Thinking About Taking Your E-Bike To Work Or School?

Whether you’re looking to bike to work, to school, or for fun, register for these free educational webinars from Cycle Toronto and share with your family and friends. You must register for each event at the links below.

Going by Bike Webinar

A natural follow-up to Safe Cycling 101, includes topics such as tips for commuting by bike / ebike, how to bike with children and pets, grocery shopping by bike, biking in the rain and in the colder months.

12-1pm Fri Aug 27: https://zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_SloY3s0HRhGYbQ5xz48eQw

Family Biking Webinar

Learn tips and tricks for biking while pregnant, biking with babies and toddlers and teaching kids to ride for the first time. Cycle Toronto will also guide you through the kind of equipment you can use for each age group of children.

5-6pm Tue Aug 31: https://zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_wmljd2xuRMGuBx_9F1hGeg

12-1pm Fri Sep 3: https://zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_v6WDd3kwSfukuSAATPLGfg

Road Rules Webinar

Learn about everyday interactions with others on the road in this interactive quiz-style workshop. Topics include: laws and fines that apply to both people cycling and people driving, navigating shared space with other road users, common misconceptions about turns, parking, passing, right of way and more.

5-6pm Tue Sep 14: https://zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_-JsrO0tbTladADd27bTJBw

12-1pm Fri Sep 17: https://zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_KNbXg29rSyuHUhd9rtXTdw

Biking in All Weather Conditions Workshop

Make all-season cycling a breeze. Cycle Toronto will guide you through topics including choosing clothing and gear for wet and cold weather, bicycle maintenance and storage tips, winter route-planning, and safe riding techniques for weather-related hazards.

5-6pm Tue Sep 21: https://zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_F8fPXgOjRXWUgdBBJjR7HA

12-1pm Fri Sep 24: https://zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_H1q5v_WxQJCgldv5-Dte_A

Support Cycle Toronto's work by making a charitable donation eligible for a tax receipt at https://www.cycleto.ca/join or see a full list of events at https://www.cycleto.ca/events.

Take Your Ebike On A Hike!

As we coast into the late summer and autumn months, there are still lots of excellent opportunities to explore Ontario’s regional beauty. OntarioByBike.ca is an awesome link for cyclists looking to connect with the province’s top destinations, bike touring companies and overnight excursions, all with cycling as a major component: 

Culinary treks throughout Niagara’s Wine Country; cidery & craft brewery hopping across Prince Edward County; waterfall & escarpment expeditions in Grey County; watersports on Lake Simcoe; antiquing near Waterloo; galleries, museums & historic sites in The Nation’s Capital, Ottawa….the options are endless. All of this is accessible by bike, and, if you travel with your Zygg electric bike, you can go further, faster and see more! 

What’s even better, “multi-modal travel” - combining cycling with other methods of travel - is an easy way to maximize your experiences. 

With GO Trains operating in and around the GTA, weekends and off-peak travel times offer a lot of options for bike and ebike transportation. Ride out from, or into Toronto on the GO Train Lakeshore line (East or West), and if you are ambitious, cycle back to your start for a one-way ride. Niagara weekend service runs until September 5th, with special bike coaches on each train (no extra charge). Head north as far as Barrie on summer weekend service, making a weekend or day trip to Lake Simcoe with a bike a possibility, with space for four bicycles on each GO coach. Bring your bike on any Saturday /  Sunday / holiday train to Barrie

Bicycle friendly ferries operate in a number of locations around the province, including to Toronto’s outer Islands. Take the Che-Cheemaun Ferry from Tobermory to Manitoulin Island to experience quiet island roads and stunning natural scenery. In Ontario’s southwest, Pelee Island also offers great rural cycling and is connected by ferries from Kingsville or Leamington in Essex County.

If you do not have your own vehicle with a bike-rack, Parkbus runs buses to provincial and national parks. From Toronto, travel to Algonquin Park, where the bus drops passengers at Algonquin Outfitters, a one-stop shop for all your rental needs. Connect to the Georgian Bay Islands and enjoy car-free trail riding on Beausoleil Island with camping and other bike rentals on-site. Up to two bikes per bus can be transported to all other overnight destinations, with bike reservations made in advance. 

GO Transit and many public bus services provide another option with bike racks on the front of most vehicles. 

Check out Ontario By Bike’s interactive map with dozens of resources, and provincial highlights.

Happy Boundless Cycling:

https://www.ontariobybike.ca/ontario-cycling-map/bike-tours

Thinking About Becoming a Bike Food Delivery Driver? Here's How To Start

1. Get yourself a bike and make sure it is in good working order, including a bell or horn, reflectors, and front & rear lights for when you are riding in the dark or in poor weather.

2. Better yet, “rent” an electric bike from Zygg and you will have your own ebike at your disposal 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. A Zygg Electric Bike Subscription for “Commercial” riders is a custom plan for food delivery drivers, providing you with a great e-bike in top condition. Each bike includes a battery with a good range (or a double battery with an even longer range), built-in lights & other safety features, and an awesome locking system. With all Zygg e-bike subscriptions, repairs and maintenance are included. Zygg can also do a swap-out for another bike, if needed.

3. Get yourself a helmet (a requirement in Toronto for all ebike riders), and other gear which will help you throughout your work day: a reusable water/drink bottle, comfortable shoes, rain gear, breathable layers of clothes for summer, and a weather-proof jacket for cooler temperatures. There are dozens of local bike stores in Toronto to kit you up. Zygg has quality helmets to purchase if you need one. 

4. Don’t forget the thermal delivery bag. These come in various sizes, depending on what is comfortable and easy to handle, and what type of deliveries you may most want to attempt. There are even some that allow you to stack several large pizza boxes! Most are “back-packs”, however, some can fit right on the rear rack of your bike - like with the Zygg model Q electric bikes -  which have become very popular with ebike food delivery drivers in Toronto.

5. Talk to your friends who may already be delivery riders for their inside scoop. Research the various food delivery companies (such as Uber Eats, Skip The Dishes, DoorDash…) and see which company is best suited for you. Each company has their own rules, (minimum riding age, mobile phone with cellular service/ data preferences), and their own app with different payment structures and booking methods. Make sure you are familiar with the app’s fee structures and ordering interface. It will affect the amount of money you can make and how you choose your orders. Can you book your own, flexible hours? Do you need to make a schedule in advance? Look closely at their wage formulas: like the amount you will earn for pick up & for delivery, rate/km, what percentage the company deducts from you, and if there is automatic tipping or tipping on the side after delivery. 

6. Most apps allow you to accept or decline orders, so you can choose which ones are closest to you, have the easiest pick up & drop off distance, or ones that may be multiple pick ups from the same business. The great thing about having a Zygg electric bike for food delivery is that you don’t have to worry about those dreaded hills, far away locations, or long hours. You will be less tired and able to do more in less time. $$$$$

7. Although most food delivery apps come with a mapping or routing program built in, get to know your city and its neighbourhoods really well on your own. Often the suggested route on your device is NOT the best, fastest, or safest route for cyclists.

8. Be prompt, professional and kind with food service/ restaurant personnel: just like you, things can get stressful. Be pleasant with your drop off customer, especially making sure if there are special directions, or instructions that are on their file, like curbside pick-up or a particular unit number. All of these details will save you time. Attention to them may lead to a well-deserved tip. 

9. And most important: be courteous to your fellow car, bus, truck drivers, pedestrians and cyclists, alike. Share the road.