ATVs
There are times when I just don't get it.
For months now, particularly since the hurricane devastation in
Louisiana, we have been victims of extremely high gasoline costs.
There has been some abatement in recent days and people note with
relief that prices have dipped below one dollar a litre for regular
gas - a price that, as recently as the beginning of this past
summer, used to be mentioned as an ominous threat rather than as a
source of relief. Long term predictions are that our recent
experience is little more than a precursor; that the of gasoline
will only increase regularly and steeply over the next few years.
Government and the industry itself have begun to preach the need for
conservation, and we are being urged to consider (once again)
driving less, carpooling, using public transportation when possible,
and purchasing smaller vehicles.
And how does promoting the increased use of ATVs fit into all of this?
It is now so well documented that most people do not question that one
of the largest contributors to "green house" emissions, and global
warming, is the internal combustion engine used by automobiles - and
by ATVs.
Canadians, we are told, are increasingly under-active and overweight.
Sadly, our children share this plight - and they are the ones who are
going to suffer in years to come because, unlike many adults who have
become overweight only as adults, they have been afflicted with the
problem and all of its effects from their early years. We are told that
far too many of them spend too much time in sedentary activities. They
sit for many hours each day in school, they are driven to and from
school, and they spend much of the rest of their time in front of their
computers or television sets. One possible solution, according to some
organizations?
Supply them with ATVs.
For the past ten years, groups of dedicated, hardworking volunteers
have laboured to establish walking, hiking, and cycling trails
throughout the province, in an effort to encourage people to enjoy the
beauties of our part of the world. Now we are faced with a decision
that some people are promoting in an effort to increase the use of
these trails:
Turn them over to the ATVs.
As I said above, I guess that I just don't get it. I have always
considered ATVs to be useful tools for work. They're big, noisy, labour
saving, gas guzzling devices that do the job for which they are
designed quite well - but at a price. When that price includes needless
using of costly resources, needless additional pollution, encouraging
people (including our children) to become even less physically active
than they are at present, and increased domination of recreational
areas and wilderness, I really do become confused.
