Off-highway vehicle (OHV) use is a common recreational activity and great way to enjoy the outdoors! The Municipality maintains several staging areas to facilitate and promote safe and legal OHV use by Fort McMurray residents.
Find designated OHV staging areas
The McMurray Sno-Drifters maintain and operate snowmobile trails in the region. To view trail maps, purchase a pass and learn more, visit snodrifters.ca or their Facebook page. Learn more about winter OHV use and safety.
OHV use is strictly prohibited on Fort McMurray roads outside of the Abasand neighbourhood and on all sidewalks, parks, greenspaces and urban trails.
Always check if an OHV Restriction or Fire Ban is in place before riding. If a Fire Ban is in effect for the Urban Service Area of Fort McMurray, OHV use is prohibited on municipal roads in Abasand.
Abasand OHV Pilot Project
Council approved the Off-Highway Vehicle Pilot Project Bylaw, giving the green light for OHVs to travel on municipal roadways in Abasand starting July 1, 2024.
The pilot project encourages safe and responsible OHV use, while including better enforcement and compliance measures. All riders must learn and follow the rules to ensure compliance and safe use.
OHV use is allowed on municipal roads in Abasand when travelling to and from homes to the designated staging area or Abasand gas station. Riders cannot drive their OHV to a neighbour’s home, park, school or other areas in Abasand. OHVs aren’t allowed to be driven from backyards to the trails.
OHVs cannot be used on private roads and in parking lots, unless the owner has directly permitted it. Condominiums are located on private roads and parking lots, except for Abasand Dr.
Check the Abasand OHV Pilot Project map to find the OHV approved roads, private roads and neighbourhood boundaries.
Share feedback
Residents are encouraged to share feedback throughout the pilot project, whether they’re an OHV user or not. Feedback can be shared on the online engagement tool Participate Wood Buffalo or through Pulse.
Regulations and laws for Abasand
For everyone’s safety, all regulations and laws in the OHV Pilot Project Bylaw and the Traffic Safety Act must be followed while operating an OHV on a municipal road in Abasand. An overview of some of the key rules are below and included in the Abasand OHV Pilot Project brochure.
- Max 30 km. OHVs cannot exceed 30 kms an hour and must follow all lower posted speed limits while traveling on the road. Drive cautiously, obey all stop signs and regular traffic laws.
- Helmet on. All riders and passengers must wear helmets that meet Alberta’s safety standards for motorcycles, unless the OHV has a roll over protection system.
- Buckle up. Seatbelts must be worn by the driver and passengers if the OHV is equipped with them.
- Ride right. A Class 5 license or greater is required to ride on municipal roads. OHVs need to be registered with insurance and a visible license plate. Travel with documents.
- Be seen. Turn on headlights and taillights. If the OHV has turn signals use them; if not, use hand signals.
- Be mindful of noise. All OHVs must have a working muffler and not cause unnecessary noise.
- One at a time. OHVs must travel in single file and not pass in single lanes.
- Be wildfire wise. Always bring a shovel, pail or fire extinguisher. Ensure OHVs have a functioning spark arrestor and make frequent stops to remove debris from hot spots.
- Seats for all passengers. Passengers must be at least six years old and weigh more than 18 kgs. OHV manufacturer specifications must be followed, which may include more restrictive age limits.
- Keep roads clean. Don’t track excessive mud and debris onto roads.
- Tow safely. Hitch trailers must be secured and under 1.83m long. Make sure they’re well lit.
- No street parking. OHVs must be parked and stored on private property.
- Wheels only. Snowmobiles are not allowed on roads and aren’t included in the pilot project.
FAQs
| What do I need to drive my OHV on municipal roads in Abasand? |
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You need a Class 5 License or greater. Your OHV must be registered with insurance and a visible license plate. Always travel with your documents. You must wear a helmet that meets Alberta’s safety standards for motorcycles, unless your OHV has a roll over protection system. You must also wear a seatbelt if your OHV is equipped with one. Riders must learn all the rules and regulations before driving their OHV on the road. |
| How is the Pilot Project going to make OHV use safer in Abasand? |
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We are aware that there is regular illegal OHV use in Abasand. With OHVs now allowed on designated roads, riders have a safe and legal way to access the trails through the staging area, which is intended to stop OHV use in parks, greenspaces and on urban trails. There are strict rules and laws that all OHV users must follow while driving on a municipal roadway.
