5 ms·

Also consider the climate / weather. Paris might be OK during the winter, but some place like Michigan might have very terrible winters - walking around outside

Also consider the climate / weather. Paris might be OK during the winter, but some place like Michigan might have very terrible winters - walking around outside is possible but not terribly fun, cycling on icy sidewalks is also generally not a good experience. In almost all cases in the winter it's easier to be in a climate controlled method of transportation, which for most people is a private vehicle. During the summer months it's great though.

nemetroid 6y ago
Walking and cycling in winter in Stockholm (or, for that matter, Umeå) is fine.
fpoling 6y ago
In Oslo snow and ice can lasts up to 5 months. Yet it does not prevent people from going outside as city does reasonable job in general to keep pavements walkable. Surely that can be improved, but I do not see how one can blame climate and not local city government for snow heaps with ice on the pavements.
- sandworm101 6y ago
  >> In Oslo snow and ice can lasts up to 5 months. According to wikipedia, average lows in Oslo are about -5. That's pretty warm. Salt still melts snow at those temperatures. Even sunlight will melt snow on pavement at -5. But below around -10/-15 salt stops melting ice, vastly increasing the manpower needed to clear roads/sidewalks. Clearing ice at proper winter temperatures requires mechanical means, hammers, if not propane torches.
  - joshspankit 6y ago
    Where I grew up (Edmonton, Alberta), the winter is a force to be reckoned with as not only does the sun not melt the snow away once it’s settled in October, but “warm” days bring 6+inches of slush that can then freeze solid to the roads and sidewalks if it’s not cleared before nightfall. Biking was practically impossible (and very dangerous), and sometimes even walking a few blocks was a challenge. That being said, I’d still advocate for places like Edmonton being “15-min” cities, and in-fact it would make it much easier in the winter when transportation is more limited.
    - sandworm101 6y ago
      Edmonton is cold, but it isn't Fort Mack cold.
      - joshspankit 6y ago
        Never been, but I could see that for sure.
    - johnwalkr 6y ago
      Edmonton (also where I grew up) was actually a leader in transit in the 70s and 80s, although it obviously hasn't kept up. Having an LRT in such a low density coverage, and good (although slow) coverage by bus using a hub and spoke network was pretty progressive at the time.
  - fpoling 6y ago
    There is no need to remove ice. Just put some sand on it.
- msla 6y ago
  It isn't just snow, it's windblown snow which reduces visibility to nothing. How often does that happen in Oslo? Ever?
- closeparen 6y ago
  My dad commutes by bike through the winter in the Midwest. It's a whole production to winterize the bike, dress up in specialized gear, etc. Only the elite few, most hardcore bike commuters from the summer are still doing it in the winter. Maybe Oslo is a gentler winter, maybe people there just have stronger constitutions, but I do not see the average Midwesterner doing this ever.
  - leesalminen 6y ago
    I also know 1 person that bikes to work every day of the year in Colorado. Even when snowing and -10 degrees. Even after getting into multiple collisions with cars. Everyone, including his wife, thinks he’s a nutcase. It’s just not practical around here.
    - emj 6y ago
      Being labeled a nutcase for cycling is a cultural issue, -25°C isn't that bad as long as the roads and bicycle paths are plowed.
numpad0 6y ago
Sounds like rail stations in walking distances from homes connecting to mega shopping malls is the solution...
soperj 6y ago
I have a friend who lives in the Yukon (Alaska but colder), who cycles to work every day all year long. It's all about having the right equipment.
- shortandsweet 6y ago
  What equipment do they use? I'm totally interested in doing this.
  - soperj 6y ago
    I think the main thing is studded tires, and ski jacket. Whitehorse isn't exactly a big town, at most you're 10km from where you want to go, but mostly it's 5km or under. I could follow up and get his exact equipment if you'd like?
  - Fishkins 6y ago
    I'm in Wisconsin and bike all year. I have a hybrid with studded tires (specifically Nokian) and an internal hub. I'd also like to get a fat bike for fresh/powdery snow, but it's rare that's a big deal. There's of course some trade-off between how much traction/stability your tires give you and how much friction & inertia you have to work against when pedaling. Some people have a few different winter options so they can select the bike that will be easiest to propel but still be able to handle the particular day's conditions. It's good to have warm clothes for your extremities, but your core gets surprisingly warm when you bike with any kind of coat on. I often just wear a think goretex jacket till it's in the single digits fahrenheit. I wear winter boots, warm gloves or mittens (depending on how cold it is), and a balaclava or gaiter. Also ski goggles for really cold/windy weather. If you don't start off feeling somewhat cold, you've overdressed.
  - joel_dice 6y ago
    I've been biking year-round in Denver for decades. The winters here are relatively mild, but we do get blizzards now and then. I tried studded tires, but found they didn't help much. Black ice is rare here compared to layers of snow and slush, which don't give studs much to bite into. For me, three inch tires with an open tread pattern at low pressure -- plus an upright riding position that distributes weight evenly between the wheels -- gives me the most confidence. Regarding the cold, I'd say windproofing is most important, and expedition-style mittens are well worth the investment. You won't need much insulation (except maybe at the extremities) once you start generating body heat. Multiple top layers, each with their own full length zipper, will let you regulate your temperature without getting off the bike. That's especially helpful if you have long climbs and long descents.

