Two Calgary youth are facing charges after police responded to a reckless electric dirt bike stunting and driving incident in the southwest on Tuesday.
Early in the morning of Aug. 18, Calgary Police Service officers attended the community of Coach Hill, where they found the three riders, who then fled from police. HAWCS helicopters assisted in tracking the bikes, and two of the riders were eventually arrested.
The pair, who cannot be named under the Youth Criminal Justice Act, have since been charged with dangerous operation of a vehicle and flight from police.
Anyone with information about the incident to contact their non-emergency line at (403) 266-1234, or submit an anonymous tip to Crime Stoppers.
Calgary police have emphasized that it is illegal to operate electric dirt bikes on public roads, sidewalks, pathways, or parks, and vowed that doing so will result in consequences.
The latest incident comes as local officials and community advocates have been raising concerns about privately owned, high-powered electric scooters and bikes, amid enforcement challenges stemming from the shared responsibility between the city and the province.
Reckless use of small e-vehicles growing more common
Potentially hazardous e-scooter and e-bike activity has been on the rise in Calgary recently, with the Coach Hill incidents following reports last May of an “e-motorcycle” driving through a playground zone with children present.
“Incidents like this are an important reminder that as warmer weather returns and e-bikes and e-scooters become more popular, we all need to understand the rules and our shared responsibilities,” read the news release.
Since the Tuesday morning incident involved the use of high-speed electric dirt bikes, which are completely illegal in residential areas, it fell under the police’s jurisdiction. E-scooters and e-bikes, however, are allowed under certain circumstances.
As explained in an earlier LWC article, the City of Calgary can issue suspensions and parking fines for vehicles owned by shared micromobility providers, while privately owned ones are subject to the rules established by the provincial government.
These require that e-scooters and e-bikes be ridden on pathways, not on roadways or sidewalks. E-bike riders, specifically, must wear helmets, and all vehicles must not exceed 20 km/h.
Given the recent popularity of these vehicles and the personal and property damage they can cause, the city has urged the province to update its rules, but no timeline has been provided.
