ST. JOHN'S, N.L. — As an avid ATVer and pet person, Rick Noseworthy was appalled when he read about a dog killed in a hit-and-run incident in the Goulds.
“I can’t find a nice way to put it … for some bastard to do that and not man up and stop,” said Noseworthy, president of the Avalon T'Railways and the Newfoundland T’Railway Council.
As reported in Tuesday’s Telegram, Terry Casey said his seven-year-old beagle, Lucy, was struck by an ATV on Power’s Road in the Goulds area of St. John's on Sunday. Casey said the ATV driver neither stopped nor left a note.
“I got a buddy that, unfortunately, 10 years ago rabbit hunting, shot his dog by mistake. Accidents happen,” said Noseworthy.
“But the fact that someone didn't even have common courtesy to stop after killing an animal or wait to find the owner is despicable, inexcusable.
“I don’t even want to consider that person as a member of the ATV community, to be honest.”
There are nearly 50,000 ATVs in the province, and to hear of a pet being run over is rare, said Noseworthy, who lives in Conception Bay South.
But despite many responsible ATV users, he has heard plenty of other problems, such as speeding and travelling on roads, and even people driving while impaired.
He said his organizations work with the RCMP and RNC to promote safe and responsible practices.
“There’s a lot of trouble with ATVs on the roads,” said Noseworthy, who also teaches ATV safety.
The bad behaviour speaks to the character of the ATV owners, he said.
“I preach safety in schools. The big thing is be responsible and be accountable. We need parents to be responsible. This is a community problem. There is no doubt that everybody knows who is doing it. People need to speak up.”
Noseworthy said it’s a job for police to enforce when it comes to ATVs, and they need the help of the public to get the problem under control.
"The big thing is be responsible and be accountable. We need parents to be responsible. This is a community problem. There is no doubt that everybody knows who is doing it. People need to speak up.” — Rick Noseworthy
With more people working at home, the problem of speeding ATVs and ATVs on roads is also being noticed more and angering residents affected.
ATV sales during the pandemic, said Noseworthy, were up 147 per cent in May and June.
“We had 14 fatalities this year on ATVs,” he said, adding participants on safety committees are shaking their heads.
“What is happening? … That’s not counting the hurt and maimed. It’s incredible. … It’s been a rollercoaster year.”
Reporting transgressions
The message of reporting irresponsible ATV use is one that Torbay Mayor Craig Scott and Paradise Mayor Dan Bobbett are also trying to get across to residents.
“You know, being from here and growing up, I remember when I was a kid a while ago, you could count on one hand people who had an ATV at that time. Now it just seems endless," said Scott.
“It’s kind of a blessing and curse for Torbay. Because we’re close to the city and have a rural component and with trails and backwoods, we have a lot of people moving to the town for that reason.”
The town gets complaints of ATVs on roads and on walking trails. Last week, hikers on the East Coast Trail reported an encounter with a motorcycle.
So the town is ramping up education and social media awareness about safe ATV use, and where ATVs can’t safely go.
“I think the RNC would agree with this — if an ATV user is using the road to get to a trail, going along the edge of the road, that type of use is not a big problem,” Scott said.
“The problem is coming down Torbay Road — one of the busiest traffic areas — and ATVs and dirt bikes are driving on the road as if they were vehicles.”
If people are reporting these incidents, the RNC will know the problem areas to focus patrols, Scott said, adding he wants the town to hear as well so it is aware.
“My biggest fear is somebody is going to get hurt, that’s always the bottom line for me,” he said.
Scott, who is on the board of Municipalities Newfoundland and Labrador, said many towns are struggling with the same problem, including those in metro — Flatrock, Pouch Cove, Portugal Cove-St. Philip’s and Logy Bay-Middle Cove-Outer Cove.
“Even St. John's got the Goulds and other areas outside the core of the city,” Scott said.
“If somebody ever comes up with a magic bullet, I imagine we will all jump on it.”
Speeding common
Bobbett said in meetings of the northeast Avalon with the RNC, two common issues are ATV use and other vehicles speeding in traffic.
He said the RNC recently told the town it had given out 10 tickets for ATV infractions.
Most ATV users are responsible, Bobbett agreed.
“But it is a concern throughout the northeast Avalon, on the streets, on the bypass roads, speeding everywhere, some of the trails that are off limits,” he said.
“It is very concerning. We’re in constant contact with the RNC about this matter. ... Our councillors are getting reports of ATVs in neighbourhoods. I see it in my own neighbourhood. For the most part, it is unnerving as well.”
Municipal enforcement also tries to crack down, as well, under its jurisdiction.
Unlicensed vehicles on town streets are a danger to people walking on the streets, but also for the ATV and dirt bike users, he said.
Bobbett said it is especially a concern as darkness comes earlier, because some of the ATVs don’t have lights.
“You can hear them, but they come up on you before you know it,” Bobbett said, adding that the town will continue to work with the RNC to try to curb the problem, and appeal to the public to report irresponsible activity.
