What Biking in the Winter is Really Like

What’s it like to bike in the winter in Montreal, a big North American city that’s pretty bike-friendly but also has cold and snowy winters?
Keep Urbanity rolling:
Join our Patreon for early releases, credit at the end of each video, and bonus content: / ohtheurbanity
Subscribe on KZbin: / @ohtheurbanity
Instagram: / ohurbanity
Twitter: / ohurbanity
For professional inquiries, please send us a message on Instagram or Twitter. Note that we may not be able to respond to all messages.
References:
Weather comparison: weatherspark.com/compare/y/25...

[@gabetalks9275]

I hate how drivers always complain about cyclists not using their own lanes while simultaneously treating their lanes as parking spots and snow dumps and then blaming them for not having anywhere safe to cycle. It's one of my biggest pet peeves. If you want cyclists to not get in your way, how about to not treating them like 2nd class citizens for a change? Cycling is real transit too whether you like it or not.

[@Teapot-Dave]

Car drivers don't want Cyclists on the road, they complain that bike-lanes are too expensive, and moan if we use a footpath. What do they want? It would be really great if they just stopped whinging for once!

[@GoneZombie]

@@Teapot-Dave One time someone in a passing car yelled at me to get on the sidewalk, when I was riding *in a bike lane.*

[@CusheeFoofee]

That happened to me too. They were driving an SUV of course... @@GoneZombie

[@fraserhenderson7839]

@@Teapot-Dave gee whiz Dave... is that whinging?

[@fraserhenderson7839]

2nd class citizens. Really? Many drivers are predisposed to disapprove of cyclists due to the huge, glaring PR problem of cyclists who are disinterested in traffic regulations. Do other cyclists not notice? Are they somehow unaware of these bad cyclists? Do all cyclist think anything goes? I do not know percentages but, in my city of Vancouver, the complete disregard for appropriate traffic comportment has resulted in my viewing every cyclist with a very jaundiced eye. There are many on bicycles here year round. Some are conspicuously safe and others are massively disrespectful and reckless. Those stand out. The biker barrel contains a great number of bad apples. I can also drive through red lights in my vehicle but I do not. I do not drive on the wrong side of the roadway nor do I drive on sidewalks. If many on bicycles feel they may do whatever they wish, many drivers have lost respect for the whole crowd of cyclists as a result. Ask drivers what they feel about cyclists. Imagine what they think. You aren't the only one who is offended. And by the way, do you imagine that drivers never ride bikes?

[@bearcubdaycare]

Winter cycling, with sliding cars and snow covered road markings, is an even bigger reason to have bike paths separated from the car lane by curbs and a gap.

[@Frostbiker]

I agree. Collision statistics show that the darker months are more dangerous for cyclists even though one would expect that the people riding their bikes through winter are probably more experienced riders. I imagine that poor visibility and perhaps poor grip contribute to this.

[@jattikuukunen]

The snow banks seen on the video provide extra protection from door collisions and poorly parked cars. Some streets looked dangerous after the snow was removed.

[@Liefpj]

Yes Winnipeg streets are so slippery the past couple of weeks, even after salting/gravel. Making stop signs a hazard(cars not being able to stop on time for my children crossing). Or a bike in front of car. I’m biking on sidewalks a lot more. Even beloved back alleys are rutted hazards now.

[@jattikuukunen]

@@Liefpj don't you use winter tires?

[@Liefpj]

I have both tires Schwalbe Winter Plus@@jattikuukunen But I really want to invest in a 3 wheel electric cargo bike. As I detect slippage every ride. Winter tires are not mandatory on cars in Manitoba. Since the temps are warmer the ice is now brown sugar. So still not viable.

[@Emavas02]

I work for snow removal in the plateau at night and I can tell you that this was a very rare case. Our first day usually consists of a light snowfall or a bit of freezing rain. This gives us time to train the new drivers to properly clean the streets, bike lanes, and sidewalks. This year we had a bunch of newbies go straight into clearing 35cm of snow. This caused many problems. Since many that work in snow removal are from the south shore, they didn’t understand the importance of walking and cycling in plateau. The street cleaner dumped way to much snow near the bike lanes, making them very hard to clear with the small machine, and many sidewalk cleaners didn’t know to at least past 2-3 times on the bike lane to clear it wider. So all this to say, the removal will only get better

[@GeneralLethal]

Thanks for your comment, I was a bit disappointed in the snow clearing last week but I can see how complicated training a bunch of new workers on such a large snowfall must be.

[@malvaashdown]

That could explain the high number of street signs and gardens that were plowed in the last few days. 🙄 Mine is partially destroyed now.

[@Emavas02]

@@malvaashdown Promise you it wasn’t me 😂

[@Redrally]

Thank you for both your job and your insight - I don't even live in Montreal, I just find this fascinating.

[@kami_in_the_skye]

@@Redrally Yeah, I love when locals with relevant experience chime in on a subject, even if I'm thousands of miles away.

[@MrPatpaty]

At 14:12, I noticed the truck driver creep out to look for oncoming traffic, then spot the cyclist and pedestrian, prompting them to reverse. This care for other road users is lacking in my city, Ottawa. Drivers here would sit there, expecting you to go around then claim you're entitled for asking them to move. I noticed this when visiting Montreal, but drivers are so much more aware of people outside of cars.

[@KSPRAYDAD]

In Ottawa they wouldn't creep out, they'd blindly just go. I blame the influence of driving with the red plate gang in town. They've normalized it.

