95rxl650
Member
I've been out of the sled fun for awhile before this year, but wow.
District 16 gone and threats to shut down 13 also?? Seems if small communities that rely on the Ontario government to better manage the forestry and mining industry dont sell enough passes, the OFSC shuts them out.
Yep, the two are directly connected and shouldnt be. Small clubs that want to maintain with what they have in the coffers are being refused??? Why?
OFSC wont help with funding refuses to let them carry on as small clubs?
Government mismanagement of norther industry has left nothing more than ghost towns with no jobs. OFSC directs most money to suburban clubs due to sales of passes and they have no snow.
So they head north to ride, and trails are vanishing.
Now I have read that by next year, every sled that registers will be hit with a $45 registration fee that will go directly to the OFSC.
Where will that go?? Into maintaining trails that dont see snow while the northern trails disappear?
People need to start purchasing from area's where there is snow. I know folks like to support their own clubs, but if year after year you cant ride in your area, then maybe buy north to keep the trails with snow open before it's to late and we have no place to ride.
Never mind the politics, just use a little forethought and common sense.
District 16 gone and threats to shut down 13 also?? Seems if small communities that rely on the Ontario government to better manage the forestry and mining industry dont sell enough passes, the OFSC shuts them out.
Yep, the two are directly connected and shouldnt be. Small clubs that want to maintain with what they have in the coffers are being refused??? Why?
OFSC wont help with funding refuses to let them carry on as small clubs?
Government mismanagement of norther industry has left nothing more than ghost towns with no jobs. OFSC directs most money to suburban clubs due to sales of passes and they have no snow.
So they head north to ride, and trails are vanishing.
Now I have read that by next year, every sled that registers will be hit with a $45 registration fee that will go directly to the OFSC.
Where will that go?? Into maintaining trails that dont see snow while the northern trails disappear?
People need to start purchasing from area's where there is snow. I know folks like to support their own clubs, but if year after year you cant ride in your area, then maybe buy north to keep the trails with snow open before it's to late and we have no place to ride.
Never mind the politics, just use a little forethought and common sense.
bluemonster1
LIFE MEMBER ONLY ONCE!!!
sledding in the future will get more expensive,but they don't care..I would not buy a pass in your Province until I know there is snow to ride in.So if the snow just shows up now..you have to pay the full price of a Pass for only a month and half of riding..plus that registration fee...no no no..they will pocket the $45 for themselves..watch and see...Politics stinks...
95rxl650
Member
That $45 dollar fee has the potential to bring in more revenue than trail passes these days, and they know it.
With so many people riding without a trail pass, they had to find another way.
I say make it $100 and drop the trail pass. That way, if you want to insure your sled, you have to pay. No current registration, no insurance and vise-versa.
Then it all becomes a provincial court matter. Right now in some area's, judges are throwing out charges where people are caught without trail passes. Police know it, so they dont bother to enforce.
With so many people riding without a trail pass, they had to find another way.
I say make it $100 and drop the trail pass. That way, if you want to insure your sled, you have to pay. No current registration, no insurance and vise-versa.
Then it all becomes a provincial court matter. Right now in some area's, judges are throwing out charges where people are caught without trail passes. Police know it, so they dont bother to enforce.
bluemonster1
LIFE MEMBER ONLY ONCE!!!
then that makes sense why they want to charge that $45.Here in Manitoba if you are caught riding trail system without a pass.you will be charged something like $480.00 as a fine.With that kind of potential..I imagine there are RCMP out there riding sleds to catch some people..or waiting at crossings to nab them..Our pass fee here is $125.00,but if snow doesn't show up till late January..would you pay that fee..not me.
95rxl650
Member
Fine here is $200 to $1000. Guess it depends how empty the coffers are when you get nabbed. lol
bluemonster1
LIFE MEMBER ONLY ONCE!!!
guess they want to press with higher fees or squeeze the crap of of us with fines...really good for the Sport.Keep that up and the Sport will surely die off. Isn't the Sport to expensive as it is..price of sleds,insurance,fuel/oil costs.The number of sleds for sale right now on Kijiji is the highest I have seen for a while.Looks like a lot of people want out of the Sport.I know my mechanic buddy down the road had enough.Sold his 3 sleds and trailer and called it quits and he loved sledding but told me the costs were killing him already.He was spending easily $1100 a month for him and wife not counting room rentals and meals..just for fuel..they were long distance riders..
I have a trail pass and usually ride in excess of 3000 miles a winter on the OFSC trails in area 17 in Ontario. I live close to one of the OFSCs trails that loops around the town that is all on private land with a CP rail crossing all approved and insured only for use by OFSC trail pass holders. I regular see dozens of sleds on this trail , usually after dark or early morning that are not displaying trail passes...this is what will eventually close the trails for good.
I would whole heartily support a system that charged everyone and issued them a trail pass when they registered their sled and dropped the voluntary trail passes. The price would go down on the trail passes and the trails could survive and expand for everyones use.
This is so obvious a solution it puzzles me why it has not yet been adopted in Ontario??
JM.02c
I would whole heartily support a system that charged everyone and issued them a trail pass when they registered their sled and dropped the voluntary trail passes. The price would go down on the trail passes and the trails could survive and expand for everyones use.
This is so obvious a solution it puzzles me why it has not yet been adopted in Ontario??
JM.02c
95rxl650
Member
Obvious where common sense is used. Not much of that laying around when it comes to greed. Shameful really.sideshowBob said:
Do you have any insight on what happened in 16? I came across a groomers blog that is interesting.
I've been away from the sport quite a few years previous to this one so I figured I was way out of touch with what was happening, but the OFSC is still on the same path they were heading down years ago according to this groomers observations. He confirms some of my suspicions. And he was being nice. lol
http://groomerguy.blogspot.ca/