Town laws may say differently, but you are legally allowed to ride on the side of the road. Many sanctioned OFSC trails in Ontario use roads as connectors, for example. You must be licensed and insured. Don't be surprised if you attract the attention of the cops if you do this, but you legally are allowed.

Good idea? Probably not. At the very minimum, you're going to run into sections of bare pavement and you're going to be a distraction to other drivers who don't expect a sled where a car should be.

 

ditch riding is legal?

 

Yes.

From MTO

Where to Ride

YES:

* your own property
* private trails belonging to organizations of which you are a member
* private property with the owner's permission
* between the shoulder and fence line (not on the shoulder) along public roads, except where prohibited (check with a municipality on by-laws for roads within its boundaries)

NO:

* certain high-speed roads, including 400 series highways, the Queen Elizabeth Way (QEW), Ottawa Queensway and Kitchener-Waterloo Expressway
* the travelled portion (from shoulder to shoulder) of a public road, except when crossing at a 90-degree angle

Speed Limits

50 km/h - on snowmobile trails
20 km/h - on roads where the speed limit is 50 km/h or less
50 km/h - on roads where the speed limit is over 50 km/h

 

not likely legal in those municipalities; check with them!

 

I am in york region myself but closer to toronto, I don't think york region would let you ride in it legally within city limits doesn't sound legal but could be wrong.

 

I live in Newmarket and tried to look it up on the town website but couldn't find anything. With the busyness of towns in York Region these days, it's inevitable that somebody will call the cops. If you were on the outskirts of town and ABIDING by the law, I'm sure nobody would bat an eye.

 

I don't think it would harm anyone if you do some ditch bangin, you can get places the cops cant haha.

 

Snowmobilers already get enough bad press from the idiots out there... don't be an idiot.

 

just have all your paper work in line.

I got $600 in tickits in the summer with my atv on Aurora road.

 

this doesnt really help but the New York state law states:
it is legal to drive a registered and insured snowmobile down the side of any road in order to connect from one legal state trail to another. technically, your buddy would have to go down the side of that road to get to the trail right?? and if so, you could say you are going back to your friends where you are staying and that is the only way to get to the trail.

still, i would say look it up. dont be an Ahole and make snowmobilers look bad by breaking the law. there are enough people with nothing to do calling us in and we dont need extra attention. its good and responsible of you to check into this before just doing it, way to keep our sport alive!

 

basically, it boils down to municipal by-laws.....in my little town, they want us off the sidewalks, so going down the middle of the road and of course ditch banging is fine. Some even go to the convenience store and the bank on their sleds. If its a sled friendly town, then that makes a big difference!

here's some info right from the Motorized Snow Vehicle Act:

Driving on King?s Highway or secondary highway

5. (1) Subject to subsection (2), no person shall drive a motorized snow vehicle upon the serviced roadway of the King?s Highway or of a secondary highway except to cross. R.S.O. 1990, c. M.44, s. 5 (1).

Regulations

(2) The Minister may make regulations designating any part or parts of the King?s Highway or a secondary highway,

(a) across the serviced roadway of which no motorized snow vehicle may be driven;

(

upon which motorized snow vehicles may be driven; or

? upon which motorized snow vehicles may not be driven. R.S.O. 1990, c. M.44, s. 5 (2).

Duty of driver when school bus stopped on highway

6. (1) Every driver of a motorized snow vehicle, when approaching or overtaking on a highway a stopped school bus that has two red signal-lights flashing, shall stop the motorized snow vehicle before reaching the school bus and shall not proceed until the signal-lights are no longer operating. R.S.O. 1990, c. M.44, s. 6 (1).

Exception to subs. (1)

(2) Subsection (1) does not apply to a driver of a motorized snow vehicle on a highway with a median strip who is approaching a school bus that is stopped on the other side of the median strip. R.S.O. 1990, c. M.44, s. 6 (2).

Municipal by-laws, etc.

7. (1) Repealed: 2002, c. 17, Sched. F, Table.

Local municipality may pass by-laws

(2) The council of a local municipality may pass by-laws regulating, governing or prohibiting the operation of motorized snow vehicles within the municipality including any highways therein or any part or parts thereof. R.S.O. 1990, c. M.44, s. 7 (2).

Application of subs. (2)

(3) Where a by-law is passed under subsection (2), the provisions regulating or governing the operation of motorized snow vehicles under the by-law do not apply to highways or any part or parts thereof that are not under the jurisdiction of the local municipality. R.S.O. 1990, c. M.44, s. 7 (3).

Upper-tier municipality may pass by-laws

(4) The council of an upper-tier municipality may pass by-laws regulating and governing the operation of motorized snow vehicles along or across any highway or part of a highway under its jurisdiction. R.S.O. 1990, c. M.44, s. 7 (4); 2002, c. 17, Sched. F, Table.

Upper-tier municipality may pass prohibiting by-laws

(5) Where the operation of motorized snow vehicles is not prohibited on a highway under the jurisdiction of an upper-tier municipality by a by-law passed under subsection (4), the council of the municipality may pass by-laws prohibiting the operation of motorized snow vehicles along or across the highway or any part thereof. R.S.O. 1990, c. M.44, s. 7 (5); 2002, c. 17, Sched. F, Table.

Territory without municipal organization

(6) The Lieutenant Governor in Council may make regulations regulating, governing or prohibiting the operation of motorized snow vehicles upon serviced roadways in territories without municipal organization. R.S.O. 1990, c. M.44, s. 7 (6).

