Free tune-ups and bike sale Sept. 6 and 7, as Saskatoon’s Cycling scene convenes on campus.

If you commute to campus on your bicycle, the University of Saskatchewan Students’ Union wants to give you a high-five.

The USSU and the Office of Sustainability will host the annual Hike, Bike and Roll on Sept. 6 and 7 from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. between the Arts and Thorvaldson buildings.

The event will allow students to have their rides tuned-up at no cost and feature hands-on tutorial sesssions.

Human-powered forms of transportation such as cycling, walking, rollerblading, longboarding and skateboarding are always encouraged by the union, USSU Vice President Student Affairs Alex Werenka said.

“We [want] people to use those active forms of transportation or take the bus when they can rather than driving to school every day.”

For students who currently don’t own a bike and are interested in a new way to commute to school, there will be a used bicycle sale provided by the Core Neighbourhood Youth Co-op at the event.

Abandoned bikes on campus are sent to the CNYC, an alternative education program, where youth learn how to repair bikes. The CNYC will sell the refurbished bikes to students— at a discounted cost — to help fund their program.

The Bridge City Bicycle Co-op and Bike Universe, among other Saskatoon businesses, will be on-site providing the tune-ups and tutorials. Information on how to use the USSU’s bike tool repair stand will also be provided.

Campus Safety and the Saskatoon Police Service will be present Sept. 7 and 8, respectively, providing information concerning the rules of the road.

Werenka hopes that students will take this opportunity to ask questions about cycling in the city, such as the Saskatoon Police’s new bike radar detectors.

Saskatoon Cycles and other cycling advocacy groups will be present, promoting biking as a regular form of transportation all around the city.

“Part of what we want to do with this is to encourage people to become more active members in the campus and city-wide cycling community,” Werenka said.

Werenka is hoping that Hike, Bike and Roll will help raise students’ awareness of the city’s lacking cycling infrastructure and of the changes that need to be made to make Saskatoon a bike-friendly city.

“I am really hoping to get more students involved because this is the year of a civic election, so you can start telling politicians who are going to be elected or re-elected… that cycling is something that you want them to focus on.”

For students who are looking for more sustainable ways to get to the university, the Office of Sustainability will have information about UCommute and the university’s new car share, WeCar.

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Photo: Raisa Pezderic/The Sheaf