Vauxhall raises motorized bike use concerns to RCMP

Posted on May 28, 2026 by Vauxhall Advance

By Nikki Jamieson
Vauxhall Advance
Local Journalism Initiative Reporter

While crime statistics are trending down, traffic safety remains a concern for Vauxhall council.

During Vauxhall town council’s regular May 19 meeting, they met with a delegation from the Taber-Vauxhall RCMP to discuss their April statistics.

The department received eight calls for service in town and responded to three Criminal Code violations. They also patrolled the town 28 times.

For Criminal Code offenses, Sgt. Stewart Gemmill reported that persons crimes were down 26 per cent compared to the same period last year, and there was a 19 per cent decrease in property crimes, including eight more cases of break and enters and eight fewer cases of motor vehicle thefts, and four fewer other Criminal Code cases. 

The department laid charges in four investigations in April. Ongoing investigations include two break and enters to oil lease sites and a fraud case. There were also charges laid for a theft of a motor vehicle.

Gemmill said he had received a message from the Alberta Sheriffs, who had been “coming up here pretty regularly”, and “they’ve been having a lot of success in and around Vauxhall”.

Mayor Kim Cawley noted that, as typical around this time, motorbikes, dirt bikes, and mini bike use was becoming an issue in town, and asked if the department can keep an eye out for irresponsible use. Mini bikes, in particular, were being used a lot around playgrounds, and “somebody is going to get hurt”. 

 “Coming through an intersection, they’re not slowing down for stop signs or anything, they’re just flying right through,” said Cawley.

Coun. Shelley DeLeeuw also raised concerns about unsafe e-bike use in town, noting some can keep up with vehicle traffic. Gemmill noted that e-bikes are really tricky, as “the law hasn’t been written on it yet”. While the last time he looked into it was a year ago, they have been treated as pedal bikes in the past, and he will need to look back into it to see if any changes in their treatment have been made.

Coun. Russell Norris asked about methods to slow down drivers besides speed bumps. Gemmil said lane narrowing at crosswalks, where a lane closes and a cement barrier sticks out to protect pedestrians as they enter the crosswalk, works, citing a neighbourhood in Coaldale.

Council received the report as information.