MacEwan’s campus has always been uniquely connected through our pedway system, which will soon extend north to include the School of Business building. With that connection comes the opportunity to introduce an innovative new mode of transportation to campus.

To accommodate the need for speed while crossing our expanding campus, MacEwan University is launching branded wheelie shoes featuring the iconic towers in our signature maroon hue.

“We pride ourselves on being trendsetters and trendbreakers here at MacEwan, and this exciting new option for traversing campus truly sets us apart from other institutions,” says Dr. Annette Trimbee, president and vice-chancellor. “That’s not the only facet of our strategic vision, Teaching Greatness, that these new wheelies support – they’re also a literal embodiment of perpetual motion.”

The decision came after student focus groups noted how tricky it can be to walk across a campus spanning six city blocks in the 10-minute break between classes. 

“We were taught way back in elementary school that running in the halls isn’t allowed,” said Bachelor of Arts student Jaden in one of the focus groups. “It’s also not allowed on pool decks, or if you’re carrying scissors. But that’s not really relevant here.”

The university consulted extensively with leading artificial intelligence tools for solutions. After considering installing moving walkways similar to those in airports, wheelie shoes were determined to be a more cost-effective option – and cause less downtime than massive infrastructure changes.

To ensure the campus is accessible for all users, pedways will have dedicated wheelie lanes. Students who prefer to walk at a leisurely pace in large groups spanning the width of the pedway will have to make slight adjustments to block only the designated walking lanes to avoid collisions with wheelie users.

During the summer months, wheelie lanes will be modified to include temporary speed bumps, preventing students from reaching dangerous speeds. While speed bumps proved impractical in the walking lanes, there is considerable interest in a potential future pilot project for a third lane to allow for walking while looking at smartphone screens.

Students are asked to consider their own safety when using wheelies by wearing personal protective equipment, including helmets, elbow pads and high-visibility clothing, which will be sold separately. Wheeling inside labs and classrooms is not permitted, both for safety reasons and to avoid distracting fellow students. Those not adhering to this rule will have their wheelies temporarily confiscated and will have to finish class in their socks – which also may result in extreme unpopularity, depending on stench levels.

Non-branded wheelies will be permitted, but the official MacEwan wheelies are recommended to help keep our campus esthetically pleasing and to foster school spirit.

The shoes are included in regular student fees and will be available for pickup at the MacEwan Bookstore as of April 31, 2026. Wheelie lanes will officially open the following day.

This story was published on April 1, 2026, as an April Fool’s Day joke! While MacEwan wheelie shoes would look cool, the university has no plans to actually produce them. The pedways will continue to be for foot traffic, mobility devices and the orange carts used by Facilities, as usual.