Reimagining Edmonton's streets on the cheap, talk by David Engwicht

Paths for People presents David Engwicht, an international leader in placemaking and urban planning, in a workshop and talk on Saturday, February 8, 2020. Bike Edmonton is proud to sponsor this event. Be inspired to reclaim neighbourhood streets as places!

Choose to sign up to one or both events on February 8, 2020.

Creatively Reframing & Reclaiming Public Space
Saturday, February 8, 2020
7-9pm
La Cité Francophone Theatre (8627 Rue Marie-Anne Gaboury)
Pay-what-you-can. Tickets available via Eventbrite.

This evening public talk will motivate and challenge Edmontonians to merge transportation with creativity and reclaim their streets, both psychologically and physically. David champions low-cost, highly creative interventions by everyday citizens for changing the conversation and uses of city spaces. He will help Edmontonians start generating ideas and options for their own communities to make the streets friendlier, safer and more welcoming.

The public talk will be followed by a Q&A.

Transforming Public Spaces with Less Talk and More Action
Saturday, February 8, 2020
9:30am-3pm
Forest Terrace Heights Community League
10150 80 Street
Free. Tickets required, via Eventbrite.

This is a daytime public workshop led by David Engwicht and hosted by the Edmonton Federation of Community Leagues. The free half-day workshop from 9:30am-3pm is for community league leaders to learn strategies for placemaking. Participants will explore how to create extraordinary spaces in just 7 days, without endless talk and on a shoestring budget.

The Spoke, a free earn-a-bike program for youth

Does a youth in your life need a free bicycle and the skills to maintain it? The Spoke is a free earn-a-bike program for youth aged 12-17 inclusive. By coming to the program each Wednesday night for 7 weeks, each youth earns a bike, a lock, lights, helmet, and a bell! No mechanical experience is needed. More than just a bike-building program, the Spoke is an inclusive program where volunteers help youth to learn in a way that’s comfortable and at their own pace. We also learn about city, single track, and trail riding possibilities and we go for a ride! The next session starts January 8. There are no Spoke sessions in the summer. Email [email protected] or call 780-433-2543 extension 905 for more information or to register.

Holiday closures

Both of our shops will be closed December 22, 2019 until January 1, 2020 for the holidays.

If you have work to do or gifts to purchase, please visit us before then! You can find our hours and locations here.

Cover image by Heather Magusin Photography

Campus Learn, Tune up and Bicycle Ride Night!

Do you want your ride to school to be easier and more fun? This course offers tips for riding, a free tune up, and an easy guided bike tour of the dedicated bike infrastructure and recommended bike routes near the Grant MacEwan campus and beyond! We’ll even give you free bike lights for joining us! All campuses are invited.

Thursday, October 3rd, 4:30- 7:30pm

Grant MacEwan University Roundhouse, 11110 104 Ave, room 11-171A

To register or to find out more about the event, please visit http://yeg.bike

If you haven’t signed up for the Campus Commuter Challenge , we’ll help you sign up at the event, or sign by yourself to log your kilometers and bring your campus to victory!

Uplift Day

We’ll be providing free bicycle tune ups to Edmontonians in need at the Catholic Social Service event, Uplift Day, this Saturday, September 28, 2019. Visitors will also be getting free haircuts, underwear, clothing, portraits, and hot meals thanks to a number of other participating organizations and businesses. If you’re struggling and can’t afford these services, you can join us at Eastwood community League, St Alphonsus, 11828 85 St NW from 11 am - 3 pm. Contact cssalberta.ca for more information.

the Spoke, a youth earn-a-bike program

Do you know a youth aged 12-17 years inclusive who would like to know about bike repair and would benefit from being part of a supportive, community-building program? The Spoke is a free program that fosters relationships between youth and volunteers in a positive working space. The Spoke promotes a sense of ownership in the community, allowing for learning through mistakes and taking pride in wanting to learn. By participating, youth earn a bike, a lock, a light, a bell and a helmet. No previous mechanical knowledge is needed.

