ATV trails lose Trans Canada status

The Trans Canada Trail says it will no longer fund or promote trails that allow all-terrain vehicles.

Trail spokesperson Tim Hoskin said shared use trails, as they're known, don't work.

"What we've discovered through this experiment is that on shared use trails, there is considerable user conflict," said Hoskin.

The move comes after contentious debate about ATV use on the national trail system. Many donors felt that ATVs presented a safety hazard. The issue became more complex when Newfoundland and Labrador declared that ATVs were welcome on the trail in that province. Nova Scotia also endorsed ATVs on trails built on its land holdings.

While not outright banning ATVs, the Trans Canada Trail previously agreed that trail organizations would make every effort to route the trail where ATVs were not permitted. It reluctantly agreed to accept ATVs where there was no reasonable alternative.

The Trans Canada Trail said it's vision for the national greenway trail going forward will promote hiking, cycling, and sometimes snowmobiling, but not ATVs.

The decision could have a big impact in Nova Scotia, where about half of the Trans Canada Trail built so far, allows ATVs.

Any part of the trail that allows ATVs and was built before the end of 2009 will still be considered part of the system, but will be designated a yellow trail.

The Trans Canada Trail will only pay for improvements on yellow trails, if the work will help transform them into greenways.

In Nova Scotia, that amounts to 400 kms of trails.

A group that promotes active transportation in the province said not being a full part of the trail will be a blow, both in terms of attracting tourists, and promoting healthy living.

Bob Connell is the president of Nova Scotians Promoting Active-Transportation on Community Trails.

"In effect, what it means is a lost opportunity for Nova Scotians, to be able to realize the benefits of what that would bring to us," said Connell.

There's still 260 kms of Trans Canada Trail to be built in Nova Scotia.

It's up to local trails groups to raise money, build sections of trail and decide who is allowed to use them

The head of the Nova Scotia Trails Federation admits it will now be a challenge for communities to choose between being part of the national trail or allowing ATVs.