That’s nice for the Dutch but I’m not riding a bike in 15+ cm of snow and ice while it’s -30c lol
Comment on Pros / cons of riding a bike?
HenriVolney@sh.itjust.works 5 months agoSecond this. The inconvenience of winter weather in particular. Dutch people are used to say that there is no bad weather to ride a bike, only inadequate gear.
JJROKCZ@lemmy.world 5 months ago
MonkRome@lemmy.world 5 months ago
I do and it’s honesty much better than those 33+ c days. When it’s below freezing, I wear thermal high tops, snow pants, down jacket, face mask and ski goggles. Its perfectly comfortable.
GissaMittJobb@lemmy.ml 5 months ago
It’s true that it’s possible to ride all year, even in places with harsh winters.
It’s going to be decidedly less fun, though.
This was enough to tip the balance in favour of taking transit during the months of snow and slush here in Sweden, but I’m also spoiled for choice here. Now I’ve moved and have less of a ride to work, so I think I’m probably going to shoot for biking all year now.
akwd169@sh.itjust.works 5 months ago
Try that out in Canada though, it’s not going to work out. 15cm of fresh snow with ice underneath and it’s still coming down, while the sidewalks haven’t been cleared yet? Good luck biking to work then…
You have to use transit for about half the year here
Curious_Canid@lemmy.ca 5 months ago
My city plows the bike paths at the same time it plows the emergency routes. We’re in Wisconsin, but a startling number of people still commute by bike all year long.
LwL@lemmy.world 5 months ago
It’s an issue of political will, because it’s perfectly possible to keep cycling possible even in those conditions, but yea as long as that isn’t there you can’t always.
HenriVolney@sh.itjust.works 5 months ago
Would skiing be an option?
pumpkinseedoil@sh.itjust.works 5 months ago
In Austria I’ve already seen people cross country skiing through the city in extreme conditions (but usually streets are cleared quickly so it isn’t needed)
TranquilTurbulence@lemmy.zip 5 months ago
Can confirm. Especially wet snow/sleet can make bicycling completely impossible. A few centimeters is only a minor annoyance, but 10 cm is a serious problem. Fortunately, it doesn’t last long where I live, since the streets get cleared fairly quickly. During one of those mornings you better take a bus/train/subway instead. It also really depends on how well your town takes care of the streets and what public transport options are available.
MonkRome@lemmy.world 5 months ago
Realistically it’s only those 1-2 days after snowing when things are still being cleared that it’s an issue. I bike commute 52 weeks a year in Minnesota and there were only 3 days this year I regretted biking. 2 snow days and one heavy cold rain. I can always supplement another option on those days.