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Oh gawd, in Toronto? I can just imagine. They'd have to call the army out just to clear the bike lanes if we keep getting winters like we been getting

   

"impossible" is another word that has different definitions from different peoples because I know guys that never miss a day in Calgary. And, you'll find a website called icebike.com that features guys in Alaska that never miss a day.

   

You never miss posting on this thread either so I can believe that you bike in all weathers, it's just not feasible for the other 99% of the human race.

   

More and more people are riding their bikes year round. It's not a fad. It's not going anywhere and it's not going to stop.

   

I can't see it taking off around here with the weather we get and the 6-7 months of lake-effect snow and brass-monkey winds.

This is a GTA orienated thread and I'm giving the point of view of a long time resident of the SHITE weather we get October on. I won't be on my bike mate, not until May if we are lucky.

   

I want the flying cars they said we'd have be now in the 50s or failing that jet packs. They said we'd have those too.

   

They said there'd be peace on earth......

   

Not to mention that we still have humidity in Southern Ontario all winter long.
Seriously, the gear that kept me warm in Winterpeg at 40 below did fuck all to keep me warm at 20 below in Southern Ontario. Plus that moisture makes paved surfaces a little greasier.

   

I agree. I spent more time outdoors in Labrador than I do here. Labrador was/is colder but it's nice, dry and kinda pleasant cold. The winters in the GTA just suck.

I'm getting depressed thinking about it already....sob....

   

Dude look around. Like I say, every winter there are more cyclists on the road, not less. Try it once and you'll see it's not that bad. In fact people who do it usually claim it's he best part of their day warm or not. When I used to commute by bike in the winter I was warm on the coldest days within a few minutes, whereas now when I commute by car the car hasn't warmed up for 10 minuntes or more. I sit there shivering.

   

I think biking in the cold is more do-able in a prairie climate than a GTA climate. That was my point and that was derby's point about bike lanes in Toronto being of limited year-around use.

Canada is a big country, the climate varies and derby’s point was valid in context with the thread and given the crappy winter conditions in Toronto, lake effect snow and the effects of sub-zero humidity.

So dude, ride around here in the deep of winter and see how your attitude may be adjusted.

   

Sure, but forced on us by a giant indestructible robot named Gort.

   

Maybe if every city had a bike trail like the Galloping Goose trail in Victoria that would be feasible, however most cities' bike lanes is to the right of the curb lane, which is where the snow gets piled. If we need to clear the bike lane then the snow would have to go on the sidewalk or you would need Bobcats and dump trucks to haul it out. Besides I imagine only a few diehards would want to continue biking in the winter once the temperature goes below zero. Fair weather riders (which, I imagine, would be the majority) are going to bus it regardless of how well the roads are maintained just to avoid the wind chill (in Toronto at least). Not even David Miller would be dumb enough to incur the expense of having bike lanes cleared of snow. Wait, actually yes he would. Hopefully he doesn't read these threads.

   

Fair enough, but I think you underestimate prairie winters and wind.


I'd rather be warm on a bike than freezing in a car. Naturally the longer you have to go the less you'd want to be on a bike though. That's basically the reason I drive now.

   

i understand.

but we might be surprised about whats to come in the future.

there is a growing opinion that the other 99%(which I am part of) cant feasibly stay with our current transportation habits.

imo, bicycling wont be a universal solution but it will hit the short list of new, or should I say old and traditional, solutions.

   

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