Not Just Bikes argues that winter is not what stops Canadians cycling, using Oulu, Finland as proof that safe, well-maintained cycling infrastructure enables year-round biking despite harsh weather.
Why Hacker News points people here: HN links it whenever someone claims cold or snow rules out cycling, as the concise rebuttal that infrastructure and maintenance decide it.
“winter cycling has nothing to do with the weather, and everything to do with safe cycling infrastructure.”HN comment, 2021
“The scene with the line of tiny bikes parked outside the school in the middle of winter is particularly striking.”
Weather matters less than infrastructure for cycling.
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Weather isn't the biggest determinant of cycling usage (and that probably applies to walking too): "Why Canadians can't bike in the winter but Finnish people can" this video The scene with the line of tiny bikes parked outside the school in the middle of winter is particularly striking. I've biked through all weathers but even for me that seems like something that wouldn't be possible, but apparently is with a bit of organisation.
RecommendsryukafalzApr 2021
“they just have safe paths to ride on, and those paths get maintained.”
Safe maintained paths enable cycling in cold places.
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Can't speak to e-scooters in particular, but cold weather gets cited as a problem for bikes as well, so thought I'd bring this up: for bikes at least it's as much of a question of infrastructure priorities as it is the weather itself. Plenty of people bike in places with much colder weather than New York all the time: this video ...they just have safe paths to ride on, and those paths get maintained. (So: not a painted bike lane that all the snow gets shoveled into.)
Recommendsthrow0101aJun 2021
“winter cycling has nothing to do with the weather, and everything to do with safe cycling infrastructure.”
Oulu shows winter cycling depends on infrastructure, not weather.
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> I’m an avid cyclist, but here in Ottawa for half the year it’s -20C and the roads are treacherous. The Not Just Bikes channel, produced by an ex-pat Canadian, has a video asking why can't people in Canada cycle in the winter if the folks in Finland can? > When talking about bicycle infrastructure in Canada, the number one excuse I hear is "winter." Many Canadians see the cold and snow as a fundamental barrier to year round cycling. But one city, Oulu in Finland, with winter weather worse than most Canadian cities, shows that winter cycling has nothing to do with the weather, and everything to do with safe cycling infrastructure. […] * this video
RecommendsnoahtallenOct 2021
“biking in the snow is fine when the infrastructure is equipped to make it an effective mode of transportation.”
Biking in snow is fine with proper infrastructure.
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Here’s a video with more about why biking in the cold and snow isn’t as bad as we make it out to be: this video The gist is, like usual, biking in the snow is fine when the infrastructure is equipped to make it an effective mode of transportation. It would suck most places in North America because there is next to no dedicated bike infrastructure besides painted gutters. Those obviously don’t get plowed correctly, so it’s terrible. When the major problems like that are handled, it’s fine.
Recommendsdanny_codesNov 2021
“This NotJustBikes video covers this subject nicely.”
Covers winter biking and US transport policy impact.
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This NotJustBikes video covers this subject nicely. this video Watching his channel has reinforced the dramatically negative impact American transportation policy has had on urban life.
RecommendsRendelloDec 2021
“some places in Finland have done a great job.”
Finnish winter bike infrastructure examples.
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For anyone interested in what _winter_ biking infrastructure could look like, some places in Finland have done a great job. Not for everyone, but popular nonetheless: this video
RecommendssunflowerflyJul 2022
“did a great episode on why some places have winter cycling and others do not”
Explains why some places have winter cycling and others don't.
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The Not Just Bikes Youtube channel did a great episode on why some places have winter cycling and others do not: this video
RecommendseesmithAug 2022
“winter cycling has nothing to do with the weather, and everything to do with safe cycling infrastructure.”
Oulu proves winter is no barrier given safe infrastructure.
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"Why Canadians Can't Bike in the Winter (but Finnish people can)" - this video > When talking about bicycle infrastructure in Canada, the number one excuse I hear is "winter." Many Canadians see the cold and snow as a fundamental barrier to year round cycling. But one city, Oulu in Finland, with winter weather worse than most Canadian cities, shows that winter cycling has nothing to do with the weather, and everything to do with safe cycling infrastructure.
RecommendshddhermanSep 2022
“properly designed infrastructure and first-class maintenance results in people actually choosing to opt for the bicycle, even during winter.”
Good overview of what makes winter bicycling possible.
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Not Just Bikes made a great overview of what makes driving a bicycle in the winter possible: this video tl;dw: properly designed infrastructure and first-class maintenance results in people actually choosing to opt for the bicycle, even during winter.
