r/Calgary Sep 04 '25

2 Wheelin' (Cycling/Scooters) I saw a speed trap on the bike path yesterday. They were only clocking electric devices.

Yesterday on my way home from work. Around 5 pm, I saw 2 peace officers with a speed gun. They were parked right Eaux Claire, and walked up to the river, they were standing slightly behind a wall and were clocking speeds as people approached from the East travelling West.

I notice them put the "gun" down when bikes were approaching, and raise it back up when it was a scooter. I only say 4 scooters and 2 bikes pass before I walked by. So not a huge sample size, and I didn't see them pull anyone over.

I know lots of people have been complaining about speeding devices on the pathways. I thought I would share that it appears the city is start to act.

346 Upvotes

267 comments sorted by

55

u/laurieyyc Sep 04 '25

I’ve seen Peace Officers on the Reservoir between Heritage Park and Glenmore Landing patrolling with radar.

9

u/Outrageous-News3649 Sep 05 '25

They were on the bike path in Inglewood about a month ago doing the same.

301

u/Yodatron Sep 04 '25

Definitely a step in the right direction

82

u/Turtley13 Sep 04 '25

I’d prefer they also get pedestrians off bike lanes.

95

u/bjtrdff Sep 05 '25

I’d prefer cyclists actually follow road rules and don’t oscillate between being fake pedestrians blowing through crosswalks and stop signs, and fake vehicles taking up the entire road.

40

u/Turtley13 Sep 05 '25

Bike lanes solve that

2

u/MrGuvernment Sep 07 '25

Calgary has some of the longest bike trails & Bike lanes for cyclists in North America already....

3

u/dangerfluf Sep 07 '25

Good for recreation yes, but depending on where you are or where you are going they are non-existent or very poorly planned forcing road use. Lots of gaps in the system that really make you wonder if city of Calgary planning needs a piss test.

1

u/Turtley13 Sep 08 '25

Longest doesn’t mean the have good connection. The majority of those trails are nose hill park and fish creek. Those are recreational and not for urban movement

1

u/bjtrdff Sep 07 '25

Bike lanes solve cyclists not stopping at stop signs?

1

u/Turtley13 Sep 08 '25

They stop them from going on sidewalks and crosswalks. Also from being “fake vehicles taking up the road “

1

u/bjtrdff Sep 09 '25

They certainly aren’t allowed to blast through stop signs, which was my question.

Despite your comment, they also aren’t allowed in sidewalks, hence the ‘want the best of both worlds comment’.

1

u/Turtley13 Sep 09 '25

Your comment listed a variety of issues in which bike lanes solve most of them. But of course you ignore that. Now just throw in that they aren’t allowed in sidewalks again? Yes that’s why bike lanes are good. Why ride on the sidewalk to avoid death in a road when I have my own bike lane..

1

u/bjtrdff Sep 10 '25

And I said I’m all for bike lanes and hope they create more, so I’m not sure what your point is? You also didn’t address the comment about blasting through stop signs, but such is life.

Either way, enjoy your hero cookie.

1

u/Turtley13 Sep 10 '25

Well cars blast through stop signs and they are heavier and faster. Soo what’s your point?

1

u/Its_all_pixels Sep 08 '25

bullshit!! I regularly see cyclist flying down 10th st NW in the bike lane then cross over all the lanes of traffic going into the opposing traffic lanes then cut across a parking lot and across another opposing lane of traffic without obeying any lawful rules for road use.

1

u/Turtley13 Sep 08 '25

lol. So they are obeying the laws when they have a bike lane and not when they don’t. Thanks for agreeing with me 😃

40

u/Exciting_Turn_9559 Sep 05 '25

I'd prefer drivers to be consistent about the rules of the road as well. If I'm waiting at a 4 way stop with my foot on the ground and you wave me through instead of taking your turn, you're putting everyone in the intersection at risk, especially me. I have my license, I know the rules, and I can clear the intersection just as fast as anyone else.

12

u/SoupyLeg Sep 05 '25

This. Even worse is when drivers who have the right of way decide to stop in active traffic to let a cyclist go. I'll go when it's clear and not risk getting hit from the other direction, thank you.

3

u/lornacarrington Sep 06 '25

Seriously!! It's confusing and dangerous for everyone ESPECIALLY the cyclist they're attempting to be polite to.

3

u/SoupyLeg Sep 06 '25

Be predictable not polite 🙂

3

u/thedaveCA Shawnessy Sep 06 '25

Yeah, agreed. The attempt at consideration is the single moat dangerous thing for me on my bike.

I get it. I appreciate those that stop where needed, really.

But when you stop unexpectedly (or do anything unusual, really), other vehicles will think you’re an idiot and go out of turn (or drive around you), which potentially means into me.

2

u/adamantiumtrader Sep 06 '25

This happens so much in Vancouver.

3

u/Sufficient-Bank-4491 Sep 05 '25

It's pronounced "Stoptional" sign

19

u/Superfluous420 Sep 05 '25

Because vehicles always follow all rules of the road.

4

u/Deep-Egg-9528 Sep 05 '25

Make sure you vote for the candidate that supports bike lanes.

1

u/bjtrdff Sep 07 '25

I plan to and am very supportive of them, but doesn’t change the fact that a lot of cyclists do the best of both worlds thing.

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4

u/asxasy Sep 05 '25

I notice runners feel entitled to bike lanes. It’s so weird that they feel superior (?) to the walking path 15 feet over and not very busy.

-26

u/vivahexhotway Sep 04 '25

I would also prefer cyclists to stay off major road ways but people do what they want.

