A multidimensional framework for assessing the acceptability of recreational all-terrain vehicle access on community trails and local public highways

Abstract

ABSTRACTOver the last three decades there has been a tremendous growth of recreational all-terrain vehicle (ATV) use in Canada and the United States. This has led to rapidly increasing pressure on local authorities and provincial/state governments to either sanction increased access to ATVs or restrict their use on community trails and local roadways. Given this increased pressure, there is a growing need for a policy development tool to assist decision-makers in making prudent policy decisions that carefully balance special interest lobbying with the broader public interest whether that be at the local or community level, or in the broader context of provincial or state legislative policy. This study presents a decision support framework that guides policy decision-makers to consider a broad range of health and safety factors along with environmental, social and economic considerations. It is envisioned that by using this multi-dimensional assessment framework in an open and transparent way, policy actors will be encouraged to rely on defensible scientific evidence and best practices rather than react to the vociferous advocacy of policy champions.