Syrian refugees given free bikes, learn lessons in Saskatoon cycling

While living in Syria, 15-year-old Mariam Seif Al Deen shared a bicycle with her family, splitting time between getting groceries and biking to and from school.

SeifAlDeencame to Saskatoon two months agoas a Syrian refugee.

Now, thanks to the Saskatoon Open Door Society and Saskatoon Cycles, Seif Al Deenhas a bike to call her own and she has the knowledge on how to get around the City of Bridges, safely.

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On Sunday, a cycling workshop was heldfor young Syrian refugees who now call Saskatoon home.

"We're always thinking about how we can be more inclusive in the community,"said Scott Silver with Saskatoon Cycles. "We thought it would be an amazing project to partner with them and get to know them, introduce ourselves, and let them know that they have an ally in us in the city."

The idea for the workshop came after the Bridge City Bike Co-op noticed a spike of Syrian refugees coming to them looking for bikes because they didn't have a driver's licence and needed a way to get around.

Part of the workshop aimed to educate theyoung newcomers onthe rules of cycling in Saskatoon and the best routes for cycling in the city. Young refugees also had the chance to ride away with their own bike.

Tenbikes were donated this time around, but Saskatoon Cycles and the Bike Co-op hope to have more bikes ready for refugee families in the near future.

"Saskatoon is a city that's easily bikeable. It's a small enough community that if you have a bike, you can get pretty much anywhere," Silver said.

"So as a refugee, as a newcomer, if you don't have any other means of transit, bicycle is the optimal way to go. And if we set them up, they can ride through town and enjoy the summer."

Silver said Saskatoon Cycles hopes to hold more workshops this summer to continue to promote a growing cycling community in Saskatoon.