[@GreySlick]

Having cycled for 10+ years in Montreal, usually NDG to Old Port and back (10 km each way), I feel that the advent of Bixi played a BIG role in this.1.) Bixis are seen as heavy and clunky so hitting one would likely damage your car 2.) bullies prefer to bully lone people but BIxi is a tribe, and one that grows every year 3.) everyone in Montreal knows multiple people that ride Bixi to varying degrees - so I suspect that one some level they see Bixiers as potentially their cousin's friend, their coworker's mum, or their neighbour's teenager. 4.) because Bixi riders tend to come from a bigger swathe of the population (first time urban cyclists, tourists, older people, students) rather than hard core cyclists, they tend to be more conservative/risk averse while cycling 5.) Bixis usually have functioning lights and reflectors and except for the e-Bixis, can't go very fast, so drivers got used to the parameters of sharing the road with Bixis, and then the habits just got transferred to all other cyclists

[@Alina_Schmidt]

Thanks for the comment. Where I live too that wouldn‘t have happened either, at least not a lot. I feel drivers even go further after they should have seen the bike in question

[@AnUndivine]

I used to love snowfall. It was beautiful and made everything much more casual. Then I got a car and I realized this is what all the groaning was about. Cars are just not good with snow. The main reason many people hate winter is because take a lot more effort in the winter. They don't always drive well, you need to spend extra on winter tires, undercoats, and maintenance, and you have to shovel shovel shovel.

[@lizcademy4809]

Winter is much more fun now that I don't own a car and don't need to manage it in snow and ice. All that needs shoveling is the front steps and sidewalk, and my tenant does that (on their way to dig out their car in the driveway). It's even better since I have a job that lets me work from home whenever I want.

[@delftfietser]

Winter does put the driver and the cyclist through some hardship. You have to take the winter as it comes, and also make it the way you want to take it. For some, there is a kind of community in complaining about the weather and the trial of dealing with it.

[@jattikuukunen]

Cycling in winter is fun, as long as you have a real winter and not a wet one. Riding with winter tires on well maintained snow or ice feels nice.

[@Alina_Schmidt]

Bikes probably are more practical in the snow than cars, granted the lanes are plowed equally and good enough. Switching for winter tires would be way less of a chore. Parking sheilded from the snow can be much more accessible for bikes.

[@MAMontreal4]

Surprisingly the hard part isn't the cold, it's dealing with the warmth after about 10 mins of cycling. Multi-layering is essential! Thank you for this video

[@een_schildpad]

Yes! This is what I often tell people. They are concerned you'll be cold, but really the challenge becomes managing your heat and perspiration (and making sure your extremities are covered). It's not like sitting in a car where you are motionless fortunately, rather you get warmed from the inside. A cool part is, the warmth stays with you after you stop... so I find riding my bike makes me feel warmer for quite awhile after riding as well!

[@stevenwalter3311]

It always takes me a week or two each year to dial in just the right outfit for cold weather commuting. But once I find it, it's wonderful

[@Sakkura1]

Also getting your stuff into eg. panniers instead of a backpack, because a backpack will give you a sweaty spot on the back.

[@ClockworksOfGL]

If you’re not starting out cold, you’ll be overheating within a few km.

[@IowaNinersFan]

@@Sakkura1 I gave up with the backpack experiment after a month or so. Buy a rack and waterproof pannier. Worth every penny and your back will thank you.

[@Nhkg17]

I'm from Central Europe. Today, finally after 10 days, I was able to comute by bike again. 10 days ago about 50cm of snow fell and I had to wait for it to melt. Our climate is milder than Montreal, but nobody clears the bike paths.

[@OhTheUrbanity]

50 cm is a pretty big snowfall! Any city that gets that kind of snow has no excuse to not be prepared with plows for bike paths.

[@salce_with_onion]

Skill issue

[@bearcubdaycare]

​@@salce_with_onion When I lived in the UK, Gatwick airport, owned by a Spanish company, had plenty of plows and cleared its runways quickly, and typically stayed open. Heathrow airport, owned by a UK company, had insufficient plows, and closed in many even small snowfalls. The proposed solution? Steal Gatwick's plows. Preparation, more than skill, which comes with experience, if equipped and prepared.

[@Mafik326]

Thank you for this video! This will help us advocate for better cycling infrastructure in Ottawa. It's great that Montréal can show the path forward for better urbanism in Canadian cities.

[@KSPRAYDAD]

Ottawa will continue to lean on the NCC paths and the NCC will continue to not maintain them in winter.

[@dc2guy2]

4:10 - Not saying anyone is obligated to do this, but I would have offered to help the guy shoveling snow off of his car and onto the bike lane to perhaps make him more likely to empathize with bikers. Sometimes you have to do a good deed for your "enemy" to make them realize you're not their enemy.

[@funkymankevx]

I was visiting Montreal during this storm and watching to snow removal process was amazing. I had such a good time there, I can't wait to return.

[@malvaashdown]

You’re welcome to visit us again! Montreal in May is pretty awesome. Come back! ;)

[@TotemKommo-o]

What I don't understand is that people won't blink if you go skiing or sledding or snowboarding, and some people will even drive to go to a hill to do those things. But the second you do something similar (biking) as a way to get around instead of just for funsies, people suddenly look at you like you've lost your damn mind.

[@SaveMoneySavethePlanet]

I’ve honestly been shocked at how comfortable winter cycling can be. For me, temps get down to about 40F with heavy wind gusts. It all comes down to getting gear that keeps the wind off of you. So a windproof jacket, bar mitts, and a bacalava often do the trick! Sure, the first 0.5 miles might be cold but after that my body has heated up my layers and I feel great! Not sure what gear I would have to add to do weather like what you have but I’m confident that it’s very doable :-)

[@themanyouwanttobe]

Do you mean -40°F? 40°F isn't even freezing.

