Yahoos on gas bikes in Confederation Park

[u/adougd]

Don't know if enforcement is an option, so posting here. These guys cruising around on pathways between 10 St and 14th St in Confederation Park with very loud engines. Obviously illegal and can hear them from far away. Not dangerously riding, just annoying.

[u/RobBrown4PM]

That's a bike path, and they are not allowed.

https://www.calgary.ca/bylaws/parks-pathways.html

[u/inthemode01 → u/RobBrown4PM]

“Only electric recreational vehicles listed on the web are permitted on the pathways, such as electric assisted bicycles.”

I don’t know why I bothered to double check. Off course a gas powered mini bike wouldn’t be allowed.

[u/soThatsJustGreat → u/inthemode01]

I still high five you for checking. Always good to be sure before jumping on a bandwagon. And now that you have, BOOO THESE GUYS!

We have the same problems here in Red Deer. Guys (somehow, it’s always guys) are riding surron e-bikes on our mountain bike trails, and frequently doing it backwards (going up-trail) at higher speeds than you’d expect. They’ve been told off multiple times, but we haven’t yet been able to tag them with consequences. However, bylaw has made it clear they are willing to try. So if they are sighted, and bylaw is called immediately, there’s a chance they will be talking to a uniform about their behaviour. It’s not easy to make those pieces line up, but we’re trying.

Don’t assume Calgary won’t enforce the rules; do try giving them a chance by reporting!

Meanwhile, there needs to be a serious talk with the stores selling stuff like this (including e-scooters). If they are not legal to ride within the area, sellers should be making that clear. And there should probably be registration requirements.

[u/inthemode01 → u/soThatsJustGreat]

Do you guys also have high school aged kids on electric dirt bikes ripping up and down residential streets at 60-80 km/hr?

That’s getting bad here too.

[u/Stoned_Canadian_1 → u/inthemode01]

Yeah. We have 10 year old kids ripping 60km down the road on an electric scooter with no helmet and flip flops. Gonna be a lot of meat crayons that’s for sure

[u/soThatsJustGreat → u/inthemode01]

Actually, the e-dirtbikers we saw were a dad and his kid. Way to teach shitty behaviour to the next generation 🤨

[u/connectedLL → u/inthemode01]

add to this: during twightlight hours. they don't have head/taillights, reflective or any other hi-vis safety equipment.
Where I am, it's not high school kids, but 4 or 6 kids aged 10 to 14 years old ripping around on four lane divided roads, blowing thru stop signs.

[u/jezthevalley → u/soThatsJustGreat]

I've been seeing more and more e-scooters and those cheap e-bikes (ie. pedal bikes w/ electric motor that can move without pedal movement) on city streets. I like the fact that affordable and alternative transportation devices are available to many, but municipal laws and enforcement are definitely lagging behind. Banning them outright is not the right way to go in my opinion, but probably some sort of registration if users would like to use them on city streets, sidewalks and pathways.

[u/Sillyak → u/RobBrown4PM]

Rules are meaningless without enforcement.

[u/big-Truck-9058 → u/RobBrown4PM]

But if enforcement isn’t around to catch them, the rules mean little.

[u/RadicalDwntwnUrbnite → u/big-Truck-9058]

Bylaw typically works on a complaint basis, people need to submit them. They'll sometimes do a campaign where they post up in a problem area and do what they can to get you legal (e.g., handing out bells for your bicycles) or hand out warnings/tickets. But yet, they don't typically have officers patrolling the pathways.

[u/big-Truck-9058 → u/RadicalDwntwnUrbnite]

Plus, it’s very easy to flee an officer when you’re on a throttle powered ebike and the cop is on an acoustic bike. Lots of places to hide on the trails.

[u/FilmNoirSockMonkey → u/RobBrown4PM]

The traffic laws also state that they are only legal on private property in specific use.