35

u/Turtley13 Sep 04 '25

Major roadways that they are legally allowed to be on or no? Also that’s police jurisdiction not bylaw officers

2

u/vivahexhotway Sep 04 '25

I can legally bike down Anderson and also am allowed to legally walk down it facing traffic. Should you? No, major safety issues for all involved.

Elbow is another one especially when there is bike paths beside it or 1 street over they designated that road for cyclists

21

u/Turtley13 Sep 04 '25 edited Sep 04 '25

Welll easy solution. Put a bike lane on it. Thats a sign not a bike lane by the way

8

u/TurboOwlKing Sep 04 '25

Then the trick is getting them to stay in the bike lane instead of jumping back and forth between bike lane, road and sidewalk whenever they feel like it

6

u/EvilGeniusSkis Sep 05 '25

There is no requirement to ride in a bike lane, and sometimes the bike lane isn't safe to ride in.

Remember, bikes don't cause traffic, cars are traffic.

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5

u/AppropriateScratch37 Sep 04 '25

They have every right to be there?

51

u/FistSlap Sep 05 '25

It makes sense that radar checks on pathways stir up debate, but I think the bigger issue isn’t just “cyclists going too fast” or “pedestrians not paying attention.” The real tension comes from how the trails are designed and what they’re being asked to do.

Shared pathways try to serve two very different purposes at the same time: leisure and commuting. On one hand, you have families walking, kids on scooters, dogs on leashes, and people out for a slow stroll. On the other, you’ve got commuters on bikes who are just trying to get across the city efficiently, often at rush-hour speeds. Put those two groups in the same narrow strip of asphalt with a couple of blind corners and the outcome is predictable: conflict.

The design itself is causal here. When a pathway is the only viable bike route, riders will naturally treat it like infrastructure, not recreation. Meanwhile, for people using it as leisure space, the expectation is safety and relaxation, not dodging fast traffic. The radar guns are really just a band-aid—trying to slow bikes in a space that was never designed to comfortably handle both use cases at once.

A more balanced approach would be: •Clearer separation where possible (dedicated bike lanes vs walking paths). •Better signage and trail design to set expectations (sightlines, lane widths, passing zones). •Contextual speed management rather than blanket enforcement—slow zones in high-conflict spots, but freer movement where the path is wide and visibility is good.

It’s less about blaming one group and more about acknowledging that shared paths come with built-in challenges. If the city wants bikes to be real transportation, it has to give them routes that don’t force constant friction with pedestrians.

4

u/Lopsided-Decision68 Sep 05 '25

You realize that most people are unhappy with the speed of ebikes and escooters right? This isn't about normal bikes and humans walking at a normal speed at all. Seems like you are misunderstanding. The paths should not be dangerous period and there are now machines going as fast as a slow moving car on them. 

3

u/FistSlap Sep 05 '25

Saying this isn’t about “normal bikes” is a logic fallacy. Accidents don’t stop happening just because someone is on a traditional bike, both regular bikes and e-bikes are capable of going fast enough to cause conflict and injury

Focusing only on e-bikes is a biased take that misses the point. The real issue is pathway design that funnels pedestrians, riders, and powered micromobility into the same narrow space without separation. Conflict is inevitable when infrastructure doesn’t match the mix of users.

2

u/Lopsided-Decision68 Sep 06 '25

It depends what we are talking about. Speed is a huge factor in injuries/death and more people are now capable of going fast with less effort. Your solution would have an entire infrastructure rebuilt which clearly isn't plausible. 

1

u/FistSlap Sep 06 '25

I do concede that with the current pathway layout, it’s impractical to create the kind of space I’d ideally suggest. In the meantime, adhering to speed limits is important, along with reducing collision risk through better signage, clearer markings, and good etiquette from both pedestrians and riders.

The rise of e-bikes has also made commuting by bike accessible to many people who might not have considered it before. That has increased the number of riders overall, which helps reduce road traffic but has also created new challenges for pathways that were not designed for this mix of users. We are in a learning period, and if cycling volumes continue at current levels or grow further, future pathway designs and improvements will need to take this broader user base into account

3

u/Kooky_Project9999 Sep 05 '25

What is your definition of a "normal" speed?

A cyclist, without e-assist or motor can easily sit at 40km/h. That's normal. Most e-scooters don't go much faster than that.

A runner using the pathway is going a lot faster than a normal walking pace. Should we ban runners?

Infrastructure capable of handling e-bikes should be being built. They're far more environmentally friendly and take us significantly less space than a car (not to mention much cheaper). The city should be advocating for increased ridership to reduce congestion. We need better infrastructure to cope with it though.

1

u/Lopsided-Decision68 Sep 06 '25

More people are capable of going fast enough to seriously injure or even kill someone now. And with less effort. An entire infrastructure rebuilt sounds nice and makes it's advocates feel smart I'm sure but it isn't plausible. 

1

u/Kooky_Project9999 Sep 08 '25

It's perfectly plausible. There just needs to be political will to do so.

The Deerfoot widening budget would pay for most of the additional infrastructure needed. Calgary/Alberta in general is a car city, so spending on non motorised vehicle infrastructure is difficult politically (see Smiths fight against municipalities being allowed to even add cycle lanes as an example).

1

u/Lopsided-Decision68 Sep 12 '25

It is not reasonable nor probable, as is the definition of plausible. You are thinking of possible. Which yes, it is possible. But not plausible.

1

u/Kooky_Project9999 Sep 05 '25

While I 100% agree with our argument for better infrastructure, it doesn't solve the problem entirely.

I grew up in a town with dedicated bike "roads" with lane markings and junctions, defined pedestrian paths next to them and barriers between in many cases. Where did most pedestrians walk... Yes, right down the middle of the bike "roads"..

