At signalized intersections across Saskatoon, crossing times are too short and well below the City’s own standard. This frequently leaves pedestrians stranded in the middle of the intersection, creating uncomfortable and potentially dangerous conflicts with oncoming traffic. Sign the following petition to express to the Mayor and Council support for increasing crosswalk times across the city, creating a safer Saskatoon for all. https://forms.gle/RZbjgnFK66Nuw3TL6 

Read more:

The City of Saskatoon has adopted guidelines from the Transportation Association of Canada. Current recommendations call for crosswalk signals to be timed using a walking speed of 1 metre per second for the general population. This recommendation is a maximum, with slower speeds used in school zones, areas with higher foot traffic, dense senior populations, or people using mobility aids.

The purpose of these standards is straightforward: people should be able to cross the street safely without rushing. However, intersections across Saskatoon fall well short of this standard.

In a recent video, we examined the intersection of Idylwyld Drive and 20th Street. The crossing distance is approximately 30 metres. Therefore, based on the guidelines, one would expect a minimum of 30 seconds provided to ensure safe crossings (30m ÷ 1m/s = 30s). Instead, the signal only provides 26 seconds, 6 seconds with a white signal, and 20 seconds with the signal flashing red. 

Even starting exactly when the white walk signal appears, an average adult walking at a normal pace reaches the other side with little time to spare. For many people in our community, including seniors, children, parents pushing strollers, and those with mobility challenges, achieving that pace is not realistic.

Under the current signal timing, the scenario shown in the figure below is all too possible. A pedestrian with mobility challenges walking at 1 m/s could begin crossing with 21 seconds remaining while the signal is still white, reasonably believing they have enough time to cross safely. Instead, they would only make it about 70% of the way across before the pedestrian signal turns solid red, leaving them stranded in the path of vehicles now expected to proceed through the intersection the pedestrian occupies. This dangerous situation is entirely the result of pedestrian signals that fail to provide sufficient crossing time. Unfortunately, this is not a rare occurrence, and is a situation I frequently find myself in despite having no mobility challenges.

This is not simply an inconvenience. It affects how safe and welcoming our streets feel. When pedestrians have insufficient time to cross, they begin to rush to avoid being in the way of traffic. Their attention shifts away from surrounding hazards and towards reaching the other side. Additionally, it increases the likelihood that they become obstacles in the roadway for drivers who are only trying to follow the rules of the road. These conditions create stress and uncertainty in a situation that should be mundane.

One must then ask: why are crossing times so short?

Shortening pedestrian crossing times allows vehicle traffic along major thoroughfares to receive a green signal sooner in an attempt to move more vehicles through. Although, are these efforts effective? If drivers are constantly in conflict with pedestrians who are caught in the intersection due to inadequate crossing times, this adds confusion and increases wait times for drivers when they are expected to drive. Creating adequate conditions for all is beneficial for all. It improves pedestrian safety and reduces the number of uncomfortable interactions drivers may have with pedestrians, making the driving experience smoother and safer.

Fortunately, this is a problem with a straightforward solution. The first step is to follow the city’s guidelines. To make signalized crosswalks safer, walking signals should start flashing when the minimum time is reached. In the case of Idylwyld & 20th St, when 30 seconds are remaining, the signal should start flashing. In this example, with a current white hand time of 6 seconds plus 30 seconds of flashing, it equates to a total light time of 36 seconds. This way, those in our community who cannot move as fast can reliably cross on a white hand and make it to the other side before it turns solid red. Additionally, intersections in areas with significant pedestrian and commercial activity should be prioritized further by increasing the white hand time to increase the time window in which people can cross. These are necessary steps if Saskatoon is to become a safer and more walkable city.

