Ontario Trails News - Spring Message
CHECK ICE AND SNOW CONDITIONS BEFORE YOU GO!
Ontario Trails - Your Data Wanted
Since
2007 the Ontario Trails Council has collected trails data, and turned
that data into our award winning website, as mandated by the desires of
the trails community reflected in the Ontario Trails Strategy. Nearly
1,000,000 people a year turn to this information in order to find you
and your trails.
At this time we are working on the feasibility of collecting more
trail data for the MNR. This project money sustains the OTC, but the
money is only derived if there is data collected. This is where we need
your help. We need you and your trail to opt in before we start
collecting because the MNR wants to know which trails we are going to
collect data from.
Is your trail one we can collect?
The characteristics we are looking for are:
1. Measurements
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Trailhead Longitude
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Trailhead Latitude
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Completion Time (hours)
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Elevation Change (m)
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Trailhead Elevation (m)
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Maximum Elevation (m)
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Cross Slope Average (%)
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Cross Slope Maximum (%)
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Minimum Trail Width (m)
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Average Trail Width (m)
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Maximum Grade (%)
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Average Grade (%)
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Trail Surface
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Trail Classification (Trail Group/Local Classification/Difficulty/ Rating eg: OFSC Trail Classes)
4. Prohibited Trail Uses
5. Trail Hazards (Poison Ivy, Steep Slopes)
6. Trail Fees (Day Pass, Donation, Parking etc.)
7. Seasons/Dates of Operation
8. Trail Amenities (Visitor Centre, Beach, Boat Launch etc.)
9. Trail Enforcement
10. Trail Permits
11. Trail Speed Limit
12. Trail Signage
13. Trail Environmental Concerns
14. Trail Permitted Use (Dogs on Leash)
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Date of Collection
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Data Collector
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Trail sensitivity (high /low)
So let us know if you are willing to support us by sharing data you already have.
execdir@ontariotrails.ca
Thanks
Trails Insurance Program Available
Once again, members of the trails community find themselves seeking
alternative trails insurance. The volatility and unpredictability of
your insurance plan keeping you hopping? Wondering what you are getting,
curious if your agent or the underwriter understands trails?
If you want:
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cost stability
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product assurance
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insurance perseverance
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a broker that understands trails
At OTC our mission is "trail preservation." See the note from Intercity Insurance, Mike King, below.
Further to our recent discussions, I wanted to let you know that we
have investigated various markets to get a sense of the appetite that
insurers have for coverage associated with trails.
Our findings suggest that coverage is available - but from a very
limited number of carriers and that the cost of insurance in this class
is not heading down anytime soon. The reality is that there have been
losses associated with trails in general and that the frequency and
severity of claims is on the rise.
On the positive side of the issue, we have had several specific
discussions of late with our current carriers at Lloyd's of London and
we are (collectively) very interested in ramping up our work with OTC to
connect with your associates who manage trails. We and the insurers we
represent are firm in our commitment to work collaboratively with the
OTC trail community to develop a comprehensive risk management strategy
that makes sense - and insurance is just one part of that strategy.
As for what trail insurance products we have "in the box” right now:
a) Commercial General Liability coverage —premium costs start at $1,000.00 for $2,000,000 coverage.
b) Directors and Officers liability coverage — premium costs
start at $200.00 for $I,000,000 coverage. We find that even the smallest
community group is seeing the importance of acquiring D and O coverage.
c) Accidental Death and Dismemberment coverage - premiums start
at $250. 00 to cover the Officers, Directors, employees, members. The
limit of coverage is $100,000.
In the near future OTC will be bundling these products as a part of membership services and products.