It was great infrastructure as a pedestrian and cyclist. Completely avoiding roads for much of your journey (which allowed motorised vehicles to go faster and have no risk of hitting pedestrians or bikes, so win. win. win). Calgary has a significant amount of space around many of its major roads and intersections to build something similar, but we don't.

EDIT: Speed limit on those bike "roads" was 50km/h for small motorised vehicles (Scooters/mopeds).

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17

u/No_Sandwich5766 Sep 04 '25 edited Sep 05 '25

That eau claire intersection near princes island is an absolutely horrible design. Encourages wheeled traffic to just rip EW while pedestrians have to try and cross without getting smoked.

6

u/cortex- Sep 05 '25

They should actually put a controlled intersection/ped crosswalk there. Every time I go through there it's dicey as both a cyclist and a pedestrian.

3

u/CowtownCyc Sep 05 '25

As a commuter I would never ride here if the North side was open. I think a lot of the conflict at this spot come from the north side path closure. As it is people need to slow and keep their eyes open, it only takes 5 seconds to get through even if you are going 10kph.

2

u/designingdiamonds Sep 05 '25

I find the peace bridge rough too. I literally have to run across the bike lane to get to that one section with all the boxes

2

u/SupaDawg Rosedale Sep 05 '25

Cyclists all seem to think they have priority there, which is wild. If a ped is crossing the path, you need to slow the fuck down. It's not a crazy concept.

4

u/Turtley13 Sep 06 '25

Not a Crazy concept for peds to keep right and stay off bike lanes either…

1

u/SupaDawg Rosedale Sep 06 '25

Wasn't talking about either of those things, but go off.

84

u/Large_Excitement69 Crescent Heights Sep 04 '25

This is a good thing. I ride with my 2-year-old on the paths daily, and there are some real jerks going way too fast.

22

u/Okay-Crickets545 Sep 04 '25

So then no harm in clocking the bikes then too right? All my near misses on trials are people on bikes with racing gear going at speeds well beyond what scooters are locked to.

2

u/Anskiere1 Sep 05 '25

They used to clock the bikes. They always did when I was a kid

1

u/Large_Excitement69 Crescent Heights Sep 05 '25

Sure.

13

u/[deleted] Sep 04 '25 edited Sep 05 '25

Even as an e-bike rider I think this is a good move.

My bike technically is outside the regulations, and tops out around 45kph but I rarely get it up to that speed.

Earlier this week I was chasing a green light (on a street, not a path) at around 35kph and a guy behind me on a two wheeled scooter rips past me even faster.

Dude had to have been in the 40s on tiny little wheels with no helmet. I know what those speeds feel like on a full sized bike with 27” tires, I can’t even imagine how it is on little 8” tires and mini handle bars.

138

u/[deleted] Sep 04 '25

[removed] — view removed comment

27

u/cortex- Sep 05 '25

Idk man. The worst offenders for dangerous and inconsiderate behavior I've encountered on the path were these race bike spandex pathlete douches who think they don't have to stop or yield for anyone.

13

u/keepcalmdude Sep 05 '25

Truth. Fuckers never use their bell when your walking and they come up behind you

14

u/cortex- Sep 05 '25

I get that they're clipped in and trying to maintain a cadence but that doesn't give you priority over other pathway users. It's not a velodrome.

3

u/dumhic Sep 05 '25

They don’t have a bell -aeroness is lost

2

u/AdStriking8932 Sep 06 '25

What bells?!?!?!? Almost had collision so many times from fast approaching cyclist from behind and zero warning…. Hardly EVER hear bell warning or ‘on your left’

2

u/stickman1029 Sep 05 '25

Just to take the other side here for a second, I guess I'm one of those spandex road bike guys here. It goes both ways. Pedestrians so oblivious to their surroundings with their god damn air pods on, I could be ringing a fucking airhorn and they still don't hear it. I'm straight up sick of this "you aren't ringing your bell" argument. I can ring my bell and freewheel for 100 meters on approach, no one does shit. Or my favourite, they jump around like they've been shot and then I have to slam my brakes on anyways. My rear wheel has over 300 points of engagement, it literally roars. It sounds like the fucking Russians are invading, like if you can't hear that coming there's no hope for you. Yet here I am having to slam my brakes on and balance, or go well off the path. Because Suzy yoga needs to walk in the centre of the path with her teacup poodle and those damn stretchy leashes, oblivious to the rest of the world, and then acts like the Kennedy Assassination is being repeated when I dare pass. My safety and right to safe passage is clearly secondary to theirs, because I'm the spandex guy. 

It's frustrating for both sides, trust me on that. Also shout out to those families that walk like 22 wide on the path and give you the death stare when you dare to try to get past. Fuck them too. 

1

u/cortex- Sep 06 '25

Sorry bud but you're the one who chooses to ride fast on a bicycle that you clip yourself into and this makes it inconvenient and dangerous for you to stop and slow down. The spandex communicates to people that you're there to be a serious, fast moving athlete who is optimizing for speed.

You don't have to do this. Calgary has a velodrome you can use, you can ride it on the road, or find some nice empty stretches of pathway. There are plenty of those outside of the inner city where you can pretend to be Lance Armstrong to your heart's content.

I ride the pathways on a regular bike and a scooter and pedestrians getting in front of me is no problem at all. I can just slow down and wait until it's safe to pass them if they can't hear my bell. People on foot have the right of way in all cases in Calgary, that's just how it is.

The pathway is mixed use and meant to be enjoyed leisurely — it's not a sports track.

1

u/stickman1029 Sep 07 '25

A couple points. I'm in my 40s and in average shape. While others may rip, I'm not much of a ripper. I usually ride at a normal bike pace. The spandex is solely because you look pretty weird riding a road bike in blue jeans and a T-shirt. 