This is sweet, I wonder where the facility is being built

Been sitting on this one for a while but I guess it is time. I don’t get Saskatonians apparent aversion to bicycle helmets. Retired here from Prince Albert after over six decades of living in the Gateway City. Spent my 35+ years career as an educator with 30 years as a school principal. I had multiple students, and one staff member who had acquired brain injuries. Full disclosure not from bicycle accidents but most of which may have been preventable but helmets. Saskatoon has wonderful biking opportunities and we see an absolute explosion of people riding robust motorized scooters at speeds that surely outpace school zone speed limits. How much of an inconvenience can wearing a helmet really be? Seeing the degree to which lives are changed through head trauma I just don’t get it. Is the likelihood of a serious injury happing to you high? No. But it’s there and I see helmet use
as a mild inconvenience. My rant. Many will disagree I get it. But once your life changes because of a head injury there is no rewind button or reset switch.

I grew up in Saskatoon, but moved away after graduating from UofS 20+ years go. I've been back occasionally but mostly just to visit extended family once I had a kid. Said kid is 13 years old now, so we're a lot more flexible with activities and events than we were when he was younger, and we happen to be headed back to SK for two weeks starting July 26.

What's new and exciting that we should check out? What are old classics that I might have forgotten about that I should reacquaint myself (and my family) with? Bonus points for teen-friendly ideas!

Thanks for any hot tips and suggestions!

I noticed there’s some construction here in rosewood next to bitz park, does anyone know what’s being built?

Hey everyone, my family and I are from the UK and we’ve been seriously looking at moving to Saskatoon. For the longest time we were set on Australia, but after loads of research we’ve completely changed our minds and Saskatoon has really caught our attention.
We’re hoping to come over and visit soon to see what it’s like in person, but I thought I’d ask here as locals always know best. One of the biggest things for us is diversity. My wife is Black, I’m white, and we have two young sons. We’d love to know what it’s actually like living in Saskatoon as a mixed-race family. Is the city generally welcoming? Do you feel it’s pretty diverse? Have you or people you know had good experiences? We plan on visiting during the winter so we can get a realistic perspective on the winters and decide if we can manage the cold!
Thanks in advance guys.

What’s going on at motion fitness Stonebridge? Got a notification “Due to an unforeseen emergency, our Stonebridge location is closed until further notice.”

What's the best place in saskatoon to buy camera accessories.

I have owned a decent camera for 5 years but only have a basic kit lens. 15mm- 45mm.

I’ve been to 4 stores with empty shelves, any leads in Saskatoon today? Have you seen bug spray?

Hey, I'm interested in buying a few tickets for a cruise on the Prairie Lily. I was wondering: is it possible to buy tickets in-person somewhere in Saskatoon, or is it all strictly online on the boat's website?

Thanks in advance. Cheers 🍻

Mosquitos at the outdoor pools are unbearable. Yesterday we lasted 18 minutes before being eaten alive at the lathey pool and switched to Mayfair to see if they’d be any better on the other side of the city, and my three year old got about 30 bites per minute. Does anyone know where I can take my LO where it isn’t going to be as thick? Yes we had mosquito spray on.

I was rocking to rob zombie a little too hard and was like 15 over going past a camera so if anyone has some intel I’d appreciate it 😔

If you're walking your dog in the off-leash area of the dog park but can't recall your dog, should you be walking it without a leash?

I was biking through the park on my way home from work like I do every day, and this woman's dog started barking at me as I rode past from a safe distance. No problem, it doesn't bother me, so I just kept biking past until I saw that it was biting at my feet and chasing after me. I sped up until it eventually gave up 200m down the trail while the owner helplessly yelled, "Leave it!"

This isn't the first time a dog has chased or tried to bite me in the park, so my question for you is: If you can't recall your dog, should it even be off-leash? Am I unreasonable for expecting dog owners to have control of their dogs?

Hey everyone,

​I was offered SaskTel infiNET 300 for $55/month (before tax). Just wondering if this is a solid deal or if people are getting better offers/promos with SaskTel or other providers right now.

​Appreciate any feedback!