[@SaveMoneySavethePlanet]

@@themanyouwanttobe 40F can become shockingly cold when the sun isn’t up, you have 8 MPH wind gusts, and you’re moving at 20 MPH.

[@MrBirdnose]

@@SaveMoneySavethePlanetFor me the wind chill on my face is one of the hardest things to deal with when cycling. 50F is about the lowest I'll go. I grew up in Michigan so it's not that I haven't experienced cold, but I always hated it and found it miserable. I only deal with it if I have to. I used to get a sore back from hunching over and tensing up in 20F weather.

[@alexseguin5245]

@@MrBirdnose Try a paintball mask! Great for cycling in the winter.

[@natbarmore]

Once it gets below about 20°F, the hard part about winter cycling isn’t keeping warm, it’s not overheating while also preventing frostbite. As you say, the wind is the real problem - if you’re biking at 15mph, you’ve effectively always got a minimum of 15mph windchill, which can be substantial. But you’re generating a lot more heat than walking or downhill skiing, so clothes that work great for that will overheat you and you’ll be drenched in sweat, which can easily lead to hypothermia depending on how you’re dressed. At a minimum you’ll be stinky and uncomfortable.

[@WheelsonaBike]

I am so impressed with Montreal's snow removal. Thank you for sharing the reality in an authentic way. Let's see how things go in Toronto this winter.

[@andrew20146]

I think I'd rather bike in snow than rain. Also, crazy how much snow Montreal has had. I haven't even shoveled in Toronto yet.

[@capnkirk5528]

Montreal: hands down the best city in Canada!

[@nebulous962]

Been doing it for long time. With studded tires it's pretty good if the bike paths are plowed.

This is the first winter Bixi is available all year around and I am finding it working well enough (ignoring the need to better plan journeys due to reduced docks). I also mention this, since I noticed a surprising number of Bixis in the video, including the one rode by the presenter. Since the previous winter I have started cycling, but nowhere to the degree I do in the summer. The main motivation is that some journeys are just faster on a bicycle than public transport.

[@joshthompson80]

One of the things I appreciate about biking in Edmonton is how our lighter, dry snow allows winter biking to be less slushy that in other canadian cities (van, mont, tor). Sometimes we get ice due to our freeze/sun/thaw cycles, but studded tires solve that. The thicker, heavy, wet snow in a city like montreal seems much more difficult to navigate. Which I think should give Edmontonians a lot of hope, that if montreal can be a bike city, so can we! We're flat, equally cold, get less snow, have less wet snow, more sun, quickly expanding bike network, etc.

[@NickCombs]

Firstly, that is really cool to get a glimpse of how Montreal collects and ships the snow out of the city. I had no idea that was possible, let alone logistically efficient enough to cover the whole city in 5 days. Both rides looked fairly enjoyable to me, though I'm not sure I would ever rate a painted "car door lane" more than a C lol. Now, I happen to be in a PNW town with

[@OhTheUrbanity]

Cold rain is no small challenge! You don't have the same issues with surface traction but I absolutely know how it can make you feel deeply, deeply cold after a while if you don't handle it right.

[@StartCodonUST]

I don't have as much experience in Minneapolis yet, but getting around by bike in Madison, WI was totally doable through winter, even in some of the coldest temperatures and most challenging road conditions, like wet snow over ice. I mostly did it on an old, skinny-wheeled, steel road/commuter bike. I'm not saying I'd want my grandma to attempt that, but with wider snow tires, it's something most people could get used to. I recently biked around 8 miles away to party, almost entirely on grade-separated bikeway on an old rail corridor, one of the lowest-stress routes you could find. People were shocked that I came by bike in temps slightly below freezing and light snow on my wide-tired cargo e-bike, and some almost begged me to take an Uber instead out of concern for my safety despite it being one of the safest routes you could find in a North American city in any season.

[@ambiarock590]

If cycling in the winter makes me crazy, then be all means I'll embrace it. I use an ebike to get around cuz I like in North America and I love it. I get some movement in everyday and my bike is fun as hell to ride. The thought of using a car for literally everything has always urked a bit but I could never put that feeling into words until learning about urbanism.

[@darthmaul216]

Crazy? I was crazy once

[@crowmob-yo6ry]

I'll never understand why some people are crazy enough to always drive everywhere and enjoy it.

[@TheHonestPeanut]

I loved a lot about living in the city. I moved about an hour outside it to a very wooded area and couldn't be happier. Less conveniences but exponentially more satisfaction, lower carbon footprint and WAY cheaper cost of living.

[@reneolthof6811]

I fully agree with your conclucions. The Dutch comments are clearly off mark. Snow infrastructure is critical and necessary. Well balanced video which I enjoyed watching coming from a country where snowfall is rare, though not unheard of.

[@Paul_C]

Again: Depending on local circumstances you can bike anywhere. Visit Finland and there you have a well maintained winter cycling experience. In the Netherlands snow is rare, and that means you deal with it.

[@crowmob-yo6ry]

I bet one of those commenters was NJB. That guy sucks. He's too angry and hateful. Doomers like him who urge everyone to give up on North America and become refugees in Europe are arguably even more harmful to our cause than the car-addicted suburbanites are.

[@Allan_son]

Oulu in Finland has received a lot of publicity for its winter cycling. I have to admit that my cynical reaction was that winter maintenance is pretty easy if mid February only had 20 to 30 cm on the ground. Also a colder climate means drier snow that is much easier/safer to cycle on when compared to slush. (Yes, Edmonton, your ears are burning.)