1. Every Wednesday (6-8 pm) for seven weeks. Due to the amount of time it takes to properly rebuild a bicycle in a safe manor, a youth will need to commit to all seven sessions.

2. Our next session starts September 18, 2019. We’ll be running 4 sessions from fall 2019 to spring 2020.

3. Where: Bike Edmonton North Community Workshop, 9305-111 Ave NW Edmonton

4. Cost: $100 deposit paid by cash or cheque. This deposit will be refunded when the youth has attended all 7 sessions (some leeway can be made for illness, but not for vacations or choosing other activities over the Spoke commitment). Please inquire if this deposit is a financial challenge.

5. Who can take the Spoke? Youth 12-17 years inclusive.

6. To find out more or to register a youth, please email [email protected]

Register grade 3 - 12 students for a day of learning and riding this Sunday, September 8, 2019

There’s still time to register children grades 3 - 12 for this Sunday’s, September 8, 2019 bicycle education, brought to you by our partners Ever Active Schools and SHAPE AB.

BRINGING CITY CYCLING STRATEGIES TO LIFE IN GRADE 3-12 STUDENTS

To support active transportation and acknowledge changes to cycling because of the new bike lane

infrastructure in Edmonton, Ever Active Schools and SHAPE AB are recruiting students to participate in our City Cycling Strategies project. This initiative aims to increase cycling knowledge, safety awareness, and self efficacy of 60 student cyclists.

PLEASE NOTE: This is not a learn to bike program. This program is intended to teach students about the cycling infrastructure in Edmonton and we will be doing a 2.5 hour on road ride.

DATE AND LOCATION

Sunday, September 8, 2019 from 10:00 am - 4:00 pm Queen Alexandra Community League, 10425 University Ave, Edmonton, AB

REGISTRATION REQUIRED

To register online, please visit Bringing City Cycling Strategies to Life in Grade 3 - 12 Students form

WHAT TO EXPECT:

Free one day, on road, cycling workshop that will cover:

• helmet and bike knowledge,

• bicycle handling, signals and safe, secure storage,

• navigating intersections, signage, and routes,

• cycling etiquette,

• basic bicycle maintenance,

• on-road guided riding.

Day-of Orientation Session that will include:

• helmet and bicycle safety and sizing checks,

• a program review,

• bicycle obstacle course,

• a cycling literacy survey for participants and families to determine baseline knowledge/skill level and

• identify barriers to safe cycling;

PROGRAM PERKS:

• small session sizes, with a lead and a sweep,

• the promotion of our Cycling Buddies program,

• 2.5 hour guided on-road riding to practise skills

• visits to interesting and informative bike stops,

• follow-up cycling literacy surveys and program evaluation,

• certificate of course completion,

• free lunch!

Annual General Meeting

The Bike Edmonton Annual General Meeting (AGM) is Sunday, November 3, 2019, from 1-3pm at the Ritchie Community League Hall (7727 98 St NW).

Everyone is welcome to attend. Our Board of Directors and executive director will present the annual report and membership will vote on our annual budget. We will also be having elections to fill several positions on the Board of Directors.

If you are interested in helping to set the direction of our growing organization, or know someone that can lead us towards a better city for cycling and walking, please visit our nominations page. Candidates can also be nominated from the floor at the AGM. Directors will be elected by our membership at the AGM.

Isaak Kornelsen memorial ride and parklette, August 30, 2019

On Friday, August 30, 2019 join us at 5:30pm in front of Earth’s General Store, 9605 82 Ave NW, for a memorial ride in honour of Isaak Kornelsen. The ride will proceed slowly and in legal order to the Memorial Parklet for Isaak Kornelsen. This ride is both a celebration and remembrance of Isaak’s life, as well as a demonstration in support of dedicated, safe cycling infrastructure. Please contact us if you need help finding a good bike route to the starting location, [email protected].

Please note that the location for the parklet has changed this year. The parklet will be a one day public space memorial in front of Cafe Mosaic’s, 10844 82 Ave NW in honour of Isaak Kornelsen. The parklet will be a small urban park set up temporarily in two metered parking spaces. 

