m. and 7 a.m (8 a.m on Saturdays) and does not allow them at all on Sundays or holidays – although some have pointed out that the by-law is not strictly enforced. The same by-law includes a clause that does not permit anyone to "emit, cause or permit any noise likely to disturb the inhabitants."

When the municipality of Trent Lakes revisited its own by-laws to allow ATVs within its boundaries, it restricted engine volume to no more than 60 decibels in the day (ATVs were not allowed between 9 p.m. and 8 a.m.) and did not allow vehicles with exhaust systems altered from the original manufacture.
Off-road vehicles are also restricted in Trent Lakes to 20 km/hour in 50 km/hour zones.

Public comments will be considered by the Corporate Services Committee which will make a recommendation to Council for a final decision. The route currently proposed can be found on the city's website here.