Saskatoon Cycles November 2022 Newsletter
Annual General Meeting 2022
Saskatoon Cycles held its 12th AGM on Wednesday, November 9, 2022.
In addition to getting necessary organizational housekeeping done, these meetings are an important time to review the year’s accomplishments and challenges, connect with membership, and look forward to the year ahead. AGM 2022 delivered on all counts.
Highlights from this past year:
- Bike Valet making a very successful return to the Saskatoon festival scene
- Launch of ZenZED bicycle delivery service
- Ice Cycle 2022
- Winter and spring BYXE Week (including Bike to Work Day)
- 1st Annual Poker Chipmunk Rally fundraiser
- 2nd Annual Cathy Watts Memorial Slow Roll
- The Good, Bad, and Ugly Slow Roll
- Participation in the City of Saskatoon’s Active Transportation Advisory Group
- so much more. For more details, click here for our Board Report
Three of our board members stepped down this year: Kira Judge, John Dosman, and Merlin Toth. Saskatoon Cycles is grateful for the time and energy they devoted to the organization; volunteer boards cannot function without volunteers, and these members’ contributions cannot be overstated.
We also welcomed two new board members, Zack MacGregor and Rob Larson. You’ll read much more about them in the days to come.
The AGM was also lucky to have a great presentation, suggested and moderated by past board member Ingrid Larson: Bridging Sport and Everyday Cycling. Guest speakers Jeff Hehn (Fatlanders FatTire Brigade) and Cheryl Siemens (Pedal Wenches) provided some great experience and analysis on these two streams of cycling.
We thank everyone who participated in the AGM and our past year, and look forward to a successful and energetic 2023!
City of Saskatoon Engagement Opportunities
Right now is a great time to have your voice heard when it comes to expanding active transportation infrastructure in Saskatoon. The City is currently seeking feedback on two projects, both of which could improve safety and connectivity for all who walk or roll Saskatoon without a car.
The first opportunity is to help the city understand your preferences for the design of walking and cycling facilities on Avenue C, appropriately called “Connecting Avenue C“. To participate, you can fill out an online survey before November 30, 2022: Connecting Avenue C Online Survey
The second is to offer your opinion in prioritizing where resources should be focused when developing the College Corridor Plan. You can share your preferences in one or both of the following surveys:
- Open Space survey: https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/collegeopenspace
- Streetscape survey: https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/collegestreetscape
Please take advantage of these calls for feedback and ask for more separated lanes, traffic calming, and anything else that you think would improve your active transportation experience.
Bikes & Banter
Our social initiative, Bikes & Banter, will be back for a one time “pop-up” gathering on Saturday, November 26, 2022. We’ll be meeting in Gabriel Dumont Park, from 1 to 3 PM. We’re usually right off the Trans Canada Trail, north of the facilities building and next to the parking lots. You can look for our cool green sign!
The forecast for Saturday looks mild; plan to stop by and say hello, visit for a while, or wave as you cycle on to other destinations.
Stay tuned to our social media platforms for future dates and locations.
City of Saskatoon Reconciliation Bike Racks
As some of you may have learned during our Good, Bad, and Ugly Slow Roll this summer, the City of Saskatoon installed 60 new bike racks along historic 21st Street in 2021. These racks, featuring the Treaty 6 and Homeland of the Métis medals, were a response to Truth and Reconciliation Commission Call to Action No. 79: to commemorate the contributions and history of Indigenous peoples.
A new video was recently launched to educate the public about these racks and to encourage their use. Check it out and get more detail at the City of Saskatoon page here.
Getting to know the Saskatoon Cycles board of directors: Zack MacGregor
As a non-profit, Saskatoon Cycles relies on the generous efforts of its volunteers. One of the ways you can contribute to and help shape the direction of our work is by becoming a member of our Board of Directors. At our AGM on November 9th, 2022 two people joined our Board. The first we’ll introduce you to is Zack MacGregor.
Q: Who are you and why do you ride a bike?
My name is Zack MacGregor. I love the freedom cycling gives me. Riding a bike frees me from being stuck in traffic, it saves me time since I don’t need to go to the gym, and it helps my mental health by letting me unwind on the way home.
Q: Why did you decide to join the board?
I’m a returning board member. I want to help make cycling in Saskatoon better but I also enjoy volunteering for the bike valet and the various rides that Saskatoon Cycles puts on.
Q: What do you hope to contribute through your involvement?
I’d love to convince Saskatoon that cycling can be so much more than just a recreational activity.
Q: Have you already volunteered with Saskatoon Cycles? If so, in what initiatives have you been involved?
I volunteer often for the bike valet. It’s such a great way to spend a summer evening. I’ve also helped out on various slow rolls but I think my favourite is the Nuit Blanche ride.
Q: What do you see as some priorities to make Saskatoon better and safer for cyclists?
Transportation equality. Giving cyclists the same priority and respect that drivers get.
Q: Any favourite cycling rides or routes in or around Saskatoon?
In the summer my favourite ride is from my house to Wanuskewin and back. It is about a 40km ride and offers some great views of the river valley. In the winter it’s hard to beat the fat bike trails out at the St. Barbe Afforestation area south of the city.
Giving Tuesday
Chances are good that you’ve heard about Black Friday and Cyber Monday (so many sales!), but are you as familiar with Giving Tuesday? givingtuesday.ca describes the day like this:
GivingTuesday is a global generosity movement unleashing the power of people and organizations to transform their communities and the world. GivingTuesday was created in 2012 as a simple idea: a day that encourages people to do good. The idea caught on and has grown around the world, inspiring hundreds of millions of people to give, collaborate, and celebrate generosity.
As an advocacy non-profit organization, Saskatoon Cycles’ operations and programs (Bike Valet, Slow Rolls, ZenZED, etc.) rely entirely on the generosity of others. Please consider us on Giving Tuesday, this year on November 29 (though we do graciously accept donations anytime before and after!).
You can donate here.