Enforcement

(7) Part XIV of the Municipal Act, 2001 or Part XV of the City of Toronto Act, 2006, as the case may be, applies to by-laws passed under this section. 2002, c. 17, Sched. F, Table; 2006, c. 32, Sched. C, s. 32.

Crossing roadway

8. No person shall drive a motorized snow vehicle across a serviced roadway except at an angle of approximately 90 degrees to the direction of the serviced roadway. R.S.O. 1990, c. M.44, s. 8.

Driving requirements

Driving along highway

9. (1) Subject to subsection (2), no person shall drive a motorized snow vehicle along a highway unless,

(a) the person has attained the full age of sixteen years; and

(

the person holds a driver?s licence; or

? the person holds a motorized snow vehicle operator?s licence; or

(d) the person is a resident of any other province, country or state and holds a licence issued by such province, country or state which authorizes the person to drive a motorized snow vehicle. R.S.O. 1990, c. M.44, s. 9 (1).

Driving across highway

(2) No person shall drive a motorized snow vehicle across a highway unless,

(a) the person has attained the full age of sixteen years; and

(

the person holds a driver?s licence, a motorized snow vehicle operator?s licence or is a resident of any other province, country or state and holds a licence issued by such province, country or state which authorizes the person to drive a motorized snow vehicle. R.S.O. 1990, c. M.44, s. 9 (2).

Driving on trails

(3) No person shall drive a motorized snow vehicle upon a trail unless,

(a) the person has obtained the full age of twelve years; and

(

the person holds a driver?s licence, a motorized snow vehicle operator?s licence or is a resident of any other province, country or state and holds a licence issued by such province, country or state which authorizes the person to drive a motorized snow vehicle. R.S.O. 1990, c. M.44, s. 9 (3).

BTW, the emoticon with the shades pops up because it recognizes the "b" subsection...

 

My local municipality quietly passed a no snowmobiles/ATVs bylaw last fall, unbeknownst to me and my sledding buddy. It really sucks, because we both live near the trails and can't leave from home anymore.

 

What a burn that was! I suggest that anybody living in the township Keep an EYE on the Council here. http://loyalist.fileprosite.com/contenteng...launch.asp?ID=0 , you can also see the bylaw on that link and it shows where you can ride.

Wally

 

You can probably thank the idiots I mentioned above... don't think that any stupid actions go unnoticed, especially when it's on a snowmobile or ATV.

 

I have not seen anything in the newmarekt bylaws, except for startiing i up on sundays butyou woulod have to check with aurora. I remember hearing that King Township has some kind on no snowmobiling bylaw. You might check the york region bylaws

 

I've been over this 1000 times already in my area...

What it boils down to is this.... don't ride ON the roads in MOST of Ontario, (unless you live up in North Bay or something who knows what they allow you to do up there)

You CAN ride along the ditches just about ANYWHERE in Ontario.

The only time you are allowed on the road... is to cross at a 90 degree angle at most Hwy's with no centre median.... so mostly the 400 series HWys etc.

Also some places I found funny they had to mention was the section of Hwy 6 between the 403/QEW up to Dundas/Hwy 5.... so basically the hill going up 6.... (WELL NO KIDDING)

Also just be nice to the cops... have all your papers, just in case, ownership, licence, insurance, and they usually will leave us alone... but of course you always run into that one who wants to bust your balls. So make sure you know the laws.

I actually have the laws and acts printed and in the snowmobile, just incase the guys THINKS he knows what they are talking about. I have run into that many of times.

 

Also some places I found funny they had to mention was the section of Hwy 6 between the 403/QEW up to Dundas/Hwy 5.... so basically the hill going up 6.... (WELL NO KIDDING)

Thanks for the heads-up!

As for riding ON the road/shoulder, several of the trails we ride have sections where you have to cross rivers and lakes via the highway bridges (which obviously have no ditches!). These are actual club trails with signs posted saying "Follow road to trail", and you do just that. For the trail up to Griffith past Centenial Lake, the trail follows the road, bridge and rock cuts for several kilometers. I wonder how they get away with doing that?

 

It is inevitable you will have to cross or run along a road at some point. Respect people's properties, don't ride like a maniac and all should be fine.

Wouldn't recommend riding along side the road (ditch banging) for miles and miles and miles just to get somewhere. I'd find another way. Either find a trail (ask some people if you can cross their land) or trailer your sled.

 

NOTHING LIKE A LITTLE STREET CREEP AFTER A FRESH DUMPING WHEN CARS CANT EVEN DRIVE DOWN THE ROADS.

i live in richmond hill, cops have waved at us as we drove by them before.

really what are they going to do? there's 12" of snow on the road, cars arent moving, break out the sleds and go for a boot. Mind you we only do this during storms where they couldnt come after you if they wanted, not that they care anyhow.

 

DRIVER TRAINER
TRAIL PATROL
CLUB PRES.
YOU ARE ALLOWED TO RIDE THE UN SERVICED PORTION OF THE ROADWAY (WITH A VALID LIC. AND INSURANCE , MUST BE 16 ) UNDER THE HWY TRAFIC ACT.
THE TOWN MAY HAVE MUNICIPAL BYLAWS RESTRICTING THIS . YOU MUST FIND OUT.
MY SUGGESTION , FOR WHAT ITS WORTH, GET A TRAILER TO MAKE THE TRAILS .
HOLLAND LAND LANDING CLUBHOUSE IS ONLY 15 MINS NORTH

PRAY FOR SNOW