YZD Runway Riders

Element Award Winner — Environmental

Jacknife

Toronto, Ontario, Canada

Client: YZD

YZD is transforming 370 acres of former airport lands into a city-within-a-city centred on creativity, culture and connection. To introduce this vision to new audiences, YZD partnered with Jacknife to create an experiential activation for Toronto’s Live Nation summer concert series at Rogers Stadium that could capture attention in a crowded, fast-moving environment. Rather than asking concert-goers to come to the activation, YZD Runway Riders brought the experience to them. Inspired by the idea that movement could become media, Jacknife created a roaming fleet of custom-painted bicycles, vendor carts and ambassador rides.

Five Toronto artists from STEPS Public Art transformed bicycles and helmets into moving works of art, using bold colours, oversized flags, custom accessories and lighting to give each ride its own personality. The bicycles provided ambassadors with a sustainable way to navigate the expansive site, while QR codes connected physical interactions to a digital experience. Built from repurposed bicycles and modular components, the fleet could be refreshed and redeployed throughout the concert season. YZD Runway Riders generated nearly 4,000 submissions and even caught the attention of Coldplay frontman Chris Martin, who gave the activation an enthusiastic thumbs-up before taking the stage on opening night.