Does anyone have a good deterrent for these loud birds? Couldn’t find anything online except for a great deal on an F150 Silverado at Merlin Ford.

Reported to saskpower. Now just waiting to see the Reddit posts to see how big.

Hi all!

With the heat wave coming up over the next few weeks, I’ve been looking for some good beaches to visit! My go-to for the past couple of years has been South Circle Beach (near the Diefenbaker disc golf area), but when I went in early June there was basically no beach left — the shoreline had completely washed up.

Does anyone have any recommendations for beaches within the city? Also, does anyone know what the Diefenbaker beach is looking like now?

Hi there. Are there any stores in town that sell football helmets and shoulder pads? I would like to buy some for my son, but prefer that he try it on, opposed to ordering online. Thanks in advance

Can we all agree that every taxi company in this city has terrible drivers, service, and especially awful management? Not sure if I have the energy for my rant but y’all feel free to share your bad experiences if any.

Thanks ! 🙏🏽

Specifically, how are the ticks by the river?

Is tick season over? Over-ish?

Saskatoon city hall is testing a new strategy to address the growing problem of food insecurity.

The city is experimenting with food forests in two west-side parks, using pilot projects that are expected to bear fruit — literally — in two years.

Food forests date back to ancient times among Indigenous peoples in the Americas. The city's project is adding trees and shrubs that bear fruits and vegetables for people who need some healthy food.

"We know that two food forest projects is not going to solve food insecurity issues, but we do hope that they can contribute and show one type of solution to this problem," Shannon Dyck, a sustainability specialist with the City of Saskatoon, said in an interview last week.

The pilot projects are underway in Broughton Park in the Holiday Park neighbourhood and Leif Erickson Park in Westmount. Both parks were chosen because there are no grocery stores close to the neighbourhoods.

In Holiday Park, about 15 per cent of households are determined to be low-income, while that share is double in Westmount.

Dyck said the idea for the experiment came from people who offered their input into the city's green infrastructure plan. The neighbourhoods have also offered "great feedback" on the pilot project, she added.

People who live nearby offered their opinions on what should be grown at the sites.

"We gave them lots of options," Dyck said. "Crabapples were not a favourite, so you will not see any crabapples on site."

Among the food that is already grown behind fenced-off plots in both parks are saskatoon berries, raspberries, haskaps, strawberries, rhubarb and asparagus.

But the project is also trying to grow less obvious fruits like apples, plums, apricots and pears.

There are about 15 different edible plants in Boughton Park and more than that in Leif Erickson, where the food-growing plot is larger.

The food forests will be weeded and watered for the next two years before they open to the public.

"We've just been really fortunate to have community input into the plant selection and the design and now we're looking forward to spring 2028 when we can open these up to the public and give people their first snacks," Dyck said.

If the pilot project is deemed successful, the concept could be expanded to other areas of the city.

The venture is costing $360,000; a federal infrastructure grant covers 60 per cent and the rest is paid by the city.

Laurie O'Connor, executive director of the Saskatoon Food Bank and Learning Centre, applauded the city's pilot project and called it forward-looking.

"I think it's always really neat when the city is thinking about how we can grow food that's accessible to everyone and, instead of planting sort of shade trees or trees for beauty, that we consider how spaces might be used to grow food as well," O'Connor said in an interview.

Food bank use in Saskatoon has risen significantly in recent years, from 63,166 food hampers distributed in 2022 to 95,442 last year.

O'Connor pointed out that the rising cost of food is also affecting people who do not use the food bank.

According to this year's Food Bank Canada poverty report cards, Saskatchewan ranks higher than the national average for both the poverty rate (11.6 per cent) and the food insecurity rate (26.7 per cent).

The city's point-in-time homeless count last October identified 1,931 people.

By: Phil Tank · CBC News

Published: Jul 14, 2026 6:00 AM CDT | Last Updated: July 14