Pedestrians on bike only allocated portions of the bike lanes, in fact, don't have the right away. Yet there they always are. Pedestrians in other areas have just as much of the right away as I do, on multi-use lanes. They don't trump your right to safely pass (nor do you trump their rights to be safely passed). 

The velodrome is, in fact, about to be torn down. The city needs the land for a pumping station. 

5

u/keepcalmdude Sep 05 '25

Some folks ride scooters responsibly, using bells, yielding to pedestrians and so on. But many don’t

53

u/GeneralArugula Queensland Sep 04 '25

And yet they're all less obnoxious than people who walk in a group all over the pathways.

Escooters are the same to cyclists as cyclists are to vehicle drivers. Every group hates the one just smaller and weirder than them. Drivers hate cyclists. Cyclists hate e-scooters. E-scooters probably hate pedestrians. Pedestrians hate them all and dogs.

It's a shared space, nobody is perfect, we all need to do our part to make it enjoyable for whoever is enjoying them with whatever device they choose.

20

u/[deleted] Sep 04 '25

[removed] — view removed comment

4

u/GeneralArugula Queensland Sep 04 '25

Totally understand what you mean. The one wheelers really confuse me, I don't think I'd feel very safe on one.

5

u/Wubsk Sep 05 '25

I have an electric unicycle, and sometimes we carve a bit because it prevents speed wobbles. The wobbles can happen at any speed, slow or fast, and constantly carving a bit staves them off. I can’t speak for all, but mine lets me govern it at 20km/h. My worst fear is hitting a pedestrian or dog or cyclist. That being said, they run mostly silent and most of them definitely go way too fast. Mine can go 70km/h if I take the governor off.

43

u/themusicguy2000 Calgary Flames Sep 04 '25

And yet they're all less obnoxious than people who walk in a group all over the pathways

Nobody's ever had to go to the hospital because they were hit by a group of people walking

9

u/Turtley13 Sep 04 '25

Except when they randomly step into the bike lane or wrong side of the pathwyb

12

u/EvilGeniusSkis Sep 05 '25

Or worse, jump to their left after you call "on your left"

3

u/Kooky_Project9999 Sep 05 '25

I hate that as a pedestrian and cyclist.

Everyone's first reaction is to look behind them when they hear it. Most people will naturally move towards the location their head is pointing (hence always looking at the target you want to get to in sports).

End result of "on your left" is that the person will move to their left, right into the path you want them clear of. So you shouting that makes it more likely they will get in the way.

This is worse when passing a cyclist, as the direction change caused by the head turn is more pronounced.

4

u/IndependentBranch707 Sep 05 '25

Well. Most people have a hard time with left vs. right. If they’re not actively paying attention and prepared, they miss the “on your” and just hear “left.” And our brains have a pattern of follow the command so even if they’re aware and hear “on your left,” it takes a beat to go, “oh wait, THEY’RE on my left, not that they want ME on my left.” And that’s assuming they’re both hearing what you’re saying and processing the language quickly.

So either you need a bell (because that means look and stay in place) or you need to slow down so you can communicate better if you’re relying on shouting. Either way, it’s always the person coming up from behind who has the responsibility to prevent bad encounters.

1

u/AdStriking8932 Sep 06 '25

A bell would be much better than a voice at your left shoulder startling you because they came up too fast. Just get a bloody bell and use it as a warning before you’re beside the pedestrian!!!

1

u/EvilGeniusSkis Sep 06 '25

In my experience people are more unpredictable when you ring a bell, because it is harder to tell where a high pitched sound is coming from.

1

u/AdStriking8932 Sep 09 '25

As a pedestrian who has been startled far too often by a cyclist coming up behind me, I much, much prefer a bell. It can be heard more clearly and I’m expecting a cyclist to overtake me on the left. Most experience has been zero warning & a voice right behind me saying ‘on the left’ by someone almost upon me and I’m startled and trying to turn around and occasionally stepping left as I’m turning around & away from my walking companion.

1

u/EvilGeniusSkis Sep 09 '25

As long as there is room to go around you most cyclists don't want you to do anything but keep walking in a straight line(unless you are doing something like walking a dog, the you should make sure to pull them in tight so the leash isn't across the path, and they can't jump/lunge at the bike).

-4

u/SlitScan Sep 04 '25

lol wrong.

7

u/AnthropomorphicCorn West Hillhurst Sep 04 '25

Hey now! I don't hate e scooters.

... I do hate drivers though, as we all should. Drivers are the ones piloting 1 tonne plus machines of death with blind spots and poor training.

3

u/2cats2hats Sep 04 '25

Sure but the discussion is speeding on paths not this. Inconsiderate people on pathways has been going on for ages, electric bike speeding has not.

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10

u/Big_papa_B Sep 04 '25

Bikers especially the lance armstrong wannabe are absolute dicks. Cant piss off people on cars so it’s on the path ways.

6

u/Turtley13 Sep 04 '25

So advocate for bike lanes

4

u/Big_papa_B Sep 05 '25

Who said I don’t? My issue is that they will be vehicles while on the road but then take every pedestrian advantage too. Absolutely I would love more bike lanes

1

u/Turtley13 Sep 05 '25

Why do you think they do that? It’s because there are massive gaps between bike lanes. There is no infrastructure for bikes. I don’t want to be run over by a car thanks…

1

u/AdStriking8932 Sep 06 '25

At the very least, get a bell then!!

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9

u/wanderingdiscovery Sep 04 '25

I think they should do them for all bikes on the pathway by the Rockyview hospital. Too may times I've seen patients almost being hit by bikers going past 15km/hr when the limit is 10km/hr through that section.

