Winter Biking Isn't So Bad
by Lloyd Alter, Toronto on 02. 7.08
I made a New Year's Resolution to never drive alone downtown all winter but to use my bike no matter what the weather. I already broke it last week when I had to carry books to a class that I teach at Ryerson University, but even though we had a foot of snow last night and many schools were declaring a snow day, I thought it might be interesting to see how the City copes and how much concern they have for the bicycling crowd.
The short answer is not much concern at all. I am very fortunate to have some form of bike lane for almost the entire distance between my home and the University. The start was not promising; as you can see they have ploughed the road nicely, dumping all of the snow into the bike lane. In fact, they might as well just rename it the snow lane, for the snow always seems to end right on the painted line.
As you can see from the signage, this is both a bike lane and a snow route; these are designated streets where if the Mayor announces a snow emergency, all the cars have to move or be towed so that the loaders and dump trucks can take away the snow.
But they don't bother doing that anymore because with recent changes in the climate, almost every blizzard is followed by a heat wave that melts the snow, so they let mother nature do their work. And if they are not going to load it or melt it then there really is nowhere else but the bike lane to put it
and they just ignore the cars and trucks that not only fill the bike lane but straddle it and push cyclists out into the road.
Closer to downtown, Bay Street has a lane devoted to taxis, buses and bikes. Nobody pays the least bit of attention to this and the cops don't ever enforce it, but being open to cars it got a lot of plough love and was clear all the way down. Funny how that works.
In the end my biggest problem was trying to find a place to lock my bike for the class; The University is responsible for shovelling the sidewalk but they use small tractors and don't bother digging around the bike rings, who would ride on a day like this?
While I can complain about the bike lanes being full of snow, I also have to admit that there really is nowhere to put it and the dump was just yesterday. There were fewer drivers than usual and they all seemed to be understanding; nobody honked at me once when I was forced out into a lane and they were forced to slow down to my speed until the road widened. I think perhaps that the snow brought out the best in Toronto drivers; I might even conclude that the best days to ride are right after a blizzard.
See more on how to ride your bike in winter at Planet green:
Ride Your Bike All Winter (Part I)
Ride Your Bike All Winter (Part II)
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I always seem to put this site out there -
www.icebike.com as a resource and inspiration.
In NYC, NY we have been lucky (or unfortunate depending how you look at it... lucky for me though) not to have had much snow. I have been riding to work all year.
We must be having beach weather compared to youze guyze Up North.
I am afraid of ice and hard packed snow. I would use studded tires but if you use them for a little while on paved surfaces I hear they wear down really fast.
That soft slush looks easy but add a little darkness and low temps and there's ice all about.
Good Luck!!
vsk
Cities should clear sidewalks and bike routes before roads. This is what they do in cities such as Copenhagen and Boulder Colorado.
"Winter Biking Isn't So Bad"
Actually, it is.
Bad - I mean.
At -25 F I can bearly stand to start the car (yes, I use the block heater to cut emissions).....
Locally, I do see some hardy souls biking away, I believe they are either super-eco types - or banned from driving and hate the bus.
Then again, in the summer I do bike a lot. Alaska is wondeful in many ways, but bike friendly is is not.
Here in Kamloops, (the interior of BC, Canada), the City does a very good job of ploughing sidewalks and bike paths (those that aren't fronted by a private residence or business.) Bike-commuting is possible year-round, even at 20 below (celsius).
Honestly, I'm not really that surprised. I doubt very many cyclists even complain, in no small part because most of them don't bike in the winter.
But biking in the winter really isn't that bad. I currently live in Vancouver (and this year has been horrid), but I used to live in Prince George. Studded tires would have been an absolute necessity if only they sold them back when I lived there. Even here, it's a very good idea, as we get more frosty/icy days than we get snow days.
Either way, the trick is to stay warm or dry, depending on the conditions. It's mostly the extremities that are affected by cold weather, your core can be kept warm quite easily with a fairly light jacket as you're generating lots of heat. In wet weather (as we have plenty of here), waterproof or at least water resistant everything will keep your commute pleasant. I really haven't had a lot of misery to go along with the rain this year.
Either way, a spare pair of socks are an excellent idea. Either to change into, or to put on over the first pair to keep your feet warm.
I commuted in the central US a good portion of last winter. I was fortunate in that most of the roads that I rode on were two lanes wide (although they did not have bike lanes). Drivers were generally courteous when passing, but I also take a full lane when cycling and I don't leave room for someone to squeeze by me. We don't' have many bike paths that are part of the road ways like this article shows, but the local suburbs were good about getting the multiuse paths cleaned off after a storm (sometimes they were in better shape than the streets).
About taking books with bad weather:
I have a very nice office/bike suitcase that clicks onto my bike luggage rack, is waterproof and looks stylish enough for the office. As a dutchman I allways ride to work on my simple gearless bike no matter what the weather and I my paperwork and laptop allways arrive dry and undamaged thanks to this suitcase.
