Saskatoon Cycles March 2020 Newsletter

Friends of Cycling: The Bike Doctor

We are pleased to introduce our first “Friends of Cycling” merchant: The Bike Doctor. Saskatoon Cycles appreciates their long-time support of our mission to make cycling a viable, year-round mode of transportation that is safe and convenient for all ages.

Need a new bike this spring? Accessories or cycling gear? A tune-up? Head to Bike Doctor. Be sure to tell them that you heard they were a Friend of Cycling in the Saskatoon Cycles newsletter. You can also follow Bike Doctor on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram.

Our new Friends of Cycling program recognizes bike-friendly businesses around town. Show them some love by shopping in stores proudly displaying the Friends of Cycling decal in their window.

Used Bike Sale and Expo

Our second annual Used Bike Sale and Expo is just around the corner. Start asking your friends, family, and neighbours if they have bikes or cycling accessories to donate, or a bike they want to sell on commission. Bikes and gear can be dropped off May 8 from 6:30 – 9:30 pm at Brunskill School.  Our Bike Expo area is starting to fill up; if you know a business, organization, or event that should be there, tell them to contact Cathy Watts (ctwatts@sasktel) to reserve a table. See our website for all the details.

Calling all crafters and makers

Saskatoon Cycles is going to have a table at the Used Bike Sale and Expo with lots of biking-related items for sale. If you’d like to donate any of your handmade baking, jewelry, knitting, woodworking, etc, we’d welcome the support. Send us an email note (ctwatts@sasktel.net)

Cyclable Cities : Safer, Healthier & More Sustainable (Video)

Thank you to one of our members, Linda, for passing along the link to this video — which apparently makes mention of Saskatoon near the end. Here’s a short description of the video: “In an age where the car reigns supreme, building for the bicycle is a powerful tool to modernize our cities and make them more liveable. Understanding how to design our streets for people and not for cars while following the success of a city like Copenhagen teaches us how to harness the transformative power of the bicycle, and go back to the future – when our cities were all bicycle-friendly. These lessons are causing a paradigm shift today in the minds of cities, governments, and civil society – moving gradually towards creating more democratic streets. This 15-minute overview will provide insights as to how your community could help make cycling the logical choice for more of its citizens.”

Got an idea for event, but don’t know where to host it?

Nutana Community Association has the “parklet” in front of d’Lish by Tish Cafe (14th street, Temperance, and Lansdowne) booked every Tuesday from May through September to host events. If you have an idea for a bike-flavored event that you’d like to help Saskatoon Cycles organize and host, contact us info@saskatooncycles.org

Neighbourhood Bikeways

We hope you were able to participate in the Neighbourhood Bikeways consultations in early March. If you couldn’t make it out to one of the sessions, you can still fill out the online survey. The first phase of this project is public engagement. The City wants to identify concerns, considerations, and possible improvements to bikeways in the following locations:

• 14th Street East Corridor (Cumberland Avenue South to Saskatchewan Crescent East)
• Dudley Street (Spadina Crescent West to Dawes Avenue)
• 3rd Avenue North (25th Street East to 2nd Avenue North)
• Victoria Avenue (8th Street East to Taylor Street East)
• 29th Street West OR 31st Street West (Idylwyld Drive to Circle Drive)

Cycling Bylaws

Thanks to SC board members Ingrid and Jim for their work on the presentation we made to City Council on February 24. The bylaw was passed to allow children 14 and under to ride on the sidewalk. However, we are concerned about several hazardous corridors — including 8th Street, College Drive, 25th Street, 22nd, and Idylwyld — where riding on the road is dangerous because there is no safe cycling infrastructure. Most people who cycle in these areas likely choose to ride on the sidewalk. If you receive a ticket for riding on these sidewalks, please contact Cathy Watts (ctwatts@sasktel.net).

Support our work

If you believe in the work we’re doing to making cycling safer and more accessible in Saskatoon, join our cause. Sign up to become a member (there’s no fee) and get involved in our many volunteer opportunities. Or provide your financial support through a donation.

Learn to ride an electric bike

Are you interested in an e-bike learn to ride course this summer? If so, we’d like to hear from you. No need to commit at this point — we’re just trying to get a sense of the interest out there. Bikes would be provided. looking for Would you like to take an e-bike course in the summer. If you’re interested or would like more information, send us an email: info@saskatooncycles.org

Bike Valet

Welcome and a big thank you to the 35 members who have recently signed up to help out with our Bike Valet program for the coming season. We are looking forward to meeting you!

Ideas for research related to cycling in Saskatoon?

The City of Saskatoon and University of Saskatchewan have launched a request for proposals for the 2020 Research Junction Development Grant to support research projects carried out by USask researchers in partnership with City of Saskatoon staff. If you have ideas about research questions related to cycling in Saskatoon, send a note to Cathy Watts (ctwatts@sasktel.net). Application deadline is May 20th.

Switching Gears Bike Radio

Local cyclist Tyler Rittinger will be hosting a new program on CFCR community radio called Shifting Gears (@GearsRadio on Twitter). It will air Thursday nights at 6:30 pm. Stay tuned for start date.

Upcoming events

March 28: Bridge City Bicycle Coop’s “Cycling Shorts” 7 pm at the Bike Doctor loft. $10/person. Our new short film “Life on 2 Wheels” is part of the lineup.

April 4: Presentation by SC about cycling at Alice Turner Library (1-2:30 pm) and Mayfair Library (4-5:30 pm). Part of series to teach life skills to young adults.

April 14: Presentation on how you can become a person who loves to cycle. Francis Morrison Library. Part of Sustainability Speakers Series.

May 8/9: Used Bike Sale and Expo at Brunskill School

May 13: Bike to Work Day 7 – 9 am

May 20: Ride of Silence 7 pm

May 21: Members Meeting at 7 pm in the back room at Amigos

June 20: Bike the Moveable Feast, celebrating the 50th anniversary of Saskatchewan Environment Society. Tickets will be available through SES and at our Used Bike Sale and Expo.