[@themanyouwanttobe]

The thaw-freeze ice is the worst. It also lingers as long as it's below freezing when the route doesn't get cleared, like in my city. Also, that guy shoveling snow into the bike lane would have gotten some words if I passed him.

[@Allan_son]

In Montréal you'd need to slow down, to give enough time to curse him in two languages, but only French is strictly required.

[@TakenTook]

Michigan here. Most of us from the northern 1/3 of the contiguous 48 don't think it's always too risky to bike in the winter. It's just that most US cities **aren't bike friendly enough to start** even in the summer, and even where we do have sidewalks or bike paths available, most municipalities don't bother (or don't have the budget for) plowing things quickly enough or thoroughly enough to make winter biking safe here. Montreal is one of those places that goes the extra mile to make bike lanes in the first place, and to keep them passable as much as possible in snowy weather.

[@leopoldleoleo]

I’ve been slowly becoming a winter cyclist here in Montreal and the two game changers for me were: 1) Ski goggles! 2) Switching my bike to fixed gear mode. I find that I have much better control over my back wheel, am less reliant on breaks that might freeze up, and just cycle more conservatively in general.

[@philpaine3068]

I've adored snow-clearing ever since I was a little kid, when I watched the "snow dinosaur" gobbling up the white stuff through my living-room window, in a heavy-snow Northern Ontario town. I now live in Toronto, which rarely has snowfalls comparable to Montreal. There's no problem biking in winter other than in the middle of a storm. But it does have several "MetroMelts", giant machines that literally vaporize the snow and pump it as water into the storm drains. They eliminate the need for long lines of dumptrucks. God, I LOVE watching those big beasts in action! But they only work on wide, major roads. I presume Montreal has these machines, but I don't know how many. I think Toronto has three. Glad to see a comment here by a city worker. We tend to think that our snow is cleared by mysterious gnomes, rather than human people. This is hard work that has to be done by clever and well-trained men and women. They should be recognized for their crucial contribution to our lives.

[@charthepirate]

One experience i have is people really overstate how bad winters can get. I'm in NYC and people act like we are just covered in snow from december to march, when in reality we have 1-4 snowy days a year. Def nothing that should disqualify bike infra!

[@OhTheUrbanity]

People are so bad for this! The worst few days of winter really stand out in people's minds.

[@smallmj2886]

Nice to see that Montreal cares about snow clearing for bike lanes and sidewalks in a timely manner. It feels like some other parts of Canada just give up on worrying about anything other than cars.

[@TrickiVicBB71]

There are only two people I know who have tried or do bike in the winter. My First Year automotive teacher 10 years ago when I went to NAIT. We see him coming down the hall with his bike and all his winter gear. This year was my best friend. He tried it last Edmonton winter. "Depends on how much level of suck you want to deal with it." As he put it. Edmonton doesn't do to bad of a job keeping bike lanes sanded/salted and cleared. Of course they are all in downtown core.

[@69Harveyb1]

As a lifelong carbon centric car guy I still recognize commuting and ordinary travel isn't a single vehicle proposition and it shouldn't be. Just as automobile travel constantly evolves to become safer, so do other modes of transportation. I've watched you for over a year now. The depth and consideration you grant the entire picture of human movement over distances greater than foot travel (could get us in our constrained amounts of time) is more than commendable. I live northwest of the twin cities, so you can say I've shaken hands with thirty below more than a few times. I know we have at least one snowblower type street plow here. We should have more. The system simply works. I believe this is the first step toward safer roads for cars, bikers and pedestrians. Travel usually follows the order of most efficient use of time, then degree of safety. The second lagging behind the first, sometimes on the order of decades. Everything you've shared needs a broader audience. (I do my part but those who know me are confused by my view since they also know me as a die-hard traditional, um, preservationist.) The only thing I can think of which might improve inclement weather riding would be if cities employed some kind of awning system over bike paths. I have no idea how this could get public support traction, but hey, the idea is out there now, right? Harvey

[@MrBenjaminGagne]

Thank you for your open mind, Harvey ! You’re proving this whole thing is beyond partisanry or ‘us vs them’, it’s all about making a better experience for everyone, no matter your beliefs.

[@beverleymason8011]

😂😂😂

[@highlorddarkstar]

For a long time sidewalks have been built with upper levels of buildings above them, protecting from sun and rain. Then in my area, back in the 20’s a bunch of businesses got together and covered the street with a glass roof so folks could shop in any weather (it came down in the late 70s or early 80s). I see no issue but funding for bike-lane awnings.

[@foobar9220]

Well done. Both the city for snow clearing and you guys with the video. As someone who used to bike year round (albeit in a milder climate), I can only second that biking in winter is not the same as biking in the snow storm. Actually, I found snow storms less of an issue, as they are well forecasted and every mode of transportation suffers. I found the days after worse as it is not trucked away and often not even properly plowed. The mix of above and below freezing means that melting water freezes on the bike paths and roads, often coming as a surprise. In general, I found ice way more problematic than snow

[@bigbadblackbear3031]

I do all sorts of winter sports but cycling is the hardest to dress for I find. It can also get pretty messy and it's hard on the bike. I prefer just running places in the winter but always in favour of making it easier for people to cycle

[@rudycandu1633]

Winters are more extreme here in Winnipeg. Colder and with higher winds makes it very hard to cycle much in the Winter. Studded winter tires are a must.

[@OhTheUrbanity]

Winnipeg is noticeably colder than Montreal, although it gets less snow.

