Motorists are officially sharing the road with snowmobiles in some areas of the city of Timmins.

At the City Council meeting on Tuesday, a trial period was approved for the 2018/2019 snowmobile season allowing snowmobiles with an OFSC permit access to certain streets in Schumacher, Gold Centre, Porcupine, South Porcupine, Mountjoy and Connaught.

Under the updated bylaw, snowmobilers will be able to drive to trails, gas stations, restaurants, and other locations, including the Hampton Inn.

This is the first phase of the new plan, first brought to the city by the Timmins Snowmobile Club a couple years ago. The second phase will allow access to streets in Timmins North and South.

Patrick Dzijacky, from the Timmins Snowmobile Club, says this bylaw is a step in the right direction.

“I think this is a really good step forward for the city and surrounding communities,” Dzijacky said, “It’s definitely going to help for tourism, definitely going to help the local residents get to the trails.”

Dzijacky says now that the first phase has been approved, it’s up to snowmobilers to follow the rules of the road.

“We did our part,” he said, “We were asked to bring this to the table. And we did our work, we put it forward, we got it approved in council. Now we need the snowmobilers to respect the rules, respect the laws. Understand where they can and can’t go. This is going to lead to the success of this project.”

The two phases of this new plan will help the city get statistical information and feedback from the community before it becomes an official bylaw.

Dzijacky says the Timmins Snowmobile Club is looking for constructive comments and feedback from the public once this first phase comes into effect on city streets. People can leave comments on The Timmins Snowmobile Club Facebook page.

“We want to put it out there that this is a trial period,” Dizjacky said, “and we want to make it work in the city. Make it in a form that everybody is happy with it. If there’s adjustments that need to be made, we’ll definitely look into them with the police and city council. So make sure that these comments come forward in a positive, negative or constructive [way].”

Along with social media and online feedback, anyone with comments can take them to Timmins Police or a council member. The Timmins Snowmobile Club will be forwarding social media comments to police and council.

“I encourage comments in general,” Dzijacky said, “And we gotta be vocal. As snowmobilers, if you really like this, we need your support to keep this moving forward and to show that there is a big positive side to this. And, like I said, if there is the concerns out there. we want to hear them also so that we can address them and hopefully make everything safe.”

Dzijacky says he is looking forward to phase two next year and getting the official bylaw in two years time.

The Timmins Snowmobile Club posted on their Facebook page about the new bylaw, including the conditions for the plan. Their post reads:

City Council has voted in favor of amending the accessible streets bylaw approving the Phase 1 trial period for the 2018/2019 snowmobile season.

Phase 1 includes: South Porcupine, Porcupine, Schumacher, Connaught, Mountjoy and Goldcentre.

Official City of Timmins maps will be available shortly highlighting the accessible streets in these areas.

The Timmins Snowmobile has been working on this process for two years now with the Timmins Police and Timmins City council. Snowmobilers, the ball is now in your court. Understand that this is a phased in TRIAL period and that actions have consequences.

Please understand and respect the following rules:
– must be at least 16yrs. old and possess a valid drivers license or motorized snow vehicle license
– must have valid registration and insurance
– speed limit is 20km/hr
– accessible streets can be used from 7am to 11pm
– stay on accessible streets highlighted on the maps and stay off sidewalks
– obey the rules set out in the Motorized snow vehicle act

The intent of improving snowmobile accessible streets is to improve access for local residents/visitors to the trails and to the various services offered by the City (gas, food, accommodations etc.).

If there are any comments or suggestions on how we can further improve this proposal, please forward them to the Timmins Snowmobile Club, Timmins Police or your City Councillor.

Please ride safe and show all residents that we can make this trial period a success!

 

 

Dzijacky says the Snowmobile Club’s Facebook page will be updated with maps and more information.

You can go to the Timmins Snowmobile Club website here.

 

 

–With files from Timmins Today