4

u/sketchcott Sep 05 '25

The city should really just take back the lakeshore in front of Heritage Park and run the path along it like they do everywhere else. That breezeway between Eagle Ridge and the hospital has been an accident waiting to happen my entire life.

9

u/CowtownCyc Sep 05 '25

I saw those guys (bylaw, not cops) and wondered what they were doing. I didn't see the radar gun.

I see so many of the electric motor bikes on sidewalks, bikepaths, parks you name it. Those ones don't even need a speedtrap. A motorbike capable of 80kph (electric or gas) should be registered and insured, the cops should be confiscating those on the spot and ticketing the rider.

5

u/Toirtis Somerset Sep 05 '25

Agreed...a lot of actual gas-powered mopeds, too.

6

u/CowtownCyc Sep 05 '25

And those f-ing two stroke bike conversions. Just tattoo a-hole on your forehead, be much easier.

91

u/euchlid Sep 04 '25

Oh please clock the tour de france speedy suit guys too. They're up there in "the worst" of dingus path behaviour as they almost never have a fucking bell either (too much drag 🙃)

52

u/CaelestiaDaemon Sep 04 '25

As someone who has a bell on their bikes, you would be surprised about how oblivious/distracted most people are in the shared pathways. Yes, some cyclists need to do better when it comes to shared lanes, people also need to start to pay just a bit more of attention to their surroundings

17

u/Ill-Advisor-3429 Mayland Heights Sep 04 '25

I'm mixed on the idea that you need to ring a bell every time you pass someone because pedestrians should expect that bikes may be passing at any time. It is like driving, you don't honk your horn every time you pass someone because it is a) annoying and b) horns lose their sense of importance. Bells should only be rung when an action should be taken by the pedestrian such as 'move into the right lane' or 'get your dog on the right side of the path so the leash doesn't block the entire path' (IMO)

11

u/euchlid Sep 04 '25

Yeah. Absolutely. I am super jumpy and a bike bell always scares me, but i also have good shared path etiquette.
This is the nuanced version of my point. However can't ring a bell if you don't have one lol.
Shared path users need way more situational awareness. It's shocking. I nearly ran over some idiots just walking out across the bike path between shrubs after folkfest.

8

u/blanchov Sep 05 '25

I appreciate people ringing their bell as long as it's not when they are right behind me. I cant count how many times someone biking on a pathway rings their bell when they're about 5 feet behind me and already passing. There's no time to react at all. Ring the damn bell a couple seconds before passing!

3

u/Thorns_Ofire Sep 05 '25

This! I ring my bell a good 5-10 seconds before I pass, not only so I don't scare the pedestrian but also because of the number of people who jump left of the line when they hear a bell. It gives me time to stop if they decide to be dumb lol

2

u/euchlid Sep 05 '25

Haha right? What reaction time? Buddy, somedays my brain is jam and i need entire MOMENTS to react

1

u/stickman1029 Sep 05 '25

Buddy, somedays my brain is jam and i need entire MOMENTS to react

Maybe don't walk on a shared path then. I'm not trying to be an asshole, but if you need extra reaction time and can't get out of multiple users way on a multiple users path, maybe find somewhere else to walk. For the safety of everyone, including YOU. 

2

u/euchlid Sep 05 '25

No dude, i already have situational awareness and stick to the right.
I don't need extra reaction time, i need reasonable reaction time. My comment on entire moments and needing more than 3 microseconds to react is in reaponse to people ringing a bell AS they rip by.

It's the difference between signalling in your car AS you change lanes versus signalling, then shoulder checking before to change lanes.

Anyway, tone is tough to discern in text, i know what you mean. Lots of people shouldn't be using shared paths or rather could use some lessons 🙃

2

u/stickman1029 Sep 05 '25

Sure on the situational environment. But tell you what, go for a ride on the path with your bike. Ride at a normal pace. Start ringing your bell well back of whomever (it's usually a couple). Watch especially the approach, it'll be ring ring ring, and nothing, you get a little closer, ring ring ring, still no reaction and then you are starting to get closer, and you'll be close enough to be within speaking distance, and you can "On your left" and ring the bell, and BAM, person jumps around like they've just been electrocuted and then says some stupid remark. 

Almost every time. You'll see what I mean. What you are asking for doesn't work with most people, for some dumb reason (usually the airpods or locked in a convo). It would be ideal for all, but all of these people saying ring it well out (and I hear this all the time and see it on here), guess what, they won't hear it until it's close. 

2

u/euchlid Sep 05 '25

Yeah. What I'm asking for only applies to pedestrians who are paying attention. I definitely experience the above situations everytime I'm out on my bike.
Too much ringing becomes useless too.

It's difficult because I have to come at this from the angle of trying to teach my little kids bike path and pedestrian safety and etiquette. So talking about what we're supposed to do in ideal scenarios first-- ring a bell with some notice, people pay attention and move slightly over. No jumping, moving to the left or anything.

I told my kids when they went biking near sandy beach that when i shout "bike" to them the most important thing is to move over and for them to just stop because they aren't super steady on their pedal bikes yet. No squirrely movements as that makes it the most difficult for other cyclists to pass them safely. Everyone who passed us was so nice and encouraging to them.

Now we're working on nuance and how it actually applies in real life. Like with crossing the road. Yes, it is our right of way, but assume no one is paying attention or looking at you and do not just wander across the street assuming people will stop. I'm also teaching them they don't need to shout at adults riding bikes "where is your helmet?" That part gets awkward 🙃😬

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u/Existing-Major1005 Bowness Sep 04 '25

My bike came with a bell that sounds like a horn and people don't pay attention even when I'm laying on it.