[@gdxpr]

​@@OhTheUrbanity - Winnipeg *gets* less snow, but it rarely melts. I've been cycling throughout winters in Winnipeg for 12 years, and the only real difficulty is the city's almost total neglect when it comes to snow clearing. When we get snow, the first thing they do, usually at least one full day later, is dump sand on it, adding to the weight and preventing it from forming a hard pack that would support a bicycle. It's like trying to ride through wet, heavy mud. Then, several days later-if we're lucky-graders and loaders (they barely use plows) do a half-assed job of clearing the streets. Cycle paths and bike lanes are treated as an afterthought, and we can never count on them being clear. Even if a cycle path is clear for a stretch, it might be completely impassable further on, and there's never any warning. Sidewalks often go weeks before they're cleared, and when they are, the plows often leave an inch or two of snow or ice for long stretches. I thought you were being a bit generous with some of your grades, but I rarely see any snow clearing as competent as the worst bits you showed in this video. Montréal is at least *trying*…

[@ttopero]

I grew up in Minneapolis before the new emphasis on bike infrastructure. There was definitely a shift from 2 wheels to 2 feet & the bus. As you noted, there’s a cultural acceptance of the snow & cold, & both Minneapolis & Quebec are doing great work as leaders. I now live in Denver where snow has a very different cultural response. We have barely any snow plan except for arterials (car lanes first of course), then a quick run over collectors, & virtually non-existent on local roads. We don’t get many heavy (>3”) snowfalls & the daytime temperatures rise above freezing most days, with sun more than not. This breeds a culture of ignorance (as in ignoring the impact on non-vehicle means) and complacency with the expectation that the sun will melt & clear the SNOW within a few days. Unfortunately that snow melt often turns into ice, & since it melts across the bike lane, it turns into a hazard I learned the hard way can have major consequences: I flipped over my handlebars and did a face plant on the pavement, chipping & dislocating several front teeth & scars on my face the city being negligent. Now I have a winter beater bike with stud tires because the streets can be slippery for days after precipitation (& even longer in shadows of tall buildings & trees) besides my regular commuter bike for the best part of the year.

[@keithkm]

Depends on how snowy and/or icy. In Minneapolis, the protected bike lanes and trails get plowed, while sharrows and door zone/gutter bike lanes disappear under the snow, making an even stronger argument for their removal and upgrade to protected lane or path. I'll take the bus or train in crappy winter weather over biking, but clear, sunny and -5°F and I'll bike for sure, but certainly not as far as I would on a warm day.

[@GreenJimll]

My brother lives in Canada and many years ago, back in late 1980s, I spent several months one summer living with him and his family. I remember him driving us from his village into the nearest city and seeing a huge field of large yellow vehicles off to one side of the road. I asked him what that was and he explained it was the local council's snow plough/blower yard. In the summer they were all parked up and having maintenance, getting ready for winter when they'd be out constantly potentially for weeks at a time. In England councils now have gritters to deal with icy roads (which are common) which get ploughs attached for snowy conditions (which is far less common). Even so, we just don't get enough regularly snow to make it worthwhile investing in such a large amount of snow moving equipment, so we tend to just grind to a grumpy halt for a day or two if we do get a couple of centimetres of snow. And then it's just town centres, major roads and bus routes that get cleared. Other residential streets, foot ways and cycle paths get nothing, and very few of us clear the paths outside our homes.

[@Mittenzzs]

Fantastic video. I’m from California but live in Amsterdam now where I complain about cycling in heavy rain and wind, this video made me feel super spoiled 😂

[@rofltehcat]

I find that riding my bike when it is really cold and with some snow cover is actually fine. It is when it is just below freezing with slush and thawed, then re-frozen surfaces everywhere that I take the bus instead. Depending on the conditions, I also ride on the road, rather than on the bike lane. Sometimes the road is so well-cleared and massively salted that it is just like riding on dry ground while the bike lane is full of snow and slush. When I was a student I once rode my bike through about 15 cm of fresh snow (slowly, just above normal walking speed). Surprisingly worked better than walking. We don't get that weather here often though.

[@mskitty666]

I live in a mild climate in australia where our winter gets to maybe hits a low of -2°c on a partucularly cold day and once every 5-10 years we get a couple minutes of snow And i still have people shocked that i bike in the winter 😅

[@tylerhergott3893]

Lol wow

[@vincentmeylan3859]

great effort filming all those different roads and actions. Thumbs up for this effort.

[@colormedubious4747]

I have SOLVED all of your winter biking problems. Live about 2,000 miles (3,200 km) south of Montreal. We get snow about once every other decade and it melts within a few days.

[@jeffafa3096]

Even though in The Netherlands we don't have as much snowfall, we still have some serious snow storms every once in a while. And I have to give credit to Canada on this one: When it snows so heavily here that the salt on the roads isn't helping anymore, a lot of the roads and bike lanes can be covered in snow for weeks (turning it into ice tracks) without the government doing anything about it...

[@maudepotvin8660]

It's actually really fun to cycle in a snowstorm especially at night !

[@victormorin1292]

Salt on mecanical parts, causing corrosion, is the biggest problem for winter cyclists in Montreal. Carry on with your videos!

[@janAlekantuwa]

I cycle year-round in Boston, and, while it definitely comes with its challenges, is absolutely preferable to winter driving

[@NickBurman]

Montreal needs to liaise with Oulu in Finland on how to keep cycle routes clear in winter. The Finns have turned cycle route clearance into an art to the point that it's possible to cycle even in some of the most impossible conditions.

[@anthonymorris5084]

Gosh, if only there was a way to make the planet warmer.

[@vaga4239]

Those little snow plows look like so much fun!

