Sudbury councillors greenlight more ATVS on city streets

City councillors voted today to expand Greater Sudbury's ATV bylaw, but some are still uneasy about allowing the vehicles on city streets at all.

If the decision is held up by all of city council in a vote to be held Tuesday, new kinds of ATVs known as two-ups and side-by-sides would be covered by the city bylaw, which currently only allows quads to ride on the shoulders of certain city streets.

That bylaw was passed in 2011, following a lengthy and sometimes divisive public consultation process. But staff say concerns about the safety of allowing ATVs on city roads has died down.

Ward 2 city councillor Michael Vagnini wants ATV access to city streets reduced, not expanded, however.

"Is this something we want to continue?They're off-road vehicles, as the name suggests," he said."I'm not a fan of this bylaw at all."

Vagnini said there was a recent ATV fatality in his ward and he receives regular complaints about ATVers riding down the "main drag" of Lively.

But he was the only vote against expanding the bylaw, with his six colleagues on the operations committee voting to adjust the city bylaw to match new provincial laws.

"I'm from Ward 3, where ATVS is a way of life," said councillor Gerry Montepellier, who represents Chelmsford, Dowling, Onaping and Levack.

He said 90 per centof ATVers "operate safely" and"law breakers are law breakers" no matter what is in the city bylaw.

Several other northern Ontario cities, including North Bay and Kenora, are expected to vote on similar bylaws in the near future.