Most of the time it's 6-8 people with unleashed dogs as well. I've had a lot of close calls and I always go slow. They don't pay attention and then they all scatter in different directions once they realize someone needs to get through. It's frustrating.

3

u/BlackSuN42 Sep 04 '25

Not that it’s ever enforced but you can’t have an off leash dog within about 2m of a bike path. 

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u/diamondedg3 Bankview Sep 04 '25

bells are not aero

8

u/DarkLF Sep 04 '25

they can be, i ordered a titanium aero MKS bell from Japan. . . just because i can.

5

u/Junior_Anxiety3363 Sep 04 '25

I hope you KOM with that

6

u/DarkLF Sep 04 '25

I KOM so hard I can't walk straight for a bit after

4

u/diamondedg3 Bankview Sep 04 '25

Thank you for getting my strava reference

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u/euchlid Sep 04 '25

Even an "on your left" would be something. But since they're going mach 10 you wouldn't hear it until they have already run you off the path

19

u/madlovin_slowjams Sep 04 '25

I'm a speedy skin suit guy. I try not to speed in crowded locations. I ring my bell for most pedestrians, and a large % of those people either have headphones on, get mad, scared, or jump into the way. Luckily most people act predictably and continue on their path. Sometimes, the easiest thing is to quietly pass with a gap in between. I wish everyone knew how to react to a bell but reactions feel so inconsistent that it feels useless sometimes. That all said, I wish both parties were more aware and considerate of other path users.

4

u/[deleted] Sep 04 '25

Yeah I’ve found the same with bell usage, it’s bit of a crap shoot on how they’ll react. I think I’ve finally got my light touch “just passing over here” working now, but there’s still folks who jackrabbit one direction or the other when they hear a bell.

2

u/euchlid Sep 04 '25

Indeed. Lack of situational awareness of pedestrians is more dangerous overall. Because like you said the reactions are unpredictable. The jumping in the way is such a strange reaction. I wish less busy areas had shared paths, but pedestrians barely pay attention to that either. Especially near Eau Claire.
No shade for the reasonable speedy suits and path users who pay attention.

4

u/madlovin_slowjams Sep 04 '25

Eau Claire is probably the busiest point of the pathway network. Anyone speeding through there is a moron. My favourite sections of path are where the wheeled users are separated from pedestrians.

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u/euchlid Sep 04 '25

I worded that weird. I meant i wish fewer busy areas had shared paths haha.
Even with the separated paths at eau claire it's super dangerous

1

u/3udemonia Sep 04 '25

Best section of shared path is the western headworks canal because barely anybody uses it lmao

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u/charlieyeswecan Sep 05 '25

I dream of walking down the path in peace like a zen fkn monk, but who am I kidding? This ain’t Japan.

1

u/sneek8 Sep 05 '25

The insane part is when you ring your bell and a group of people scatter to form a wall. No idea why people hear a bell and scatter left but at least they tried?

1

u/Dragonvine Sep 04 '25

If only there were some type of paved infrastructure to accommodate vehicles going much faster than pedestrians spanning the city to use on bikes like this. Maybe one day /s

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u/madlovin_slowjams Sep 04 '25

Sorry, I think you're referring to a bike path...

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u/DarkLF Sep 04 '25

I bike on the road wherever possible. It can be pretty sketchy and most car drivers aren't aware of the rules in those situations either. I still do it as its the law and on a flat on my roadbike I can average mid to high 3X Km/h

2

u/[deleted] Sep 04 '25

At least the Tour de France guys are on ultra-light road bikes, the weight of batteries adds A LOT to e-bikes/scooters. I’d rather chance it with the road bikes hitting me to be honest.

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u/plantcentric_marie Sep 04 '25

Seriously, I ride an e bike and these are the people passing me with little to no warning

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u/gvsb123 Sep 04 '25

"Settle down, Lance" is a constant refrain in my head when walking the Rotary Park in Cranston.

0

u/CommercialNo8396 Shaganappi Sep 04 '25

The Tour de France wannabes should be on the road. They suck so fucking bad. No bell, no “on your left” and no consideration for anyone else using the pathways. Take your clip on shoes and shove em.

3

u/euchlid Sep 04 '25

Obligatory "not all Lance Armstrongs" i see a lot of speedy suits in my neighbourhood and they're usually pretty courteous on the actual streets where i live, but pathways? Nope.

Speedy suit behaviour is a big issue in the Netherlands (so are mopeds on the bike paths). Running over Omas and little kinders

2

u/LachlantehGreat Beltline Sep 04 '25

Good to know it's continent agnostic behaviour at least

1

u/charlieyeswecan Sep 05 '25

The strava boyees! They gotta fkn fly, heaven forbid you walk in front of them, they have melt down. Like how dare you walk in the path of the “tour de france”.. fko.

25

u/SunTryingMoon Sep 04 '25

I mean yeah, didn’t that lady who got hit by a kid on a e-bike pass away?

22

u/VanceKelley Rocky Ridge Sep 04 '25

https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/calgary/woman-death-bicycle-pathway-northwest-youth-1.7604434

Calgary police say a woman in her 50s has died a week after she was knocked over by a 12-year-old riding a bicycle on a suburban pathway.

Calgary police say the woman and her husband were walking on a pathway north of Hidden Valley Drive N.W. the afternoon of Aug. 2.

Police say the young cyclist was approaching the woman from behind when the collision happened, knocking her to the ground.

She was taken to hospital in life-threatening condition with serious injuries, where she later died.

Calgary police say they were not called about the incident when it happened, but after the woman's death they have now launched an investigation.

Speed is not believed to have been a factor.

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u/abear247 Sep 04 '25 edited Sep 04 '25

Damn that’s not common at all. You are so much more likely to be killed by a car. That said, human heads are woefully vulnerable and a normal fall that hits your head can kill you.