RecommendskibaJan 2024
“Not Just Bike has a good video on it.[1]”
Described as a good video on the subject.
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Not Just Bike has a good video on it.[1] Of course, if you don't think youtube videos can't ever be credible sources, then I am not going to be able to convince you of anything. 1. this video
Cites itestebankJun 2021
“infrastructure for bikes should be well-kept year round, regardless of local conditions[2].”
Year-round maintained bike infrastructure regardless of conditions.
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> I’m unwilling to have someone who forgot to put winter tires on slide over me and my bike Part of the argument is that traffic should be segregated[1] and infrastructure for bikes should be well-kept year round, regardless of local conditions[2]. If a car can slide in snow and run you over, a distracted driver can do that on ideal conditions as well. If the roads are not in a ridable condition, that means that bike infrastructure is not being prioritized, usually because it is not considered a valid commuting mechanism. [1]: link [2]: this video
Cites itSymbioteSep 2021
“there are places with similar weather where it is practical”
Cold places where cycling is practical.
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I assume it's not practical at present, but there are places with similar weather where it is practical: this video
Cites itstephen_gJan 2022
“there are very cold places where much of the population happily bikes.”
Very cold places where many people bike.
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Of course, there are very cold places where much of the population happily bikes. See here for example: this video
Cites itdanukerAug 2022
“Oulu, Finland is an example of how infrastructure defines the way people live”
Oulu shows infrastructure shapes how people live in snow.
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> real humans occasionally need to move a mattress And real humans can occasionally rent a car. Maybe it is not worth holding thousands of dollars' worth of rusting metal for that occasional odd job. As for snow and ice, Oulu, Finland is an example of how infrastructure defines the way people live: this video
Cites itmenusMay 2023
“If Finns can cycle in the winter (1), why can't Americans?”
Finns cycle in winter, so Americans could too.
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If Finns can cycle in the winter (1), why can't Americans? If it is possible for snowplows can clear giant 14 lane highways, they can clear small 2 lane bike paths 1) this video Yes the answer is more complicated due to suburban sprawl and lack of infrastructure, but it is not impossible. It is always possible.
Cites itGwypaasAug 2023
“Or simply build adequate infrastructure.”
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Or simply build adequate infrastructure. Why Canadians Can't Bike in the Winter (but Finnish people can) this video
Cites itkogepathicSep 2023
“Somehow the residents of Oulu find a way to cycle in winter”
Oulu residents cycle through winter.
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> It's not "they", it's winter. Somehow the residents of Oulu find a way to cycle in winter: this video > If you don't move, you're frozen. Good thing cycling and walking involve moving.
Cites itQwertiousNov 2023
“Myth.”
Counters claim winter prevents cycling.
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>On the other hand, for four to six months of the year, most areas of Canada, and even a good portion of the US, definitely don't. Myth. Why Canadians Can't Bike in the Winter (but Finnish people can): this video
Cites itMawrFeb 2026
“infrastructure and its maintenance is clearly the defining factor.”
Oulu stands out for infrastructure, which drives cycling.
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It's utterly fascinating you wrote that and yet could not make the right conclusion. "In a small town, which is 12x6 miles judging by google maps yet has 590 miles of bike paths." + "not all, as the author of the video himself mentions that Oulu stands out among Finnish cities in this regard" The right conclusion here is that infrastructure and its maintenance is clearly the defining factor. This really shouldn't be surprising. Consider this: how many trains do you think passed through the areas rail tracks are at before the tracks were built? Or: how many trains need to pass through an area before we can justify the cost of building train tracks there? You simply can't point to just any winter cycling stats without first making sure the infrastructure is there. "Cycling in winter just ain't working out!" — no, you literally are not putting in the minimum of effort — "we've tried nothing and are all out of ideas" vibes. And here's the kicker: You assumed these statistics are from a city that's a cycling paradise, but I'm willing to bet Oulu is a car-infested shithole, just like all of the Netherlands is. No, I'm not kidding in the slightest. And it's pretty much confirmed in the video the parent linked: [1]. Sure, those areas are as good as it gets at this time, but they're nothing to what things should look like, so since your conclusions are based on faulty assumptions, they are automatically invalid. What these cycling-friendly areas are doing is slowly grinding away at th
JokeoblioMar 2022
“Science has proved it!”
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Agreed! It's impossible to use anything but cars in places with bad weather. Science has proved it! this video
