IQALUIT - Riding a bicycle built for two alongside the tundra sounds like it could be a scene from a Salvador Dali painting.

The tandem bicycle make look intimidating, but it provides tourists with a unique way to see Nunavut's capital city. - photo courtesy of Nunavut Tourism

It's also a time-of-your-life, eco-friendly and amazingly out-of-the-ordinary way to see Iqaluit, said Martine Dupont, manager of the Unikkaarvik Visitor Centre in Iqaluit.

The centre started renting out Iqaluit's only tandem bike mid-June as part of its non-profit Pisootiit bicycle rental program.

Dupont and a coworker were the first to try it out.

"It's an adventure," said Dupont. "It's funny. People wave to you."

But Dupont doesn't blame them – not only is the centre's tandem the only in Iqaluit, Dupont guesses it's also the only one in Nunavut.

"I've never seen one around in the eight years (I've been here)," she said.

Many people have come in and asked questions about the tandem but few have actually taken it out, she added. Dupont is hoping that will change.

"It's an experience. It's a totally different way to see town -- even for people who've been living here for years," she said.

In the meantime, the centre also offers mountain bikes to both tourists and residents to rent. After all, the Pisootiit program is all about being green.

The program itself was launched with a $4,500 grant from funds set aside by the July 2008 Planning for Climate Change Symposium to offset carbon emissions produced by hosting the event in Iqaluit.

Before Pisootiit started people were left with little option if they wanted to see Apex or the Sylvia Grinnell Park but to take a cab or join a guided vehicle tour, said Dupont.

"Now people can self-guide their own tours," she said.

Many people, including Dupont, would like to see the program grow. All money the non-profit makes from bicycle rentals goes back into the program.

Future ideas for the program are to possibly offer seasonal passes to residents who want to rent bikes out and getting more bicycle racks placed around the city.

The rental program runs until the end of December and will kick off again next June.