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Saskatoon Cycles August 2025 Newsletter

Bike Valet: Final Stretch 2025

WEGO and more “Saturdays on Broadway” have come and gone, and the 2025 Bike Valet has now parked over 2600 bikes for the year! We’ve got some monster venues still ahead of us, and we’d love to have you get involved!

The event organizers have been working hard to create memorable and engaging festivities for the community (FIREWORKS! SHOPPING! RUNNING!), and we want to make sure everyone can get there hassle free and have their bikes cared for.

Check out the upcoming schedule and A) take part in the fun of the events, and/or B) pick up a quick two hour shift to help park and secure bikes for others.

The Bike Valet runs on volunteers, and the city runs on the participation of its citizens! Let’s make the fall season a busy and vibrant one for Saskatoon!

For more information on the Bike Valet, click here.

Upcoming Slow Rolls

August and September will be a busy time for the legendary Saskatoon Cycles Slow Rolls. Be sure to save the following dates so you don’t miss out on any of our leisurely group rides.

On Saturday, August 30, 2025 we’ll be doing our “Ride the Infrastructure, Part 2” journey. We’ll visit a different part of the city and observe the neighborhood paths and streets that make for safer and more enjoyable riding. Plan for a slightly longer ride, as this one will likely exceed the standard 10km or less distance for most Slow Rolls. *This ride begins at 2PM, departing from our default mustering point at Gather Local Market, 414 Avenue B South*

Monday, September 8, 2025 will mark the 5th Annual Cathy Watts Memorial Slow Roll to honour our past board co-chair and local “happy agitator” for cycling advocacy. Cathy was a fierce organizer and passionate cyclist (among other things) and we celebrate her life and community spirit every year on the date of her passing. *This ride will assemble at D’lish by Tish Cafe, with a departure time of 5:30PM.*

On Saturday, September 20th, 2025, we’ll be collaborating again with Nuit Blanche Saskatoon for the annual “Glow Roll”, where cyclists become “part of the art”. This ride is a fantastic way to see the nighttime festival, while also offering bystanders an amazing visual smorgasbord as we light up the streets! *We’ll have more details on the route in the days to come, but you can prepare now to be on-site at 7:00PM, hopefully with lots of shiny bright flair!*

Center for Cycling Education Collaboration

We officially introduced our collaboration with the Center for Cycling Education back in May, but we want to remind people of this highly affordable, easily accessible, and strategically beneficial course that you can take at your own pace.

With our discount code, the cost of the course is only $25. No matter your experience on a bike, the material will have something for you, and if you don’t feel you’ve gained skills, there’s a 30 day money-back guarantee. There is zero risk to try out “Traffic Smarts for Cyclists”.

Here’s the original pitch from May:

Whether you’re a rider with many years of experience, or someone planning to head out for the first time into traffic (or onto the Meewasin Trail), there is much to learn.

The Center for Cycling Education (The CCE) has a ‘Traffic Smarts for Cyclists’ online course that will add significantly to your tool kit, increasing your competence and comfort through innovative, effective, and enjoyable training.

Topics include:

  • Choosing & configuring your equipment
  • An explanation of the laws (and your rights)
  • Choosing your place on the road
  • Proper approaches to intersections (and how to trigger a traffic light)
  • And so much more.

(Here are some testimonials.)

Sample frame from the CCE “Traffic Smarts for Cyclists”.

Saskatoon Cycles has partnered with The CCE and we’ve arranged for a $10 discount for you.

More details on the course can be found here: saskatooncycles.org/traffic-smarts-for-cyclists/

Working with cycling instructors in both Canada and the United States, The CCE creates programs that exceed nationally recognized standards.

City of Saskatoon 2026-2029 Draft Strategic Plan Survey

The City of Saskatoon is asking for feedback on its 2026-2029 Draft Strategic Plan through a quick survey. It’s your way to comment on the City’s preliminary vision of its general priorities for the next few years.

There are a lot of important topics covered in the Draft Strategic Plan, but for the purposes of a cycling advocacy group, we’re keen to make sure people are especially supportive of at least one proposed priority in Transportation: “create a safe and efficient network for all types of travel”.

If you’re the type that likes to be a part of consultation processes and having your opinion counted at every step of deliberations, then take a few minutes to read the Draft Strategic Plan and weigh in! It’s a lot better to be involved early than involved too late!

CLICK HERE FOR THE CITY’S DRAFT STRATEGIC PLAN SURVEY

Honouring Linda Moskalyk

Linda Moskalyk passed away on August 4, 2025. She was an enthusiastic cyclist and could often be found joining a Saskatoon Cycles slow roll or volunteering at the Bike Valet. She hosted (with her husband Tom) at least one “Bikes and Banter” event at their home, where she displayed some of her mixed media bicycle art.

Screenshot from Linda’s prairieartist.com

Linda’s real passion was for trees, and this was obvious not only in her art, but in her very core. She was involved with SOS Trees Coalition, the local organization dedicated to protecting Saskatoon’s urban forest, for nearly 30 years and led as its President since 2020. She initiated Arbor Week and helped build connections between SOS Trees and other organizations, including Saskatoon Cycles.

You can read more about Linda’s life at the SOS Trees Coalition page here.

If you wish to honor Linda, donations can be made to SOS Trees Coalition and/or follow her passion and plant a tree.

Infrastructure Update

Exciting things are happening for active transportation in Saskatoon!

The CN Railway crossing at Assiniboine Drive, proposed as early as 2016 as a solution for pedestrians and cyclists trying to get from Lawson Heights and River Heights to the North Industrial Area (Millar Avenue), is approaching completion. When finished, the crossing will finally allow residents to legally traverse the railway tracks to access neighborhoods without having to travel as far north as 51st Street or as far south as 33rd Street.

The crossing is due to be completed mid to late September 2025.

The Munroe Bikeway, from College Drive to 14th Street, is also nearing its official unveiling. Slated to be finished at the end of August 2025, this stretch of reduced speed roadway will connect the U of S campus to the East/West Bikeway of 14th Street East, and hopefully act to reduce congestion at the College/Wiggins intersection.

Bit by bit, the City of Saskatoon is adding stretches of infrastructure to create and connect active transportation corridors. This is in alignment with our SafeConnect vision for the city, and we’re enthused to see each development.

Be sure you utilize these upgrades whenever you can. Not only will your trip have a better chance of being calmer, safer, and more efficient, it will send a strong message that these advancements are appreciated and important.

Donate

Your donations give us the resources to press toward a Saskatoon where cycling is a viable, year-round mode of transportation that is safe, convenient, and comfortable for all ages.

We want families to be able to simply hop on their bikes to go grab an ice cream and enjoy the beauty of Saskatoon. For you or your partner to pick up groceries or a library book. And we really want you to be able to commute to work and back safely and conveniently.

Your donation helps us work on these three ‘pillars’ of cycling development for Saskatoon:

  • Infrastructure – A safe, convenient, comfortable, and well-maintained cycling network throughout the city that allows cyclists to go from every neighbourhood to key destinations.
  • Ridership – Educate, encourage, and promote cycling so more people choose bicycles as a convenient and safe transportation option year round.
  • Culture – Educate, encourage, and promote diversity in ridership with respectful inclusion of all modes of transportation.

Please Donate Today