BANFF – The Town of Banff is considering relaxing rules for skateboarding in town.
Banff’s governance and finance committee has asked administration to come up with draft amendments to the traffic bylaw that address removing current no-go zones for skateboards on Banff roads, such as Banff Avenue and Bear Street.
Amanda Arbuckle, manager of recreation services for the Town of Banff, said the proposal is based on recent research and trends on the growing recreational activity, and more specifically, skateboarding as a form of active transportation.
“The intention is that we would open up all of the roadways and say essentially ‘you can go skateboard, inline skate or scooter on the roadways if you’re over the age of 12, as you do a bicycle,’ ” she said.
Skateboarding is currently permitted on Banff’s roads and paths where bicycles are allowed. There are, however, some exclusionary areas such as Banff Avenue, Mountain Avenue, Bow Falls Road, Tunnel Mountain Road, Buffalo Street and St. Julien Way, among others.
With the successful construction of a new permanent skatepark in 2017, skateboarding and scootering appear to be growing recreational activities in the town by people of all ages.
Arbuckle said there are many benefits to skateboarding, adding that many studies have also shown that most people who skateboard for recreation also do so for active transportation purposes.
“The use type isn’t so much ‘I am going to go to the skate park for recreation use.’ It’s ‘I am using that skateboard or I am using that scooter to get to school, or to get to my place of work,’ ” she said.
Councillor Ted Christensen was open to the discussion, but he said it needed to be had in a larger context that also considers education, enforcement, safety and liability and a reduced speed zone to 30-km/h.
“I would like to see us consider what it would look like to reduce the speed in the townsite,” he said.
“That’s why we brought a reduction of the speed limit to Banff Avenue ... to enhance the safety of our cyclists who were coming in off trails from Canmore.”
For Coun. Corrie DiManno, skateboarding is another piece of the transportation puzzle in Banff.
“As we look toward the longer term strategic goal that we have around active modes of transportation, as well as our environmental goals, I think skateboarding fits in beautifully with that,” she said.
“It’s a way that a big part our demographic gets around town.”
Coun. Chip Olver had some concerns about potential hazards on steeper roads.
“If you’re on a steep hill and you’re riding a skateboard and you fall, what happens to the skateboard?” she said.
“I don’t understand if a board can continue as a projectile on a steep hill if the rider has fallen off.”
While Arbuckle acknowledged a skateboard would likely run away from the owner, she said people will choose the places where they feel safe and have the skills and abilities to ride on.
“People will go where they feel comfortable … and that usually is tied to level of experience and ability to control,” she said.
“The reality is you’re most likely not going to have a novice on the top of Tunnel Mountain coming down.”
Skateboarder John Walters said he is favour of changing the bylaw that makes it illegal to skateboard on Banff Avenue and Bear Street.
He said he believes skateboarders have earned the right to use their skateboards as a green mode of transportation.
“I look forward to not getting yelled at for rolling to work on my skateboard,” he said in a letter to council.
Rude Boys and Rude Girls Snow and Skate has also urged council to consider legalizing skateboarding on Banff Avenue and Bear Street.
Abby Furrer, the general manager, said she estimates 70 per cent of the company’s skateboard sales are for means of transportation.
“Folks are looking for an easier and more environmentally friendly way of navigating the clustered sidewalks and streets of Banff in summer,” she said.
Banff’s municipal enforcement reports that there were a total of three complaints over illegal skateboarding in 2020 and seven fines issued.