Isaak’s life was tragically cut short on August 27, 2012, at the age of 21 while cycling on Whyte Avenue. Isaak was a Strathcona High School valedictorian, University of Alberta Philosophy student, and runner for both the Golden Bears and Edmonton Thunder. But most importantly, he was a sincere and loving individual who brightened the lives of everyone he met.

The parklet is designed to symbolize various aspects of Isaak’s life, and the ideals he upheld. By portraying these ideals we aim to inspire people to think more deeply about the world they live in, and to leave with a renewed yearning to discover and experience what the world has to offer.

Creating a one-day parklet installation on Whyte Avenue will not solve unsafe cycling conditions on Edmonton’s busy streets; however, it can raise awareness for the need and urgency to better balance all modes of transportation in Edmonton.

Community Garden Tour Saturday August 24, 2019

The Community Garden Bike Tour by Sustainable Food Edmonton and Bike Edmonton is this Saturday, August 24, 2019, 10am to 12:30pm

Ride begins at the Oliver Peace Garden
Register to participate and receive a free delicious lunch from Street Eats Food Truck by clicking: https://www.eventbrite.ca/e/community-garden-bike-tour-2019-tickets-67645458387

This easy paced on-street bike tour is organized by Sustainable Food Edmonton (SFE). This unique urban adventure ride lets you learn about select community gardens while exploring the city by bike on an easy, guided ride . For more information or to register, please visit the Community Garden Tour registration page.

The 2019 Edmonton Fringe Festival bike parking and tune ups

We’ll be at the 2019 Edmonton Fringe Festival providing bicycle racks for the duration of the festival and free minor tune ups between 5pm and 8pm on Friday, August 16, Thursday, August 22 Friday, and August 23. We can safety check your whole bike, perform minor adjustments, and patch or fill your tubes. If you have questions about maintenance or repair or about cycling in Edmonton, our friendly volunteer mechanics can answer your questions. We hope to see you at the Fringe!

Help needed with Heritage Days bicycle parking compound

We are still in need of volunteers for the bicycle parking compound at Heritage Days this coming weekend, August 3, 2019 to August 5, 2019.

This fun and exciting festival is one of our greatest opportunities to let people know about our services. We also help thousands of people who bike down to take in the festival!

• Aug 3-5:, various shifts: bike parking monitors (we still need so many!)

• Sat, Aug 3, 7-9pm: 1 mechanic

• Sun, Aug 4, 7-9pm: 1 mechanic

• Volunteer perks: feel really good telling people about Bike Edmonton’s many bike resources so that more people can bike and fix their bikes with confidence! It’s looking like the weekend will have wonderful weather and you get to hang out in a park with lots of bikes and cool volunteers. Take a break and see the festivall

• Sign-up and see more details: Heritage Festival 2019 volunteer sign up form

August 9, 2019 Bike Repair 101: Hands-on Intro to Bike Maintenance

Are you biking on our beautiful river valley trails but you don’t know what to do if you break down? Don't find yourself helpless at the side of the trail!. To find out more information or to register for the Bike Repair 101 course, August 9, 2019, visit https://apps.bikeedmonton.ca/ Learn to fix a flat, maintain your chain, tune your brakes and shifters, and spot problems before they can ruin your day. In this hands-on workshop, our most popular class, you will gain confidence and save money by doing simple repairs yourself as well as preventing expensive parts from wearing out.

Sunday Matinee Bike to the Symphony: The Music of Harry Potter

Join us with the Edmonton Symphony Orchestra and The Music of Harry Potter!

Hop on the Hogwarts Express (or a bicycle, for the muggles) for a musical adventure beyond your imagination. Relive the magical movie scores of all eight films with your Edmonton Symphony Orchestra and conductor Bob Bernhardt. Fly through the hallowed halls of Hogwarts and hear the mesmerizing scores from The Philosopher’s Stone to The Deathly Hallows.

