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By rdnewsNOW staff

The Golden Rule

City reminds residents to share spaces and stay safe and courteous on roads, trails and paths

Jul 27, 2025 | 9:00 AM

With warm weather drawing more people outdoors, The City of Red Deer is reminding residents to be courteous and cautious when using shared spaces like roads, sidewalks, trails, and multi-use paths.

Whether you’re walking the dog, cruising on a rented e-scooter, biking with the kids, or jogging solo, the city says it’s important to keep safety and respect top of mind for all users.

“These public spaces are for everyone, and that means we all share a role in making sure they’re enjoyable and safe,” said John Ferguson, Municipal Policing Services Manager with The City of Red Deer, in a press release. “It’s also important to know which activities are permitted in specific spaces, for example, under the Alberta Traffic Safety Act, all e-scooters are prohibited in public spaces unless they have a special permit granting authority to operate. In Red Deer, only e-scooters rented through the company Neuron have the authority to operate on sidewalks and on our trail system, personal e-scooters are not permitted.”

The city offers these tips for safe and respectful shared space use:

For pedestrians:

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• Walk on the right side of trails or sidewalks.
• Be aware of your surroundings. Avoid blocking the path, especially in groups. And ensure you are able to hear things around you.
• Keep pets on a short leash and clean up after them.

For cyclists, permitted (Neuron) e-scooter and e-bike users:

• Always yield to pedestrians.
• Ride at a safe speed and slow down in crowded or narrow areas.
• Use a bell or your voice to alert others when passing.
• Obey all traffic rules, including stop signs and signals when using roads.
  • Note: The Alberta Traffic Safety Act prohibits the use of miniature vehicles on public property. This includes personally owned e-scooters, e-dirt bikes (pocket bikes), golf carts and more.

For everyone:

• Stay to the right unless passing.
• Pass on the left, and only when safe to do so.
• Be predictable and signal your intentions with hand gestures or voice.
• Keep music volume low so you can hear what’s happening around you.

“We take great pride in our parks and trail system in Red Deer,” said John Eastwood, Parks Superintendent with The City of Red Deer. “We encourage all residents to treat shared spaces with the same courtesy you’d expect in return. Following basic etiquette and showing respect to others, makes room for everyone to enjoy Red Deer’s treasured trails and public areas safely.”

City officials say being aware of rules and regulations and showing a little courtesy goes a long way in preventing accidents and creating a positive environment for everyone.

For a detailed list of which vehicles are permitted or prohibited under the Alberta Traffic Safety Act, see the Government of Alberta’s Owning and Operating a Small Vehicle in Alberta document.