Yellowknifers now have the opportunity to try a new way of getting around town. A bicycle-borrowing program launched on Sunday.
The Shift program offers residents a free bike for two-week periods throughout the summer.
People interested in borrowing a bike can make a reservation on the Shift website by choosing the type of bike they’re interested in riding and for what period.
The fleet includes two upright city bikes, two e-city bikes and two cargo bikes, with two e-tricycles coming later this summer.
Riders will be able to pick up bikes on scheduled Sundays at Somba K’e Park, where they can also get safety gear, guidance on planning their commutes, and bike adjustments to fit them.
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Once the two-week period for the first cohort is over, riders will drop the bikes back off at the park and volunteers will complete any minor repairs or adjustments before passing the bikes on to the next group of cyclists.
Merilie Reynolds borrowed one of the non-electric city bikes as the program launched on Sunday.
She said she’s looking forward to trying a different style of bike with a more relaxed riding position compared to the road bike she currently rides.
That road bike “works fine, but the purpose of it is not commuting like this one that I borrowed, that’s really just for riding around easily,” said Reynolds, who added she can easily place cargo in the back basket that comes with the bike.
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Reynolds commutes by bike all year and is also interested in trying an e-bike through the Shift program, to see if it might be a suitable replacement for the car she normally uses to go grocery shopping or transport a canoe.
“Trying the e-bike might offer more of a change to my regular transportation pattern,” said Reynolds.
Organizer Adam Denley said that one of the goals of the program is to provide high-quality and well-adjusted equipment for people so they can see how enjoyable it can be.
“Maybe people already have a bike, but it’s something they bought second-hand that hasn’t been totally well looked-after and so when they ride it, it’s either not reliable or not comfortable or just not enjoyable.” said Denley.
“So then that just kind-of gives people a bad taste for the whole biking experience.”
He said he also wants to provide people the opportunity to try bikes that may be more cost-prohibitive to buy new, such as the e-bikes and cargo bikes, if they’re only just considering the opportunity.
“We’re hoping this is just a little bit of inspiration or a bit of a kick that encourages people to try biking for themselves,” said Denley.
He said cycling can improve social issues such as pollution and fossil fuel consumption, community safety –large vehicles cause more of a threat to vulnerable road users than bikes – and physical and mental health.
Denley hopes the Shift program “brings attention to the fact that this is a legitimate way to move yourself and your stuff, and your family.”
