Saskatoon Cycles January 2022 Newsletter
Ice Cycle 2022
Join us!
Whether you’re a seasoned winter cyclist, or cold weather hesitant, this ride’s for you.
Thinking about transportation with a “C.A.R.” framework
By James Arnold, board member, Saskatoon Cycles
James Arnold offers a new way to look at the way you navigate your city, and shows you how to rate your route with key indicators.
Getting to know the Saskatoon Cycles board of directors: Dominic McKeith
At our AGM on November 3rd, 2021 three people joined our Board. We’ve already introduced you to Gordon Holtslander and Merlin Toth. Lastly, we present Dominic McKeith, a devoted year-round cyclist who works in IT.
Friends of Cycling program adds its newest members! Please welcome The Night Oven Bakery, Venn Coffee Roasters, and Darkside Donuts.
Three more local businesses have added their support to the work of Saskatoon Cycles through our Friends of Cycling program: The Night Oven Bakery, known for its handmade brick oven, Venn Coffee Roasters, tucked away in an alley off Dufferin Ave., and Darkside Donuts, a destination shop on Ave. H, where they offer a weekly fundraising donut for local groups.
If you haven’t already, drop in and thank them for their great community spirit, and treat yourself to something wonderful.
Zen and the Art of Bicycle Delivery
We have exciting news!
Saskatoon Cycles has been approved for a funding grant from Mitacs, a non-profit organization that provides funding for innovative Canadian research projects. Through their Business Strategy Internship Program, we’ve been given the opportunity to explore and develop a sustainable delivery service app called ZenZED (Zen Zero Emission Delivery).
ZenZED will utilize bicycles for all of its deliveries. The name means that we will be using principles of being Zen with our business model; we will not be competing with other courier businesses for speed, instead we will use nature trails and backroads to make sure our couriers are safe and sound before, during, and after delivering products. The program will:
- provide revenue for Saskatoon Cycles and bicycle couriers
- serve as an efficient, low emission delivery option for businesses and customers
- educate the community about the City of Saskatoon’s GHG reduction targets
- demonstrate the viability of cycling as a transportation mode.
Samuel Loran, a graduate of the Regional and Urban Planning program at U of S, is our Program Manager, and for research support, he’s worked closely with Dr. Ehab Diab, the University of Saskatchewan’s resident transportation planning expert.
The Better Good (one of our Friends of Cycling) played a vital role by generously donating the Saskatoon Cycles portion of the program. Without their help, this project would not have been possible.
With the funding now in place, we will finish the development of the app and continue working on recruiting local business partners who are interested in sustainable delivery practices.
We will soon also need delivery cyclists who want to serve the community and make some money with a bike and a backpack! Watch our newsletter and other announcements if you are interested.