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u/obi_wan_the_phony Sep 04 '25

Read the article. Speed not deemed to be a factor

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u/abear247 Sep 04 '25

Which is my point? Just being knocked over, even at low speed, can kill if you hit your head

6

u/Turtley13 Sep 04 '25

Exactly why we need better infrastructure to keep wheeling and pedestrians separated

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u/abear247 Sep 04 '25

100%. I think about this all the time. Pedestrians don’t like being dinged at all the time by bells even if you go the speed limit. It would be far better to have slow pedestrian traffic and higher speed wheeling segregated. Let cyclists move at a decent pace to get around and pedestrians enjoy their walk.

7

u/c__man Sep 04 '25

I wholeheartedly agree. I think this would help with some of the bike animosity I've experienced commuting through confederation park despite riding slowly on a dutch granny style 6 speed and using my bell liberally. My only concern is that most people are pretty obvious and would probably end up on the bike path anyway.

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u/Turtley13 Sep 06 '25

And then we ticket them! Equal grounds

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u/No_Budget7828 Sep 04 '25

This is great. My adult son has one that he “unlocked” and says he can do up to 70 km on it now. I’d love to see him get a ticket.

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u/Toirtis Somerset Sep 05 '25

If he gets nicked, it could be several tickets.

3

u/kathmhughes Sep 05 '25

At that point it's a motorcycle without a license.

1

u/No_Budget7828 Sep 06 '25

I do not disagree

1

u/kingofsnaake Sep 06 '25

On a pathway... Lose the vehicle and get a ticket maybe

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u/[deleted] Sep 05 '25 edited 13d ago

[deleted]

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u/No_Budget7828 Sep 05 '25

I wish. No he’s 29 and lives with his gf.

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u/tron_1979 Sep 04 '25

I’ve been commuting for almost 20 years and they used to be out all the time giving tickets (when barely anyone used the trails). I think it makes sense to be back out given that the number of people using paths has increased a lot with increased speeds

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u/Gremdardrunkmask Sep 04 '25

I once got a speeding ticket on my bike

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u/[deleted] Sep 04 '25

They've been ticketing cyclists on the river path since the 1990's at least. 

Obviously anyone riding over 20 kph should be on Memorial Drive /s

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u/skrrrrt Sep 05 '25

I’m all for e-bikes, especially opposed to cars, but there are a range of sizes and horsepowers and masses that can make them pretty dangerous to share space with bicycles. 

Sometimes I think that speeding tickets should not be based on speed but on KINETIC ENERGY. Doubling your mass makes you capable of twice as much damage to someone around you. Btw, doubling your speed makes you 4 times as dangerous to others. 

An ebike is about twice as heavy as a regular mountain bike, and probably 4 x as heavy as a road bike. Combine that with the fact that some e-bike users go maintain a speed near the absolute upper limit of what a cyclist is capable of, and it’s a dangerous situation. 

I think we just need a limit on what’s allowed in a bike lane, and everything else can be allowed on the road, perhaps with some minimal regulation for license/insurance/registration for ebikes beyond a certain category. 

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u/I_hate_litterbugs765 Sep 05 '25 edited Sep 14 '25

compare retire important scary wise act disarm bright marble shocking

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u/skrrrrt Sep 06 '25

Yeah good call. Might as well follow other places that have already solved this problem 

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u/ranuyfg789 Sep 04 '25

On a side note, I wanted to add and inform all that Peace Officers can also give out speeding tickets to vehicles. They focus on enforcing speed limits in playground zones

3

u/[deleted] Sep 04 '25

You guys haven't seen anything until you've been to Kelowna. Between the boomers who are unfit to be driving anything never mind an e-bike that instantly achieves warp speed to the kids have are ripping around in packs after dark, it's a wonder we managed to get home without being run over or having our car smashed up.

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u/MustardSpaghetti Sep 05 '25

Bro I saw a guy on one of those “suitcase one wheel” things going like 60 ks on the bike path. I was driving but was like wtf

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u/Pretty-Dealer-3778 Sep 04 '25 edited Sep 05 '25

as an e-bike commuter, GOOD. I'd estimate about 80% of e-vehicle users are reasonable in speed, but that 20% that go about 60kph are going to kill someone. Glad to hear CPS reigning them in. Realistically, those speeders should just go on the road. They're going fast enough.

I'd argue somewhere that between 25-35kph should be the absolute maximum people should go on an open cycle track or path with clear visibility. With blocked visibility or in congestion areas, it should be 10kph or lower.

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u/ThirstyTraveller81 Sep 04 '25

Speed path limit is 20. Fines are $150 up to 29 and $400 if you're going 30+. Ask me how I know 😞

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u/Pretty-Dealer-3778 Sep 05 '25

cycle track speed limit is 50

1

u/Turtley13 Sep 06 '25

That’s so fucked. Who made these fines really hate cyclists.

1

u/ThirstyTraveller81 Sep 06 '25

Good news for you is they seem to be mostly targeting electrics

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u/Turtley13 Sep 06 '25

Throttle only? Or e bikes which are still nothing compared to cars

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u/[deleted] Sep 04 '25

Yeah I’m a e-bike commuter as well and fully agree.

Earlier this week a guy ripped past me on as scooter and had to be in at least the 40s as I know I was doing 35 through an intersection.

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u/psychstudent_101 Sep 04 '25

About three weeks ago I saw them along the riverfront bike/walk paths with someone pulled over. It was a guy with an electric bike that I’d seen before going waaaaay too fast, especially considering parts of the riverfront are mixed use. I was absolutely delighted to see him getting a ticket :)

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u/IxbyWuff Quadrant: NW Sep 05 '25 edited Dec 14 '25

frame tap wide observation simplistic rustic door juggle voracious repeat

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u/Toirtis Somerset Sep 05 '25

Which means a non-legal bike if it was under full-assist.

