A?proposal to ban all terrain vehicles (ATVs) from being driven on public roads and in the Scotland District is causing concern for several owners of the popular rides.
Caught off-guard by the announcement, which was aired a week ago by the Government Information Service, the owners are calling for an urgent meeting with Minister of Transport and Works John Boyce to discuss the situation.
The notice advised a proposed amendment to the Road Traffic Act Cap. 295 and stated:?“All terrain vehicles will no longer be allowed on the public roads, as well as the Scotland District. Owners of ATVs, remember . . . you will be restricted from operating your vehicle on a public road and in the Scotland District.”
Mike and Lynette Isaacs, owners of the only ATV tour company in Barbados, ATV Quads 4 U, located at Fitts Village, St James, said they were disappointed that the notice was aired without any consultation with the owners.
Isaac pointed out that any such restrictions would virtually end his six-year-old business, which has seen him investing over $500 000 and employing four people.
“Before we set up the business we wrote to the ministry and asked if we would be granted permission to bring ATVs to Barbados. They did not know what we were talking about and we had to send them research on the ATVs because they were being widely used in England,” Mike, who was born in England of Barbadian parentage, pointed out.
He said it took almost two years before they could receive a positive response from the ministry, and they also had extensive interviews with the insurance company.
He admitted that when they started the business, they were renting out the vehicles but quickly realized that this was a bad idea.
“There were people who were engaging in stunts on the roads with our vehicles and when it was drawn to our attention, we stopped renting out to locals and went into offering tours. Our vehicles are “utility” vehicles which are turned down so that they cannot exceed the speed limit and because of their heavy weight and engine size, they are impossible to wheelie”, Mike stated.
He said several hotels now book their tours for visitors to the island.
“We drive from Fitts Village to St Lucy and the visitors so enjoy the experience that they keep coming back or recommending us. We are very conscious about safety and our tour guides ensure that everyone wears a helmet and safety vests at all times,” he added.
He pointed out that they also only allow a maximum of four vehicles on the tour at any one time.
“We are fully insured and in six years we have only been involved in two accidents and in both cases it was not our fault,” Mike said, as he pointed out that 90 per cent of the owners of ATVs were responsible individuals.
Corey Kenaz, who has owned an ATV for the past two years, said the proposal would also affect plans he was making with a group of investors to also set up an ATV?tour company.
“We did our research and were told that we could set up the business. We have already ordered 20 vehicles, which are on their way to Barbados. After I?heard the announcement, I?contacted the company and asked if we could cancel the order and they said they could not give us a refund.”
Kenaz, the owner of K C Enterprises and Driving School, said he and his partners decided to invest in the business because of the trying economic times.
“The ATVs will be here next month, so what are we going to do? We will not be able to get them sold because no one will want to buy an ATV if they are banned from driving on the roads,” he said.
“The guys who I ride with are very responsible. We are not on the road doing stunts. We wear our helmets and we have speedometers installed so that we can monitor the speed,” he explained.
Kenaz, 36, believes that instead of banning the ATV vehicles from being driven on public roads Government and the police need to monitor them as they would any other class of vehicle.
“Our insurance is as high as $4 000 and we pay road tax as well. If they want to ban us, then they should also ban persons from exporting gold because that is leading to a lot of crime,” he reasoned.
He said the announcement had already led to ATV users being abused on the road.
“People do not understand that this is just a proposal, so when we are riding people are shouting at us and telling us that we get ban, so get off the road.”
In relation to the Scotland District, Kenaz stated that it was the Safari vehicles that were causing all the damage in St Andrew and St Thomas.
When contacted, Minister of Transport and Works John Boyce said the Environmental Protection Department and the Soil Conservation Commission had expressed concern about the damage being done to the Scotland District by the ATVs.
He said the Road Traffic Act was being reviewed by his ministry, hence the proposal to ban ATVs from travelling on public roads.
However, Boyce said he would be willing to discuss the matter with the owners and advised that they arrange a meeting with his permanent secretary.