The Houston administration has introduced legislation (Bill 273, the Road Trails Act) that will allow owners of off-highway vehicles (OHV) much broader access to the province’s roads and highways.
The proposed law follows on a pilot project in 7 communities that started in 2018 and ending on October 2, 2023. Myra Road in Porters Lake was one of the pilot areas. According to a Public Works web page, OHV users were allowed to ride on the shoulders, or the roadway itself, to “safety travel from one trail to another or to access facilities (like gas stations) in selected pilot areas.”
Under the new legislation, only registered, licensed, and insured OHVs can operate on the right of way, or the roadway. The operator must have a valid driver's licence, riders must wear a helmet, and all passengers on an OHV must be 9 or older. Operators are not allowed to go faster than 25km, and noise levels are limited to the level set by the manufacturer, before the removal of mufflers or other modifications. The law gives municipalities the power to set additional rules and regulations.
Barry Barnet, Executive Director of the All-Terrain Vehicle Association of Nova Scotia, welcomed the legislation. In a statement on a Public Works press release, Barnet said, “Our members across Nova Scotia have been patiently waiting for this day. This legislation will help us make vital connections, create safer travel and grow the local economy."