The Zygg team is growing!

We’re looking for a full-time Rider Experience Associate where you will assist the Manager of Rider Experience with the delivery & onboarding of e-bikes to Riders, interact with Riders and potential Riders through email and telephone, and help improve the overall experience for our customers.

This is a hands-on role in a Startup. It's not for everyone, but it is an exciting opportunity to get in on the ground floor of something amazing - with plenty of career growth opportunities in Toronto and beyond. More than anything we want someone that is excited about Zygg as we are and will be keen to jump in to the challenge each day.

Our favourite bike paths to do on e-bikes

During this pandemic, the Zygg e-bikes have allowed us to have a socially distanced activity while still making us feel connected to the city. It’s also been a great way to discover parts of the city that were previously unknown and a bit further than where we usually go. We’ve compiled a list of some of our favourite bicycle lanes in Toronto that take half a day to a day to complete.

1. The ride to Bluffers Park. Need we say more? The views, the beach, the water, the cliffs. The Bluffs have it all. We like stopping along the way at the R.C. Harris Treatment Centre to get our dose of Art Deco architecture in. This trail has become especially accessible with a Zygg e-bike on the way out of the park. No need to push your bike up the huge hill when you have pedal assist. 
   One of our favourite things about riding electric bikes in the city is how it’s made parks that used to feel far away much more reachable. The city doesn’t seem as big when you’re on an electric bike and you can go to pockets of the city that you had never visited before.

2. On the Humber Valley Trail you can clock in over 20km one way depending on where you start. We personally love riding all the way up to Steeles from Lake Ontario giving you the opportunity to both take an Instagram worthy picture on the Humber Bay Bridge and then head up north to some slightly less busy areas to spot some urban wildlife. 
   The Humber Valley Trail is also one of our favourites because it’s connected to so many other trails notably the Eglinton West Trail that brings you out to Centennial Park in Etobicoke. Centennial Park has a collection of Cherry Trees making it a great alternative to High Park in the spring for the blooms.
   When you bike along the whole trail you get to see glimpses of different versions of Toronto from the lake, to ponds to murals. One experience along the Humber that reminds us that Toronto is a city within a forest is the salmon runs. Watching the salmon jump up the Humber River near Etienne Brulé park in late October to early November is one of the most spectacular things we’ve seen.

3. Our final favourite bike ride is the Martin Goodman Trail down to the Leslie Spit. You cross man made beaches (Echo Beach, Sugar Beach) along the way and can have a stopover at Cherry Beach. We’re especially looking forward to riding on the new bridge being installed on Cherry Street bringing a pop of colour to the entrance of the Port Lands.
   We love reaching the end of the spit when you get a glimpse into what Toronto was a few decades ago with its discarded materials and spontaneous art that has come from it. It sometimes feels like you’ve left the city behind once you’ve reached the lighthouse.
   In the winter we love going through the Waterfront BIA’s art installations that liven up the shorter days with its immersive lights.
    You could also connect all three of these rides together to go for a behemoth of a ride!

The City of Toronto has a map of all it’s bike lanes and trails so you can create your own! Make sure to share them with us by tagging @rideZygg on Instagram!

The electric bikes have made these longer trails so much easier to tackle. Before they may have seemed daunting due to the 20km+ rides, now there is a reassurance in knowing that when fatigue hits, you can rely on your Zygg to get you through the tougher part of a ride. Nothing seems out of the question on an electric bike! 

Cycling Etiquette Tips

The first time you’re out and about with your e-bike on the streets you may find yourself a bit disoriented. Though the cycling community is very welcoming and friendly there are some written and unwritten rules to follow to keep you and your fellow cyclists safe. Here are a few tips to help you hit the road confidently and safely.

Be predictable

It’s always good to remember that an electric bike is treated like a vehicle on the road and has to obey the same rules of the road. Ride your line allowing other road users to expect where you’re going and make any changes in direction gradually. This simply means don’t swerve unexpectedly or brake quickly without signalling so other cyclists or drivers aren’t forced to make dangerous decisions for their own safety.

Signals

Cyclists do most of their communicating with other road users using hand signals. Before any change in direction be sure to look that it’s safe to do so before signalling and then manoeuvre. It’s also good practice to signal well before you make a turn so other cyclists will know not to pass or undercut  you. 

Credit: https://lumintrail.com/blogs/bicycle/bicycle-riding-etiquette-top-10-rules-for-riders

Passing

When you pass other cyclists on your e-bike, the first thing to do is to look that it’s safe, signal and then pass. Make sure you give the other cyclists as much space as possible, usually an arm’s length. If the other cyclist is in the middle of the lane, you can ring your bell or call out “on your left” to let them know you are passing. 

Give 2-3 bike lengths before merging back into your line so the cyclist doesn’t have to stop suddenly. 

Keep your distance

In the same vein, when following another cyclist make sure your front wheel isn’t up against their rear wheel. Give yourself some space, which gives you time to brake if something unexpected comes up. 

Speed

Keep in mind that bicycle lanes are used by cyclists of different abilities. Make sure to not treat them like highways by zooming by unexpectedly next to other cyclists. If you’re travelling at a higher speed than most cyclists in the bike lane, you may want to go on the road, you have the right to do so.

Be patient

At red lights or stop signs, it is the etiquette to stop behind the other cyclists in front of you. Don’t go to the front of the line, wait your turn and you will have ample time to pass once you get moving again.

Parking

It’s always best to use the city’s existing bike infrastructure to park your bike. When using bike parking on sidewalks or near roads make sure to keep your bike close to the bike ring so it will not slip and slide onto the road or sidewalk. This not only keeps your bike safe from being hit, but it’s also a courtesy to pedestrians. Lock your bike considerately so other bikers can use the same spot as well. If a rack is full, don’t smush your bike in the foray potentially damaging your bike or others, just look for the next spot.

Stay on the road

Whenever possible keep your bike on the road, it is best to not cycle on sidewalks (as it is illegal and you could get fined) but it also could lead to accidents with pedestrians who are not expecting you to be on the sidewalk.

Be friendly!

The cycling community is a great one to be a part of, we’re friendly and helpful and keep an eye out for each other. If you see another cyclist trying to repair his bike, it’s always nice to give a helping hand, even if you don’t know how to repair it, maybe they just needed an extra pair of hands! 

A little extra

The Toronto Bicycling Network also details some terms you may hear while riding such as:

• Car back ... move to single file on the right hand side of the road or shoulder. Give way to the car... they are bigger than you and they will win.

• On your left ... allow the person coming up behind you to pass safely within the lane; not crossing over into the other lane. If necessary move to the right.