KEATS ISLAND COMMUNITY FORUM

The following is also parallel posted at:
Island Trust Forum Area
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From: Bredin, Judy [mailto:Judy.Bredin@icbc.com]
Sent: Friday, February 10, 2006 10:57 AM
To: Bredin, Judy
Subject: ICBC PUBLIC CONSULTATION LETTER


Dear Stakeholder: 
ICBC invites your comments regarding the licensing of small utility vehicles on
isolated island roadways. Isolated islands are those that are not accessible to
vehicles by scheduled ferry service. Many isolated islands have roads which fall
under the category of highway and any motor vehicle operating on the highway must be
licensed.

Please submit your responses prior to February 24, 2006. 

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BACKGROUND

Residents of isolated islands have unique transportation requirements related
primarily to road conditions and the lack of vehicle ferry access. Isolated island
roadways cover relatively short distances; they have low speed limits, very low
traffic volumes, and a predominance of gravel and dirt surfaces. There are typically
very few vehicles on these islands as residents need to barge vehicles to and from
the island.

Since 1997, the Government of British Columbia has provided restricted licensing for
golf carts used as general transportation on isolated islands. The unique
characteristics of golf carts (small wheel size, limited speed capability,
stability, side-by-side seating for driver and passenger, and low noise emissions)
met the transportation requirements of many isolated island residents.   

ICBC has received requests from residents of isolated islands to expand the
provisions for golf carts to include small utility vehicles like examples shown
below. Utility vehicles share many of the characteristics of golf carts but have an
attached delivery body that is well suited to hauling goods to and from docks and
around an island.

The present regulation limits the use of golf carts to roadways with a posted speed
limit of 20 km/hr or less. Island residents have also raised a concern that few if
any islands actually have a posted speed limit of 20 km/hr. Most isolated islands
typically fall under a regulated, but not posted, speed limit of 50 km/hr.

Small utility vehicles should not be confused with all-terrain vehicles (ATVs) like
the example shown. ATVs are designed for the rider to sit astride and do not have an
attached delivery body. As such, they are not well suited to carrying passengers or
hauling. They accelerate quickly, are designed to be ridden aggressively, and can
exceed speeds of 90 km/hr.


Because of their operating characteristics, the use of ATVs on roadways is limited
to farming or industrial purposes and regulated through a police-issued Operation
Permit.

A change to Motor Vehicle Act Regulations that would allow the use of small utility
vehicles on isolated islands roadways, and specify the conditions of their use,
would require a regulatory amendment.
ICBC is inviting stakeholder comments on this
issue to help determine whether such a regulatory amendment should be proposed to
government and if so, what conditions of use should be recommended.
Judy.Bredin@icbc.com