Unconnected.

Recently I noticed this sticker by the after hours book return slot at the Francis Morrision Library, aka the main branch, on 23rd Street.



I really don't see the connection between tattoos and libraries, other than there being tattoo books in the library.

And as a bonus here's a shot of the lovely colours of the leaves across the street on the City Hall grounds.

Big Rig.

I've been a bit lax on posting here lately, but this one is a biggie, in more ways than one.



I was pleasently surprised to spot this vehicle sitting on 23rd Street by the Francis Morrision Library this morning.  This is Saskatoon Transit bus 1007, one of three articulated buses acquired this year from Quebec's Nova Bus.  These will run on the rapid transit DART routes at peak hours.





The actual markings on this bus are pretty limited, such as the small DART logo on the upper panel seen here.



Like all buses acquired in recent years this unit has a front mounted bike rack, and the racks do see some use.

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A closeup of the accordion section that connects the front and back segments.

I'm not convinced these buses will work well here.  The various bus stops and bus malls were designed with a much shorter vehicle in mind, and I wonder if they won't have trouble navigating some streets and intersections.  We'll have to wait until full scale service begins in September.



Meanwhile, Saskatoon Transit continues to acquire buses of the style we're more familiar with here, such as 1001, a New Flyer bus.  As can be seen by the paint scheme this unit is intended for the use on "standard" routes.  Prior to the acquisition of the new articulated buses New Flyer had been the sole provider of buses to Saskatoon Transit since the first low floor wheelchair accessible buses were purchased in 1995.

Remembrance.

This is the cenotaph in front of Saskatoon City Hall, commemorating those Saskatoon residents who have died in military service.

Globe On The Green Grass.

No, Saskatoon is not the home of giant hamsters. This is an environmental themed piece called Rolling Composter, created by Regina artist Wendy Peart. It is located on the lawn of City Hall on 23rd Street. Even if a giant rodent was able to get into the metal mesh globe it wouldn't go very far since the installation is chained to the ground.

Mosaic

When it was announced several years ago that the former Bay department store building on 2nd Avenue would be converted into condos I had thought this might mean the disappearance of the colourful mosaic found on the building's corner at 23rd street and 2nd Avenue. Fortunately those behind the project kept the 1960s design. The Bay continues to have a presence in Saskatoon, currently occupying what had been the home of Eaton's department store in Midtown Plaza before that chain's demise.