Saskatoon Cycles February 2023 Newsletter
The “Ice Breaker” Slow Roll: March 4
It’s not looking likely that the physical ice in Saskatoon will be breaking up in the next couple of weeks, but we’re looking forward to getting out for a fun social ride that might help us all “break the ice” with some fellow cyclists!
We’ll do a standard roll around parts of the Meewasin and take in some crisp winter scenery.
Join us:
- Where: the Fire Vessel by River Landing (just south of the Remai Modern Gallery)
- When: Saturday, March 4, 2023 at 2PM
- What (to bring): a mug for hot beverages and an appetite for snacks!
We hope to see you out there!
Winter BYXE Week 2023
Saskatoon’s annual winter cycling week has come and gone, but not before leaving behind a lot of frosty rides, tasty treats, and warm memories. Saskatoon Cycles and the City of Saskatoon paired up once again to present a series of cycling activities designed to encourage winter cycling for work, play, errands, exercise, and everything else in between.
Highlights included:
- the pre-emptive Ice Cycle slow roll on Feb. 11
- decorated bikes to find at different locations around the city
- a scavenger hunt
- a QR Tour
- Bike to Work Day, featuring enthusiastic commuter stations
We worked hard to get winter cycling into the public consciousness, with numerous media interviews and a vigorous social media campaign. You can check out some of the videos here or on our YouTube channel.
We want to acknowledge all the great community support that came from individual riders, businesses, and organizations that helped make the event successful. Every selfie of participation, every treat at every station, and every prize collected from cool businesses makes these events thrive, and we appreciate every bit!
Huge thanks to commuter station hosts:
- Venn Coffee Roasters (featuring Darkside Donuts)
- Prism Coffee
- Urban Systems
- Ecoquest Outdoor Program
- City of Saskatoon
- 9 Mile Legacy Brewing
- Fable Ice Cream
Special thanks to our prize donors:
- Bike Doctor
- Bruce’s Cycle Works
- Doug’s Spoke ‘N Sport (at 9 Mile commuter station)
- Federated Co-operatives Limited
- Peryton Books
- Sparrow Coffee
- Sustain Market
- The Better Good
- Turning the Tide Bookstore
Also, the City of Saskatoon is an important partner in BYXE Week in many ways. We thank the transportation staff for their enthusiastic support and ongoing efforts to make Saskatoon a better place to cycle.
Bike Valet
We’re excited to gear up for another fun season of the Bike Valet!
Last year, we parked almost 4,000 bicycles at 10 different events and festivals, and in 2023 we’re hoping to do even more! We’re already signing up with organizers and inviting everyone (see below) to pick up the first shifts on offer for the season. You can help us deliver the best bicycle attendant service anywhere!
Our first event of 2023 is Seedy Saturday on – you guessed it!- Saturday, March 11, 2023.
You can sign up as a Seedy Saturday Bike Valet volunteer here.
Looking ahead to the Nutrien Children’s Festival (June 1 -4), it will be mandatory for potential Bike Valet volunteers to get a valid criminal record check including a vulnerable sector check in order to operate onsite. The fees for these checks are waived* when accompanied by a volunteer letter (see below).
If you live in Saskatoon, download the Children’s Festival letter for Saskatoon City Police
If you live outside Saskatoon, download the Children’s Festival letter for the RCMP
*There may be fees for online processing if applications are not made in person.
If you already have a valid vulnerable sector check letter (processed within the last two (2) years), you will not need to apply for one this year. Please bring your letter with you for Festival staff verification.
If you have any questions about this year’s Bike Valet, please contact us at bikevalet@saskatooncycles.org
We’re looking forward to seeing you out for another great year of fun, professional bike valet service!
New Friends of Cycling: Turning the Tide Bookstore
Established in 2003, Turning the Tide Bookstore is Saskatoon’s alternative bookstore, offering an excellent selection of brand new fiction across the genres and non-fiction books on current events, sustainable living, and all topics generally making the world a better place. You can also find cookbooks, puzzles, graphic novels, magazines, and even olive oil and soap!
We’re very excited to have this local institution in our corner. The bookstore is a partner with the ZenZED bike delivery service, a regular contributor of prizes for our various programs or events, and generally great community builders. We hope you’ll cycle by and say hello sometime!
Donations
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 your kids and their grandma 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.