[@notl33t]

Down here in Boston, its easier to bike than to walk in snowy weather, but dangerous in both cases. A big part of biking in the winter is being okay with biking slowly and cautiously, always expecting that you may have slip and/or may have to abandon the bike to stay safe.

[@hkad6252]

Snow is fine. Ice is a problem, especially when you face hills. Without spikes you will almost definitely eat s**t. Here in Central Europe the road is covered with a thin layer of ice most mornings and I have to ride down a steep hill to get to my train station.

[@cyclicmusings2661]

I'm a fairweather, almost exclusively recreational rider that doesn't ride when it's too hot out or raining unless I'm anticipating it and carrying my rain gear. I live somewhere that doesn't snow at all. Respect for those that ride those rough Canadian winters.

[@rosemarymcbride3419]

god i wish MPLS/STP would do snow removal, lately we've been getting enough snow by the end of the winters where they'll ban parking on one side of the streets because theres nowhere for the snow to pile up.

[@StephanieHughesDesign]

I used to ride my cyclocross bike in Minneapolis. Yes, it was cold and snowy. However, the real danger was from drivers who on average were not conscious or care how difficult it is to ride a bicycle on a road in winter in a major city. Black ice is deadly. The lanes are significantly reduced and shoulders are non existent. I found it to be too dangerous. So i reduced my cycling to wait for the Spring. The city of Mpls does an excellent job of plowing the streets, probably the best in the US. Now there are more bike lanes protecting cyclists from danger. Thank you Minneapolis, I miss you dearly.

[@safapresley]

You should check out Schwalbe tires with spikes. You can even ride on black ice.

[@crowmob-yo6ry]

I live somewhere that rarely receives snowfall, but the problem of clearing car lanes but not bike lanes can also be applied to acorns, leaves, littered rubbish, glass shards, and all other debris. I know because I deal with this frustrating crap every day. The car lanes are perfectly clean, while bike lanes are neglected. That and also too many people put their rubbish bins out in the bike lanes and park their cars in the bike lanes.

[@Alex-db9vk]

the hard part about biking in winter is biking through the churned up ruts left by cars (especially at intersections) of unplowed streets. Also, if you're commuting, finding a good place to store your bike at your place of work. The salty run-off makes a mess.

[@duck8dodgers]

Earlier sunsets is the one thing that keeps me from commuting on my bike in the winter is almost never mentioned in these videos. Partly this is just due to me not having a good lightning setup for my bike, but part of it is a section of my commute that puts me directly in the headlights of oncoming traffic of a freeway. The path is well protected from the cats, but not their headlights.

[@peter_smyth]

We had a decent amount of snow in Hamburg last week, and I rode through it all. The fresh snow was fine, but the cyclepaths that weren't swept were bad once the snow had been kicked up and started melting.

[@eurosoe]

I’m not one to cycle in the snow, I usually spend the winter season training on my Peloton. I do, however, have no issues cycling in the cold. Clear those lanes and people will ride! 👍🏻

[@foxtrot2320]

And I'm here, just waiting for the snow to come back

[@lizcademy4809]

I live without a car in Minneapolis. I don't bike myself (I walk a lot and take the bus), but I do live on one of our "bike highways", a street that gets heavy bicycle traffic. On very snowy days, I work at home. There are cyclists out there, even in the worst weather, usually with fat snow tires. I wish we were as good at clearing snow as Montreal! Streets get plowed, but many people ignore the on-street parking restrictions, so the plows can't do a good job, and the streets get narrower as the winter goes on. Snow is not removed, just pushed to the sides. Sidewalks are the responsibility of those who live or own businesses next to them, so the clearing is very uneven. And the transitions where the sidewalk crosses a street are awful ice rinks. I am in awe of the people who bike through all this.

[@user-iw4jl6bc8h]

Toronto got some snow on December 7 th 2023 .... Montreal gets more sunshine yearly than Toronto and Vancouver . On December 13th 2023 , 11h24 , Toronto is sunny plus (+) 2 c but feels like minus (-) 4c , Montréal , Sunny minus(-) 1 c but feels like minus (-) 2 c ... You may subtract minus 6 degrees Celcius in winter in Toronto because of the humidity level of lake Ontario . Montreal has a dryer air and gets more sun .

[@nathang4682]

Dont get winters like you in Montreal here in Virginia, but I love cycling in the cold. Just have to dress right and it's better than when it's hot cause you don't sweat!

[@electricerger]

I recently got a Dutch bike from The Plain Bike group and outfitted it with the full winter setup. It helps with the icy parts, but any slush, or uneven terrain over 1.5 cm (which is what happens when you have unmaintained paths that people walk on) is basically unusable still.

[@OhTheUrbanity]

I love the idea of a winterized Dutch bike!

[@AlexandarHullRichter]

Can you put bigger tires on? You should be able to ride through any snow that is less than 2/3 your tire size. 15mm of snow should be rideable on tires 25mm or bigger, depending on bicycle type and rider skill. I can usually ride through snow that is up to my rims without too much difficulty, even though I don't get snow often enough to be in practice when it comes. You do need knobby tires at least for snow riding, but it sounds like you have winter tires already, which are pretty knobby.

[@Tehnameless1]

I biked down de Maisonneuve and President Kennedy Wednesday. Mais gets a B- and President Kennedy a C from me. There was enough snow left to warrant slowing down, Kennedy had entire sections closed Great work!

[@kookamunga2458]

One important thing is feathering the brakes on icy patches. I use front brake very gingerly but rely on the rear brakes more in winter because a rear wheel skid is easier to control that a front wheel skid .

