Bylaw lists only 18 legal toboggan hills locations in Calgary.

[Otto-matic]

It's a favourite winter pastime for many, but did you know that tobogganing in undesignated areas in Calgary could land you a ticket?
There are 18 designated spots in Calgary for the popular winter activity. Sledding anywhere else is illegal and could land you a $100 fine.
Todd Reichardt, an employee of Calgary's parks department, said the city has not issued any tickets to rogue tobogganers. He said the city's aim in restricting the activity to approved sites is to ensure a safe experience for sledders.
"We have our staff go out weekly (and) they will inspect the sites to determine there is nothing impeding the toboggans as they go down the hill, " he said.

As outlined in the Parks and Pathways Bylaw, it is prohibited to toboggan or sled downhill in any park except in the parks listed below:

• Big Marlborough Park dry pond - 6021 Madigan Dr. N.E.
• Confederation Park - 2800 10th St. N.W. (north side of park immediately west of Rosemont Community Centre).
• Deerfoot Athletic Park - 14th Avenue and 16A Street N.E.
• Glendale Park - 25 Avenue and 45th Street S.W. (west side).
• Kingsland dry pond - Heritage Drive S.W. behind the Rose Kohn and Jimmie Condon arenas.
• Maple Ridge dry pond - Mapleglade Close S.E.
• Marlborough Community Association - 636 Marlborough Way N.E.
• McKenzie Towne​ ​- 160 McKenzie Towne Dr. S.E.
• Monterey Park - Catalina Boulevard and California Boulevard N.E. (northeast corner only).
• Prairie Winds Park - 223 Castleridge Blvd. (north side of hill).
• Richmond Green - 33rd Avenue and 25 Street S.W.
• Royal Oak - 50 Royal Birkdale Dr. N.W. (north side of hill).
• Rundle dry pond - 4120 Rundlethorn Dr. N.E. (behind Rundle Elementary School).
• Sacramento dry pond - Sacramento Drive and 104th Avenue S.W.
• Scarboro - 15th Avenue and 16th Street S.W.
• Signal Hill - Sirocco Drive and Signal Hill Heights S.W.
• St. Andrew's Heights - 2504 13th Avenue N.W.
• Stanley Park - 4011 1A Street S.W.

Seems like a pretty odd bylaw to have...

http://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/calgar...ions-1.2894356

[Otto-matic]

Here's the bylaw.

http://www.calgary.ca/CA/city-clerks...ksPathways.pdf

I had no idea it even existed.

[Locke]

I see. Well. This is the first I've heard of this and I've lived here my whole life.

[polak]

Who in the flying #### is complaining about these things loud enough to actually get a law put into place?

Jesus I'm so happy I grew up before all of this.

[shermanator]

Some cities are banning tobogganning outright because they are having to pay damages to people who are seriously injured. So, while it's a topic being discussed, probably a good time to point out where it is and isn't legal.

In 2013, the city of Hamilton was ordered to pay lawyer Bruno Uggenti $900,000 after he injured his spine on a toboggan run — this despite the city’s tobogganing ban.
In Edmonton that same year, Samantha Giese filed a $900,000 lawsuit claiming she was injured when her sled collided with a ski jump.

http://news.nationalpost.com/2015/01...lity-concerns/

[Cowboy89]

The city pays people to inspect hills weekly for tobogganing?

As much as I want to avoid sounding like a typical Calgary Sun reader . . . .

EDIT: I now see the post above me that talks about how much lawsuits from idiots can cost cities.

[Locke]

Originally Posted by Cowboy89

The city pays people to inspect hills weekly for tobogganing?

As much as I want to avoid sounding like a typical Calgary Sun reader . . . .

I was just thinking the same thing.

Thats like being the snowplow driver in Hawaii.

[calgarygeologist]

Originally Posted by Locke

I see. Well. This is the first I've heard of this and I've lived here my whole life.

I remember hearing about this a year (maybe two) ago. In my opinion, it is a bogus by-law. When it comes to sledding I will personally take my kids anywhere that I deem is safe and open to the public. I'll take responsibility if we end up getting injured or die because of our actions.

[Slava]

Is it more a case of the bylaw being in place so the city can say that they're not liable if something happens elsewhere?

[Joborule]

Originally Posted by Slava

Is it more a case of the bylaw being in place so the city can say that they're not liable if something happens elsewhere?

That's my interpretation. It's just to cover their ass if anything happens.

[Mazrim]

I wrecked my foot sledding down a hill beside a school in West Kelowna when I was kid. I was on crutches for weeks. I don't think any point did we ever think of suing the school district. It was my own damn fault for being stupid on a GT Snowracer (man, I loved that thing).

[Muta]

The city is a bunch of GT Snow Racists.

[bc-chris]

Originally Posted by Mazrim

I wrecked my foot sledding down a hill beside a school in West Kelowna when I was kid. I was on crutches for weeks. I don't think any point did we ever think of suing the school district. It was my own damn fault for being stupid on a GT Snowracer (man, I loved that thing).

boucherie or pringle??

[Locke]

Ah the ol' GT Snow Racer.

That thing was a one-way ticket to hell.

[Jimmy Stang]

When did this bylaw come into effect, anyway? I get the impression that it is only being talked about right now because of the lawsuit in Hamilton, but has probably existed for ages without being enforced. Just an ass-covering thing by the city's lawyers. Inevitably someone will toboggan into a brick wall and try and blame the city.

[Addick]

Originally Posted by Slava

Is it more a case of the bylaw being in place so the city can say that they're not liable if something happens elsewhere?

Bingo. With other cities being sued, I think The City deserves some credit here for their measured approach.

[WhiteTiger]

Originally Posted by Locke

Ah the ol' GT Snow Racer.

That thing was a one-way ticket to hell.

My brother and I took the skis off of ours, and melted the back ends a bit, then bent them up. We had a GT that went both forwards and backwards...nearly killed ourselves a couple of times on that thing.

[Codes]

Originally Posted by Mazrim

I wrecked my foot sledding down a hill beside a school in West Kelowna when I was kid. I was on crutches for weeks. I don't think any point did we ever think of suing the school district. It was my own damn fault for being stupid on a GT Snowracer (man, I loved that thing).

Hmmmm....must have been Hudson Elementary? That's a decent hill!

[BlackArcher101]

Originally Posted by Muta

The city is a bunch of GT Snow Racists.

[Jimmy Stang]

Originally Posted by Addick

Bingo. With other cities being sued, I think The City deserves some credit here for their measured approach.

Exactly. They could ban it outright to avoid lawsuits, knowing that people would go ahead and do it anyway. By designating places for it, they can ensure that city-owned fences, roadways, ponds, utilities, etc. aren't going to create any obvious lawsuits.

I doubt that anyone has ever been ticketed under this section of the bylaw. It is purely about liability.

Edit: Unless, of course, they were really endangering themselves or others. I could imagine that the bylaw officer might whip out this section. But anyone not actually being an idiot and simply tobogganing with their kids? Not likely.