Winter cycling shouldn’t be this hard
Submitted by keagangartz on January 24, 2022 - 11:01amSkip to our Action Alert below and write to your local councillor and the Mayor about why we need reliable snow clearance and removal.
Skip to our Action Alert below and write to your local councillor and the Mayor about why we need reliable snow clearance and removal.
If the roads were covered with snow or ice, would you say it’s too dangerous to drive?
Of course you would, but we expect a certain level of service to ensure that we won’t be forced to drive in lanes that haven’t been cleared and salted. The same is true for bike lanes in many cities, and it is the vision of Toronto’s Cycling Snow Routes Network.
If you’re not a winter-loving person, cold weather is no fun no matter how you get around. And since you’re going to bundle up regardless, rather than wait for your car to heat up, shiver at the bus stop, or sardine yourself onto the subway, why not warm your body up and ride instead? It’s a great way to stay active through the winter and get some sunlight into your eyes.
Dr. Michaela Beder is an outreach psychiatrist whose work focuses on serving people who are marginalized. On a snow-free but chilly day, we had the chance to meet and talk about how riding a bike year-round complements her clinical and community activism work - and keeps her mind and body healthy during the busiest times.
We visited Intelliware’s bike-friendly office on a sunny Wednesday and spoke with three of the team’s year-round riders: Cesar Farell, Bruno Schmidt, and Peter Davison. Here’s what they had to say about the joys of starting and ending the day by pedalling, keeping fingers and toes warm, and some of the great amenities Intelliware offers to incentivize commuting by bike (hint: secure indoor bike parking!).
Read on to find out how Jay, founder of RallyRally (a design studio dedicated to social change), navigates Toronto’s streets by Bike Share - and why getting a daily dose of pedalling is crucial to his physical and mental wellbeing. Plus, he offers head to toe tips on dressing to ride in comfort, even on the slushiest of days.
Léa is a busy PhD student at the University of Toronto who works alongside Bike Host, Toronto's cycling mentorship program for newcomers, for her research on gender and cycling. Having grown up just outside of Montréal, Léa knows a thing or two about deep winter. Read on to find out how she built up a sturdy winter bike, three key winter riding accessories, and what she wishes the City would do expand our winter cycling network.