Show off your magic and dress up in your favourite Harry Potter character.

Meet at Bike Edmonton's South Community Workshop at 8001 102 St to depart at 12:45pm on Sunday, and we'll ride together to the Winspear Centre! The performance begins at 2pm. (This event is a late-addition, so we don't have any other programming planned. It's just a simple, fun, group ride to the Winspear!)

Supervised bike parking will be provided at the Winspear, courtesy of the ESO. The Winspear has a mandatory (and complimentary) bag check.

Bike Edmonton members use the promo code NIMBUS2000 for $24 tickets. (Anyone is free to participate in the ride, even without a ticket.)

Purchase tickets through the Winspear box office.

Patio Pints at Dirtbag Cafe

Last summer, our friends at Dirtbag Café hosted our rebranding party in a fun-filled evening featuring music, crafts, and craft beer! On Friday, June 21, 2019, Bike Edmonton heads back to Dirtbag for another round! Ribstone Creek Brewery, hailing from Edgerton, Alberta is bringing two delicious casks of craft beer to enjoy, and Bike Edmonton invites you to try your hand at making a delicious blended beverage using our bike-powered blender! The evening kicks off at 5 PM.

Facebook event

Ice Cream Ride

We’re leading an ice cream bicycle ride!

Meet at the downtown MEC location (11904 104 Ave, Brewery District) at 6:30pm on Wednesday, June 5.

This easy paced urban ride will take you through part of downtown with stops to view outdoor art and architecture along the way! We'll get to know some of the downtown dedicated bike lanes, and offer commuting tips if you have questions. We'll stop at Tsujiri Tea house where you can choose to buy an artisan ice cream, tea, and cake. 10% off for all ice cream bicycle tourists!

The ride itself is free.

Facebook event: https://www.facebook.com/events/2323972821222073/

Cycling in the City: Getting Around Comfortably presentation, Tuesday, June 4, 2019

Our free Cycling in the City presentation will be held tonight, June 4, 2019 from 6:30pm to 7:30pm in the community room at MEC North, 11904 104 Ave NW. We'll introduce key information for individuals interested in riding, including gear, on-road safety and basic mechanical checks. The presentation is 45 minutes and there’ll be time for discussion afterward. We hope you can join us to discover how cycling in the city can be fun, safe, and easy!

Thank you casino, shop, event, and admin volunteers!

We are an organization and community backed by incredible volunteers, who are dedicated to making cycling in Edmonton accessible and easy. Thank you volunteers!! Thank you for your volunteer work at events, in administration, in both Community Workshops, and in fundraising like our recent casino! You’re making so many people’s lives better by helping provide opportunities for anyone to learn more about bike repair and cycling.

Volunteer at the Edmonton Folk Music Festival or Interstellar Rodeo

Edmonton Folk Music Festival

Volunteer for Bike Edmonton at the 2019 Edmonton Folk Music Festival!

No experience or training necessary. You will be assisting folk festival volunteers in taxi control or ensuring the security of the bike compound at the end of night.

Volunteers will receive a working pass for the same day as their shift. This allows full access to the festival as a regular patron for the day. Additionally, volunteers will ALSO receive a complimentary, transferable ticket to the festival itself for a day of their choosing (1 comp ticket and 1 working pass with each shift worked). 

Shifts are 3-4 hours in the evening (you can volunteer for multiple shifts to get multiple day passes as well as multiple complimentary tickets). The folk festival also provides an honorarium to Bike Edmonton for each shift our volunteers work, magnifying your contribution to the community!

Click here to sign up and see more details about volunteering.

Interstellar Rodeo

You can also volunteer to supervise bike parking at Interstellar Rodeo!

The line-up includes Sharon van Etten, K'Naan, Rheostatics, Whitehorse, Lucius, Saul Williams, Weaves, and others!

Volunteering for a 10 hour commitment (across the weekend) provides you with a free weekend pass to the festival, including a food voucher for each shift and ticket to the after party.

Sign up here to volunteer at Interstellar Rodeo.