[@kailahmann1823]

I don't know, which strange European comments you've heard, but in Hamburg even the smallest bit of snow means chaos - mostly because some people adjust to much (and become rolling obstacles) and some don't adjust (and then crash). And with THIS level of snow, most people wouldn't even dare to drive a car, schools would be closed and bus services halted or at least delayed beyond usability.

[@darthmaul216]

Hamburger? Where is town of hamburger?

[@kailahmann1823]

@@darthmaul216 Hamburg, Germany.

[@MissCarreautee]

I find what makes cycling in the winter dangerous, as usual, is not the chance of slipping and falling itself but the risk of being run over by a truck that doesn't see you IF you fall I've slipped and fallen twice so far this winter. It hurts a bit but I get up and continue on my way being more careful and I get a bruise but that's it. However, I am so scared when I'm on a bumpy snowy road and have to cycle in the middle of the street because there is no other choice that if I fall a car/truck will not see me and run me over. Which is partly why having and maintaining separated bike lanes is so important!

[@definitelynotacrab7651]

Great video!

[@noseboop4354]

I challenge any of you to work in snow removal for 1 winter. You're on call 24/7 and cannot reliably make any social plans. When you do get called to work, you never know if it's for 4 hours or 20 hours. You have to work outside during all the worst snowstorms. And all this for barely above minimum wage.

No thanks. I see the hours at which they work and the amount of work done. I appreciate the challenge and how spoiled we are to have the great crews making the city keep on moving. 🙏

[@znail4675]

I kind of cheated and got myself a terrain bike meaning that it handles a bit of snow pretty well and with almost exclusively separated bike lanes so is it pretty safe to ride all winter. It actually helps that it's colder making the snow not melt as the worst is when it melts then freeze again.

[@knarf_on_a_bike]

Winter cycling is a challenge. But totally worth it.

[@mariomgll146]

Personally, i find biking in winter/snow way more enjoyable than during rainy spring and autumn

[@lyndabethcave3835]

Love this first-hand view of biking in Montreal! I'd add that there's one other form of winter-proof transit besides subways: covered walkway systems, like the +15 network in downtown Calgary.

[@baileykeller288]

We don't even have sidewalks where I am. I'm so jealous.

[@manifestmeditations]

This was a beautiful storm, the trees were weighted down for days and it was amazing to bike in. The snow broke lots of trees on the south shore and that complicated snow removal but I have been impressed with the effort that Longueuil has been putting into clearing bike paths. The main problem with winter biking isn't the snow, it's the drivers. But I suppose that's true for any season!

[@jasonarthurs3885]

I may be a bit spoiled here in Victoria. Temperatures on my 90 minute cycle commute (180, return) rarely dip below zero degrees. It is often a wet ride; think more mist/fog than actual rain, rather than snow. Ironically, bike lanes are the only transportation infrastructure reliably cleared of snow through winters in Victoria.

[@predarek]

Interesting video! I don’t live on the island but I was curious to see how well it’s cleaned up!

[@townsville69]

Just rode my bike thru a tropical cyclone to my local bakery. The Ying to winter biking Yang. (totally worth it, bakery is amazing!)

[@OhTheUrbanity]

That's a funny contrast. Every place has its challenges!

[@adamspencer3702]

The only problem I have with winter cycling where I live is that it's rural, so not only do they not plow my street very much, there is very little to cycle to close by. That might change soon seeing the town's med-long term plans (a very nice bike path network was proposed to connect all the parts of the town, plus a new supermarket!) but currently is not the case. And even if they don't plow them out here, I'm sure some snowshoers and cross-country skiers will like them all the same.

[@KarolaTea]

Great video! Really interesting to see how different places handle dealing with the weather. To the people saying that snow is either a non-issue or a complete catastrophe: it also depends on the kind of snow and subsequent weather. If the temperatures are consistently below zero it's less likely to melt and turn into ice. And packed snow is fine to cycle on. I lived in Sapporo and during winters it constantly snows. The roads do get cleared (and snow carted off to dumps), but most sidewalks don't. They get super narrow, but aren't slippery. Never cycled there myself tbf, but I think people still did.

[@AnimilesYT]

I agree with your point where snowfall in Amsterdam is mentioned. But I also think there's a bit more nuance to it. When I was young I used to regularly play in the snow. But kids these days don't get to enjoy it the way I was able to. And I wasn't able to enjoy it the way my parents did. There may be hardly any snow now, but in the past people used to cycle through way more snow

[@harrymoore8032]

I hope you have a great trip to Edmonton! We have had very little snow so far this year, but it is pretty icy in spots!

[@larsthorwald3338]

I avoid riding in snow conditions for another reason: I don't have a "beater" in the garage at the moment, only bikes that I don't want to trash, which is what conditions like these will do to a bike. The water, the salt, the embedded grit and fine gravel--snow conditions destroy your bike. It;s not technically difficult to ride in snow, but you will definitely shorten the life of your bike. When I do have access to a bike I don't care about, snow riding is actually fun! Otherwise, I just stick to the trainer or go hiking / running until the snow melts. --cheers

[@twgood5882]

Waited until 16:04 for Jasmine to appear.

[@Zartren]

The storm on the 3rd and 4th of December was exceptional in how wet the snow was, making it very sticky and extremely heavy. It destroyed trees and bushes, which brought down power lines, cutting power to nearly 100,000 residences. It took well over 24h to bring power back to everyone. Knowing this, the quality of the roads and biking infrastructure the day after was actually pretty good! The heavy snow also meant that people clearing their vehicles, driveways and sidewalks would naturally not push the snow too far away, dropping it on the road and bike lanes for the city to pick up. Cars handle that better, so I would suggest making the effort to avoid sending snow on the bike lane and pushing it to the street instead, even if you're not really supposed to.

