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RIDE WITH RESPECT

Rules of the ride

I can't recall any issue that has caused as much division between cottagers as personal watercraft. On the one hand are cottagers who rage impotently at rude, careless, dangerous drivers and who are sick to death of hearing the incessant whine of PWCs ridden for hours on end in a bay or along a stretch of waterfront. On the other hand are the cottagers who own PWCs, and make up a large percentage of operators on our lakes. Not all of them are irresponsible riders, though.

In my job, I hear from both sides. One reader who got in touch at the end of last summer told us how he had sedately cruised the eastern shore of Georgian Bay on his personal watercraft – at the same time earning himself the distinction of being one of the smallest cruising powerboats in the Thirty Thousand Islands. But I've also had letters and phone calls from cottagers who feel powerless to stop abusive behaviour on their lakes or rivers. They're mad enough to support controversial bills that would give local groups the power to ban all PWCs - abusers and otherwise - in their areas.

I sat down with my colleagues at Cottage Life to talk about the problem. We agreed on one thing: We have to get tough with reckless operators of personal watercraft. Riding without regard for the lake, its wildlife, and fellow lake users has to stop. If PWC riders want to ride in one place for long periods, turn circles for hours on end, and jump their own or each other's wakes, that's okay, as long as they do the stunts far offshore where it won't disturb wildlife or ruin the pleasure of the lake for others. We need to work together to create an environment where it becomes socially unacceptable to ride irresponsibly.

If we don't resolve the problem among ourselves by promoting responsible ridership, by confronting the abusers, and by writing to manufacturers to encourage responsible PWC operation in their marketing campaigns, then the only solution left may, indeed, be legislation. And while it makes sense to put the responsibility for restricting PWCs in the hands of those whose regions are experiencing the problem, a law that bans all PWCs could lead to further divisions between cottagers.

We'd like to offer a solution that will allow respectful riders to continue enjoying the lakes. Our Ride with Respect initiative advocates responsible PWC usage through a set of standards for respectful ridership, as well as conflict resolution guidelines for dealing with abusive PWC behaviour. We've put this information on a mini-poster that you can download from this page.

We hope, with the support of other cottagers and your lake association, that you will spread the word. You can post the Responsible Rider poster at your marina, at places that rent PWCs, and in local stores. Or distribute it in your cottage association mailings.

If you've got a neighbour who's creating a problem on your lake, take him a copy of the poster. (Going with another cottager or a member of your lake association can make this easier.) Ask him if he's heard about Cottage Life's Responsible Rider campaign. Tell him politely, but firmly, what the problem is. Or simply drop off the poster and let him read it himself - you may be surprised to learn that he is unaware of how his PWC use is affecting others on the lake. It may be that the craft is ridden by guests or other family members, perhaps when he's not at the cottage to witness the behaviour.

Hard to believe? Then consider this: I still encounter people who tell me they've never heard about a PWC problem. You have to wonder if they ever go near the water - or a newspaper. There's a problem, all right. And I'd like to think that we can solve it, without reverting to legislation; that cottagers aren't powerless to make a difference on this important issue as we have on so many others.

 

Let us know what you think? Write to us at letters@cottagelife.com