Photo 786425 © Ijansempoi | Dreamstime.com

By Tiffany Goodwein

bylaw repealed

After 18 years skateboarding downtown will be allowed

May 17, 2022 | 2:16 AM

MEDICINE HAT, AB- Cheers emanated from the council gallery, after a unanimous vote put an end to a nearly 20-year-old skateboard bylaw that prohibited skateboarding in the city’s downtown core.

The moment was an exciting one for the Medicine Hat Skateboard Association. Their organization has been advocating for change for years.

“Very excited obviously it has been a long time coming and we were coming into this second and third reading quite positive and it turned out the way we hoped,” stated vice president Chris Nickel.

The bylaw was originally put in place 18 years ago, to address safety concerns from business owners in the downtown core.

WHAT'S ON

Here is what's on this weekend in Medicine Hat and area: Dec. 13-15

7h ago

IN THE COMMUNITY

Medicine Hat's Mustard Seed adding new shelter spaces at Alberta government's request

Dec 12, 2024

HOLIDAYS

Medicine Hat Kiwanis hosting Christmas dinner, applications due Friday

Dec 12, 2024

During the meeting, some councillors like Coun. Alison Van Dyke were quick to express their support for getting rid of the bylaw.

“From my perspective, I find that it is very easy to say no. But I think we need to think about why youth don’t want to stay in Medicine Hat, and how we can say yes to things that make a community more vibrant and desireable for them to stay,” she said.

But others on council weren’t so fast to jump on board. Mainly former police chief Andy McGrogan.

“I’m just really concerned and hope that we’ve really thought deeply about how we’ve ensured that the pedestrians that we are trying to attract down there are comfortable with the skateboarders, and other users which it is great to have them there,” he said, noting that he is not against skateboarders.

Under the bylaw change, skateboarding is prohibited on roadways. Skateboarders are also prohibited from interfering with someone on a sidewalk or riding on a sidewalk that is prohibited by a traffic control device.

Many others on council noted that trust and respect will be key going forward

“What I trust and hope is that we empower you to patrol and say ‘hey you just wrecked something that the taxpayer, and some of you are taxpayers and some of you are future taxpayers. So what I am hoping for is that my support is not in vain and that we don’t have to recant and go back,” Coun. Darren Hirsch said.

Skateboards won’t be the only new thing wheeling in parts of the city. City council also approved bylaw amendments that would allow for e-scooters in the city. Much like changes made to the skateboard bylaw, riders would be prohibited from using an e-scooter in a reckless manner, which includes interfering with other users on a pathway.
Having passengers on e-scooters is also not allowed under the new bylaw.