Here it is, February already, and while it is a short month, there is always lots going on at ATVBC.
First up is the membership drive called FEBLOVE2026.
This is to attract new members and FEBLOVE2026 is the code word when joining ATVBC, as this will give you 10% off your regular membership.
So, send it to all your friends and neighbours so they can join!! We did reasonably well in 2025, with this drive, with 76 new members signed up.
By now you will probably have heard about the noise over the proposed closure of 67 kilometres of the Kettle Valley Railway rail bed. ATVBC is doing what it can to support both the communities and all of those recreational users, including motorised users that would be affected.
Following the devastating flooding that occurred in November 2021 a portion of the rail trail was washed away. ATVBC and other stakeholders were advised that there would be significant consultation before any decisions were made on the future of the rail trail. Well, that did not happen. ATVBC’s last discussion with RSTBC on the subject was in April of 2023. Since then, we have heard nothing until just over a week ago, when the BC government came out with their plans to close and deactivate the KVR from Princeton to Coldwater.
ATVBC and many of the other stakeholders have written letters to the Government and RSTBC to express their displeasure on how this has been handled. Hopefully, something positive will come out of this campaign. Look to our Facebook pages and click on image below for more information.
One of the other key initiatives that ATVBC is working on under its Lands and Advocacy Committee is community access for ORVs. This is an initiative to allow for ORVs, i.e., ATVs and SxSs to be able to ride on designated streets within communities for things like groceries, gas, food and lodging. There has been some success already particularly on the northern part of Vancouver Island, where the Island 1000 Trail exists. All of the communities on that route allow ATVs into town just like any other vehicle.
ATVBC is building on this success, and has formed a sub-committee of municipal leaders and ATVBC members to drive this forward. To date we have 22 communities who have expressed an interest in making this happen, and there are other communities that have also shown interest in this idea.
One very recent win was achieved in 100 Mile House from a submission to Council by 108 Mile ATV Club’s president, Mark Redl. Mark was able to get Council to officially accept their proposal for town access. The town Council also agreed to organise a stakeholder meeting with the RCMP, MOTT, RSTBC and the club to further the discussion on creating a bylaw that will provide permanent town access for ORVs. Well done Mark!!
If you think that your community would be interested in getting involved in this initiative, please reach out to Kristin Parsons, our Executive Director.
Just a quick reminder, if you have any questions, or information you wish to share with ATVBC, please feel free to reach out to us at anytime.
Respectfully submitted
Chris DSilva