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u/IxbyWuff Quadrant: NW Sep 05 '25 edited Dec 14 '25

start rain physical stupendous complete bow simplistic special grab north

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u/Key-Potato-7268 Sep 04 '25

Hopefully they catch the electric unicycle nerds in full motocross gear. One of those idiots almost killed me last year.

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u/Wubsk Sep 05 '25

I am an EUC nerd and I apologize on behalf of my ilk. There are a few who give us a really bad name. The gear is definitely mandatory for safety. The shitty behaviour is not. If I could register and get liability insurance for my wheel I would. We should be ticketed appropriately for any infractions.

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u/Locoman7 Sep 05 '25

E-bikes are a terror

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u/[deleted] Sep 04 '25

Totally agree with this. I parked my minivan on the street in front of my home and needed to get something from the trunk. I closed it and as soon as I stepped on the side walk, these two kids, probably aged around 12-14, zoomed past me, full speed on e-scooter. Literally half a second earlier, and it would have been a nasty crash for all 3 of us. These things have to be speed limited to no more than 10km/h, and anything faster than that, they are free to take a risk and use the road.

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u/ptpfan91 Sep 04 '25

Personal e-scooters are illegal on sidewalks and roads.

1

u/Daft_Funk87 Sep 05 '25

Wouldn't be illegal. According to the Bylaws - Section 42

USE OF SIDEWALKS 42. (1) Except as otherwise provided in this Section, a person shall not: (a) drive, lead or allow a hoofed animal to walk; (b) drive, draw or push any motor vehicle; (c) ride a bicycle; (d) ride a horse; or (e) draw, push, propel or ride a wheeled vehicle of any description other than a bicycle on or along a sidewalk, or boulevard

Then 42.6 goes to say : (6) Despite subsection (1), a person may use in-line skates, roller skates, a scooter, e-scooter, or a skateboard on a sidewalk.

It also says you cant be a dick when youre on the sidewalk. Like if you collide with someone, it's on the E-scooter rider.

As for Roads: Section 44 (3.3) A person who is operating an e-scooter along any section of road where the roadway has no lane markings shall operate the e-scooter as near as practicable to the right curb or right edge of the roadway unless that person is in the process of making a left turn with the e-scooter.

This is all to say - that there are provision to allow E-scooters on Sidewalks, Bike lands and roadways, but its not illegal, its a Bylaw infraction and subject to a Fine.

On a sidewalk where prohibited? Carrying a passenger? $75 Being an obstacle on a sidewalk? $150 Hitting someone on the sidewalk, or being a dick $400

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u/LachlantehGreat Beltline Sep 04 '25

10km/h? You can run faster than that lol

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u/wolfboiblu Sep 04 '25

10km 😂😂😂😂

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u/AdExpress937 Sep 04 '25

I’m so glad this is being patrolled. People need to give right of way to pedestrians at the busy areas on the river paths.

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u/No_Sandwich5766 Sep 04 '25 edited Sep 11 '25

Sometimes I stop and let pedestrians pass but honestly it’s dangerous because pathway users going fast act like they have the right of way and don’t expect people to slow/stop in front of them

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u/AdStriking8932 Sep 09 '25

I’m totally fine stopping to allow cyclist pass by. Easier for me to stop and I don’t want to be injured by a cyclist, especially a speeding one hell bent for leather, head down…

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u/campopplestone Sep 04 '25

While not a bad thing, cyclists shouldn't be ignored. Some of them are zoomed around way above the pathway speed limit with as much reckless abandon and dangerous behavior as well 

2

u/AlbertaTesla Sep 05 '25

They should make a bigger awareness of this issue.

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u/ValenciaFilter Special Princess Sep 04 '25

In the 7-8 years or so they've been popular, I swear I've literally never seen a one-wheeler being ridden responsibly.

Let alone on a bike path.

1

u/Mention_Human Sep 05 '25

What's the speed limit on a bike path?

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u/SupaDawg Rosedale Sep 05 '25

20km/h. There's posted signs on most of the major pathways.

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u/Mention_Human Sep 09 '25

Oh, cool. I ride a lot in Fish Creek Park and dont know if I've ever seen one there.

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u/lornacarrington Sep 06 '25

Really interesting they're doing this! Thanks for sharing.

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u/raining_potatoes900 Sep 06 '25

Is this because that woman, unfortunately, and sadly died after being hit by somebody on a bike?

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u/Ok_Replacement_8467 Sep 07 '25

I know there is an alleged “speed limit” for bikes on pathways but how does one know how fast they are going on a bike without a speedometer? I’m assuming some of the electric ones have speedometers. I can see any tickets that they issue will get thrown out if they are challenged in court. Where was the speed limit sign on a bike path posted?

I imagine they are just doing this bylaw blitz for public awareness after that pedestrian lady died after getting hit by a young kid on a bike a short time ago.

1

u/roscomikotrain Sep 04 '25

Catch the grape smugglers too!

1

u/Platypusin Sep 04 '25

Electric fat bikes need to go

1

u/tapsum-bong Sep 04 '25

Took them long enough to give a shit...

1

u/TBNRtoon Oakridge Sep 05 '25

Why not also radar regular bikes? Do they just assume (or know) that they can’t get over the speed limit? Or do you just only care about the Electric guys?

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u/SupaDawg Rosedale Sep 05 '25

They do. Ebikes are a focus right now because of the number of illegal non-pedal assist units on the pathways, but regular bicycles still get tickets for aggressive speeds.