The OHV Pilot Project Bylaw also includes better enforcement and compliance measures to prevent dangerous riding. |
| It’s quicker to get to the trails from my backyard, is this allowed? |
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No. The Abasand perimeter trail and the greenspace between homes and the forest is in the Urban Service Area of Fort McMurray and OHV use is not allowed. OHV trails and the forested area must be accessed through the Abasand OHV Staging Area.
The Pilot Project is intended to encourage safe and responsible OHV use by allowing riders to travel on municipal roads to and from the staging area. |
| Why is the pilot project only for Abasand? |
| Abasand was selected for the pilot project as it has clear neighbourhood boundaries and access to OHV trails through the designated staging area. The pilot project will be used to assess the feasibility of making this a permanent bylaw for Abasand and expanding OHV use on municipal roads in other neighbourhoods. |
| How long will the pilot project last? What happens next? |
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The OHV Pilot Project Bylaw will be in effect until May 1, 2026. Although, there is a possibility this timeline will change depending on how the pilot project is going. Continuous feedback and reporting throughout the pilot project are being collected.
Community members can share their feedback throughout the entire pilot project through the online engagement tool Participate Wood Buffalo or by contacting Pulse. There will also be more in-depth public engagement opportunities at the one-year point and before the bylaw expires.
The pilot project is being used to assess the feasibility of permanently allowing OHV use on Abasand roads and to expand OHV use to other municipal roads outside of Abasand. These changes would require Council approval of new or updated bylaws. |
| The noise from OHVs is disruptive at night, what can I do? |
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While OHVs are allowed on municipal roads at any time of day, they should not be causing unnecessary noise as per the bylaw. If you believe an OHV is causing excessive noise, you can report it to Pulse and share this feedback on Participate Wood Buffalo. |
Urban Service Area Off-Highway Vehicle Strategic Plan
The Urban Service Area Off-Highway Vehicle Strategic Plan provides a roadmap to encourage safe and responsible OHV use in Fort McMurray. This plan is used to guide Municipal services and initiatives, such as the Abasand OHV Pilot Project.
Enforcement
There are very serious fines and penalties for not following the OHV bylaws and Traffic Safety Act, including impoundment of OHVs and the full repair cost for damaged municipal property.
Bylaw and RCMP officers do regular patrols and checks for OHVs. Please remember to travel with all documents.
To report illegal or unsafe OHV use, please call Pulse at 780-743-7000. If possible, please provide the license plate when filing a report.
For emergencies, always call 9-1-1.
Fines and Penalties
The provisions in the Traffic Safety Act and Off-Highway Vehicle Regulation apply to all areas in the region. There are also Municipal Off-Highway Vehicle Bylaws that apply to specific communities, including the Fort McMurray Urban Service Area. In addition, the Off-Highway Vehicle Pilot Project Bylaw is in effect for the Abasand neighbourhood. The following chart outlines OHV related infractions that are most observed in the region:
|
Section/Act |
Offence Description |
Penalty |
|
Bylaw 98/078 & Bylaw 24/010 |
Operate Off-Highway Vehicle in Fort McMurray Urban Service Area, outside of the designated area or for non-permitted purposes |
$50 - $600 specified penalty OR mandatory court appearance and penalty up to $10,000 |
|
Bylaw 24/010 |
Operating an OHV in contravention of Municipal Fire Ban. (There are larger Provincial fines for operating an OHV during an OHV Restriction) |
$600 |
|
Bylaw 24/010 |
Operating an OHV without a helmet, including passengers |
$300 |
|
Traffic Safety Act & Bylaw 24/010 |
Operation of non-permitted OHV. (Driving without insurance, license or registration) |
$324- $400 |
|
Off-Highway Vehicle Regulation |
Drive OHV without license plate securely attached/legible/clearly visible |
$81 |
|
Traffic Safety Act & Bylaw 24/010 |
Drive OHV on Hwy without authorization |
$300 - $324 |
|
Bylaw 24/010 |
Operating an OHV on property without consent of property owner |
$300 |
|
Traffic Safety Act & Bylaw 24/010 |
Drive/Permit another to drive OHV without Registration |
$162 - $400 |
|
Traffic Safety Act & Bylaw 24/010 |
OHV Fail to Provide Requested info to P.O. |
$243 - $500 |
|
Traffic Safety Act & Bylaw 24/010 |
Driver of OHV Fail to Stop for P.O. |
$243 - $500 |
|
Traffic Safety Act |
Carelessly Drive OHV |
$567 |