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Survey seeks input from snowmobilers

The provincial government is looking to improve snowmobile riding maps and signage, and is collecting feedback to help guide the development.
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The B.C. government is seeking input from snowmobilers regarding maps and signage at riding areas. Keri Sculland/Star Photo

The provincial government is looking to improve snowmobile riding maps and signage, and is collecting feedback to help guide the development.

A survey, conducted by the Ministry of Forests, Lands, Natural Resource Operations and Rural Development (FLNRORD) invites recreational snowmobilers to give their response to help improve backcountry riding areas.

There are an estimated 200,000 individual snowmobilers each winter that use B.C.’s trails and backcountry riding areas.

Once the survey closes, FLNRORD will review the responses, and use those to develop new maps and signage later in the summer. Once those new maps and signage are created, they will be deployed in a staged approach, with the first of the new maps and signs in place for the upcoming 2019/20 winter riding season.

Across the province, there have been inconsistencies clarity issues about information and riding areas, and many trailheads do not provide maps or information about the surrounding areas and the landscape. The survey goes into detail about map interpretation, wildlife closures, where the riders are coming from, and where they ride.

As snowmobiling grows in popularity, FLNRORD is working to improve conditions for riders.

The survey takes around 10 to 15 minutes to complete online, and does not collect personal information. It touches on rider experience, how people find information about riding, awareness and perceptions of riding areas and closed areas, and people’s reactions to current riding area maps and signage.

The survey can be found online at www.surveymonkey.com/r/D2CMVZY.

For more information, questions, or comments, contact bryan.mitchell@gov.bc.ca.