There are some minor details I would like to have improved, but in general this is a very good solution.
http://www.ortlieb.com/_prod.php?lang=en&produkt=officebag
As much as I support bike commuting (and I do so myself, when the weather permits), I have to complain about the winter bikers here in Ottawa. When the snow is piled 4-6ft high, there is no bike lane, the visibility is limited by snow, and braking conditions are crap, the last thing I want to worry about is ploughing over some bike commuter, despite being a rational, alert, and defensive driver...Under these conditions, it is a liability to bike in the winter and I wish they'd stay out of the traffic.
I was out riding in Toronto yesterday after the snow storm, and I found the same thing. Very little space for bikes. I had to take a whole car lane for much of the way. But the cars were going slow, and sometimes I would let a bunch pass then continue down the lane.
One hazard to look out for is slush-covered streetcar tracks.
I was not too concerned about locking to anything, as I doubt if bike thieves are very active in freezing weather.
For more winter riding tips check out:
The adventure of riding a bike in the winter. If this link doesn't work, click on my name below.
Note to Lloyd: I think that lane on Bay if for taxis, buses and bikes only. Not for cars.
LA: I meant to say taxis and have fixed it, thanks. doesnt make much sense otherwise! thanks.
When I went to college in Fairbanks, Alaska, I knew several students who biked nearly year-round, even in sub-zero (Farenheit) temperatures. When the temperature gets cold enough, the compacted snow and even ice provides reasonable traction. You can even get studded bicycle tires!
To winterize your bike, it is recommended that you deflate the tires a little, and apply rubber cement around the rim to keep the tire from shifting and ripping off the stem.
I always saw many cyclists out and about all the way down to 20- or 30-below (F)--the temperature, I was told, at which axle grease freezes.
I have been riding my bike as a daily commute for two+ full years. I live in Waterloo ON, and there has never been a single day I couldn't get to my destination due to weather. Sometimes I have to push the odd block, but usually only on "snow-days". Even on a $2 bike with bald tires I bought from a garbage heap.
The truth be told, the spring is the worst time to ride because of heavy rain conditions.
Give it a try, but wear your helmet and be safe!
@vsk - Tires that have hardened studs don't wear down too fast. I have Nokian Hakkapeliittas, and they work great. You can also have a second set of wheels (or a second bike) with the studs.
I live in Boulder, and the bike paths do get priority plowing, which is wonderful. The bike lanes have the same problem as everywhere else, though. I'd imagine it would be difficult to properly plow the bike lanes without running into curbs a lot.
My next step is to get a heavy duty tricycle for winter riding - no worries about going down on one of those, and I'm not riding fast in the snow anyway.
You guys are too coddled by your bike lanes.
Cyclist crying because the lane isn't ploughed.
Drivers complaining because cyclist use the street.
I've never been a big supporter of bike lanes for this very reason.
Bicycles are vehicles and should be using the road.
I used to be a bike courier in Calgary, we would ride year round, and only stop when the temperature dropped below -25.
It really wasn't that bad, you just had to dress for it and have a good mind set. Not to mention good tires.
Thanks Marky Mark...
I would be a little paranoid about the tricycle thing for me in NYC because of space. Parking would be tough too. But then again, there are a bunch of rickshaw/pedicab guys that sccot around pretty good.
Wuz - bike lanes work. Bike lanes help against being caught by a driver's opening door like an arresting wire on an aircraft carrier. Bike lanes give more protected space against the maniacs. I drive too and use the bus once in a blue moon to know where driver's visual limits are to be a better biker. If you ride a lot, you appreciate the lanes.
Here the lanes get plowed. They seem to plow until they it the storefronts sometimes !
vsk
In Denmark people bicycle all year round with no problem and has done so ever since the bicycle was invented mor ethan a hundred years ago.
Im going to say this once again...the cars pay the gas taxes which pay for the roads...Keep the roads clear first so that we can haul on the breaks when some hippy on a bike swerves into our lane. You are a hazard get off the road when the conditions are poor!
Im going to say this once again...the cars pay the gas taxes which pay for the roads...Keep the roads clear first so that we can haul on the breaks when some hippy on a bike swerves into our lane. You are a hazard get off the road when the conditions are poor!
"Cities should clear sidewalks and bike routes before roads. This is what they do in cities such as Copenhagen and Boulder Colorado."
Sorry, but I think emergency equipment getting to a life and death situation is far more important than someone riding a bicycle having to walk.
Maybe when bikes start paying road taxes and police start enforcing bicycle riders and they're scofflaw antics (they are vehicles, if you want road rights you need to also follow the laws of the road, that includes things like stop signs, turn lanes, keeping right since you are slower traffic, etc...) I'll reconsider my opinions on making biking safer in the winter.
-Lego in Minneapolis
@ jb: if the road conditions are so poor you cannot break for a bicyclist, you can also not break for another car or for somebody on foot crossing the road, or a traffic light. Under these conditions you should not drive your car, but stay at home or walk!
@ lego if sidewalks and bicycle lanes are cleared first the emergency services are less needed!