Summer is a popular time for dirt bikers to haul their noisy rides out of the garage and go tear up a trail or two, but North Vancouvers RCMP detachment wants dirt bikers to know they had better keep their pastime within the law or face some hefty penalties.
"Our traffic section is fully aware and has committed extra patrols in the areas that border the North Shore trails," said Cpl. Richard De Jong in a detachment release. "Just last week one of our officers observed two unlicensed, uninsured dirt bikes on the roadway in the Berkley Road area. The riders had absolutely no regard for public safety driving dangerously fast through a neighborhood filled with children and parents out and about.
One of the bikers was caught and hit with several tickets. Officers are still on the look out for the other rider, who was on a blue dirt bike.
Any motor vehicle on the road must have insurance and be operated by someone holding the correct licence. Off-road riders can also face tickets for dangerous riding, excessive noise, or failure to wear a helmet.
Dirt bikes have been cause for concern in other areas, say the RCMP.
In the past, weve had people who own dirt bikes, often young people, riding down trails through North Shore neighbourhoods, said Sgt. Peter DeVries. That is a problem. Its particularly dangerous when theyre on trails that are used by pedestrians, with a lot of blind corners and other risky areas that could cause injury to someone walking on the trails.
De Jong and DeVries both urged riders, and particularly parents of young riders, to educate themselves about where they can ride legally and how to transport their bikes to and from those locations.
There are no legal dirt-bike trails in North Vancouver.
balldritt@nsnews.com
