Kimberley City Council gave first, second and third reading to a Multi-Use Recreation Trails Bylaw. The Bylaw will outline allowed uses, regulate the operation of motorized vehicles on recreation trails and impose a 20 kph speed limit on all trails owned or operated by the City of Kimberley.
The intent is to have the bylaw adopted at the same time in both Kimberley and Cranbrook.
Both cities have it cover the Rails to Trails, which is co-owned by both cities.
The bylaw will make allowances for special events on trails and does not apply to emergency vehicles of any kind.
While Council did approve the first three readings of the bylaw, there was some concern among Council members, particularly on how the bylaw could be enforced.
Coun. Albert Hoglund wondered if the speed limit could be enforced.
“Are we putting too many restrictions when 95 per cent of users are using the trails safely and courteously?” he asked.
Coun. Kent Goodwin said that while he heard the concerns the bylaw was something the Rails to Trails Society had been requesting for three years.