[@theepimountainbiker6551]

Pretty sad, Montreal has better biking during and right after a snowstorm than Northern Ontario (particularly Sudbury) has 3 weeks after a light snowfall 🤦

Montreal has a denser population and there are many people who choose not to own a car. Facilitating walking, public transportation and cycling, as a result becomes more important to city planners.

[@gus3000]

Well, the guy at 4:12 drives a BMW so he's excused: they just don't know better. I actually don't think I have ever seen an unhindered BMW X5 going the legal speed limit on a motorway. On a fun side note; when I cleared the snow outside my parents' place I also removed the snow from the pavement, dumping it all on the (fairly unused) on-street parking spots.

[@chelseashurmantine8153]

Wow the way they remove the snow is so interesting

[@statelyelms]

Great video! Really shows what it's like. You guys seem to have a great winter maintenance system. I'll do a summary of what it's like in my city in the Maritimes. Keeping in mind that this is just the separated multi-use trail.. all of our bike lanes are painted and so are either lost to the snow, or filled with snirt (snow+dirt slurry from car tires). Avoid snirt as much as you can, even a thin layer has zero traction. The first day of a snowstorm is a winter wonderland half the time (thin layer of dry snow) and torture the rest (any amount of slush, thicker heavy snow). I do not recommend biking through any amount of slush or a decent amount of snow.. it will make you work much harder for a slower speed. Put your bike on a bus rack and take transit for the day! The ploughs will usually come on the third or fourth day (before then they are ploughing sidewalks and priority trails). In the meantime, trail users will probably have condensed their walking patterns making a couple clear paths. Use those, but know that people will be using them in the opposite direction too, and you are expected to move out of the way onto the unclear parts if you want to pass someone. As winter progresses the ploughs will miss more and more snow but it will also get nicely packed down. Packed snow can be nearly as good as asphalt, with a bit less braking and turning (always turn and brake less aggressively in the winter, even if the roadway seems ok). There will still be those clear lanes but passing will be easier. In summary to survive winter while biking, don't be afraid to take the bus, minimize turning angle and brake very gently. For equipment, the thicker the tire the better. For clothing, use your normal coat and a sweater too, with some warm gloves (to operate brakes) and boots. Remember that as cold as it may seem you are also much more active, and so, making a lot of heat. If you overheat, I've found zipping down my coat a little is fine. I'm fairly thin and get cold quick but even I have managed -17 this year so far in relative comfort.. but if you are uncomfortable there is no shame in catching a lift. This isn't a competition and everyone has their limits and preferences! But be careful with your bike, the conditions do accelerate wear & tear including rusting. And finally.. I'm not an expert, just saying what I've found works okay. Get some more advice!

[@tylerhergott3893]

I used to bike all winter long in Toronto, when Toronto didn't have any bike lanes, but I'm 45 now and I'd much rather take the bus/subway where it's warm lol

[@JeffHanke]

This is the first time I've ever heard of snow dumps. Makes sense though!

[@Zraknul]

Montreal had snow banks higher than the hood of an F150, aka absurdly high. Most critics only experience October to June in their pre-heated Trucks/SUVs that they flee building to vehicle to building in. Yet they some how walked up hill both ways to school through 15 feet of snow as a kid.

[@falconwaver]

Not Just Bikes puts it: "Oulu proves that cold is not the issue, snow is not the issue."

[@jfmezei]

BTW, for large sections of downtown Montréal, snow is not sent to the large sow dump sites but rather dumped in the sewer system in large special sites. One of then was under the Bomaventure expressway, and was one of the multiple reasons they had to dump raw sewage into St-Lawrence for a while i automn because it it to be moved before the Bonaventure was lowered to ground level to make area unliveable/traffic/noise/polution. Similarly, during the Turcot reconstruction, a similar dump site had to be moved (or removed). Heat from used water is apparently enough to melt these huge quantities of snow before it reaches the waste water treatment plant in the east end. Hailong vlog has good videos of the montreal snow dumps. the Snow blowers there are something special, throwing snow way up to create mounains of snow. For instance: "HUGE snow pile in snow dump site/where snow go during snow removal operation in Montreal/Canada"

[@ErikNordlicht]

Montreal have a great snowplough service for cycling compared to Germany 🇩🇪, I'm live now near our capital Berlin and my hometown Hamburg is the 2nd biggest city. We don't have much snow, when it's snowing the plowing of streets is great , but on the bike lanes and sidewalks it's very bad.

[@jattikuukunen]

The snow banks provide additional protection. I would prefer having them all year on some streets. The thing I like the most cycling in winter is that riding on hard packed snow feels nicer than dry asphalt.

[@TheSpaceBrosShow]

I love winter snow cycling. Snowstorm on 32mm racing slicks? No problemo. Casual trail ride on my wider tire city bike? Heck yeah. Fatbike shenanigans? Sign me up I can't wait until Chicago is hit with its first major snowfall

[@karikling6751]

I think one thing that can drive down winter cycle commuting numbers is zoning. I don't mind biking 15-30 minutes each way in sub zero temperatures as long as I have proper gear and clothing, but if your commute is an hour or so, it becomes a lot less doable for me.

[@johnwang9914]

Depends a lot not just on available safe routes but whether your work place allows for safe storage and the facilities to clean up and perhaps change clothes before working. I was at a company where many employees argued for shower rooms to allow for cycling to work with the new workplace being renovated and though they built the shower rooms, they had the access limited to top executives which essentially defeated the purpose. In the long run, you have to look for employers that understand and vote with your feet.