nemetroid 6y ago

Walking and cycling in winter in Stockholm (or, for that matter, Umeå) is fine.

fpoling 6y ago

In Oslo snow and ice can lasts up to 5 months. Yet it does not prevent people from going outside as city does reasonable job in general to keep pavements walkable. Surely that can be improved, but I do not see how one can blame climate and not local city government for snow heaps with ice on the pavements.

sandworm101 6y ago
>> In Oslo snow and ice can lasts up to 5 months. According to wikipedia, average lows in Oslo are about -5. That's pretty warm. Salt still melts snow at those temperatures. Even sunlight will melt snow on pavement at -5. But below around -10/-15 salt stops melting ice, vastly increasing the manpower needed to clear roads/sidewalks. Clearing ice at proper winter temperatures requires mechanical means, hammers, if not propane torches.
- joshspankit 6y ago
  Where I grew up (Edmonton, Alberta), the winter is a force to be reckoned with as not only does the sun not melt the snow away once it’s settled in October, but “warm” days bring 6+inches of slush that can then freeze solid to the roads and sidewalks if it’s not cleared before nightfall. Biking was practically impossible (and very dangerous), and sometimes even walking a few blocks was a challenge. That being said, I’d still advocate for places like Edmonton being “15-min” cities, and in-fact it would make it much easier in the winter when transportation is more limited.
  - sandworm101 6y ago
    Edmonton is cold, but it isn't Fort Mack cold.
    - joshspankit 6y ago
      Never been, but I could see that for sure.
  - johnwalkr 6y ago
    Edmonton (also where I grew up) was actually a leader in transit in the 70s and 80s, although it obviously hasn't kept up. Having an LRT in such a low density coverage, and good (although slow) coverage by bus using a hub and spoke network was pretty progressive at the time.
- fpoling 6y ago
  There is no need to remove ice. Just put some sand on it.
msla 6y ago
It isn't just snow, it's windblown snow which reduces visibility to nothing. How often does that happen in Oslo? Ever?
closeparen 6y ago
My dad commutes by bike through the winter in the Midwest. It's a whole production to winterize the bike, dress up in specialized gear, etc. Only the elite few, most hardcore bike commuters from the summer are still doing it in the winter. Maybe Oslo is a gentler winter, maybe people there just have stronger constitutions, but I do not see the average Midwesterner doing this ever.
- leesalminen 6y ago
  I also know 1 person that bikes to work every day of the year in Colorado. Even when snowing and -10 degrees. Even after getting into multiple collisions with cars. Everyone, including his wife, thinks he’s a nutcase. It’s just not practical around here.
  - emj 6y ago
    Being labeled a nutcase for cycling is a cultural issue, -25°C isn't that bad as long as the roads and bicycle paths are plowed.

numpad0 6y ago

Sounds like rail stations in walking distances from homes connecting to mega shopping malls is the solution...

soperj 6y ago

I have a friend who lives in the Yukon (Alaska but colder), who cycles to work every day all year long. It's all about having the right equipment.

shortandsweet 6y ago
What equipment do they use? I'm totally interested in doing this.
- soperj 6y ago
  I think the main thing is studded tires, and ski jacket. Whitehorse isn't exactly a big town, at most you're 10km from where you want to go, but mostly it's 5km or under. I could follow up and get his exact equipment if you'd like?
- Fishkins 6y ago
  I'm in Wisconsin and bike all year. I have a hybrid with studded tires (specifically Nokian) and an internal hub. I'd also like to get a fat bike for fresh/powdery snow, but it's rare that's a big deal. There's of course some trade-off between how much traction/stability your tires give you and how much friction & inertia you have to work against when pedaling. Some people have a few different winter options so they can select the bike that will be easiest to propel but still be able to handle the particular day's conditions. It's good to have warm clothes for your extremities, but your core gets surprisingly warm when you bike with any kind of coat on. I often just wear a think goretex jacket till it's in the single digits fahrenheit. I wear winter boots, warm gloves or mittens (depending on how cold it is), and a balaclava or gaiter. Also ski goggles for really cold/windy weather. If you don't start off feeling somewhat cold, you've overdressed.
- joel_dice 6y ago
  I've been biking year-round in Denver for decades. The winters here are relatively mild, but we do get blizzards now and then. I tried studded tires, but found they didn't help much. Black ice is rare here compared to layers of snow and slush, which don't give studs much to bite into. For me, three inch tires with an open tread pattern at low pressure -- plus an upright riding position that distributes weight evenly between the wheels -- gives me the most confidence. Regarding the cold, I'd say windproofing is most important, and expedition-style mittens are well worth the investment. You won't need much insulation (except maybe at the extremities) once you start generating body heat. Multiple top layers, each with their own full length zipper, will let you regulate your temperature without getting off the bike. That's especially helpful if you have long climbs and long descents.