Winter cycling gains momentum as TTC alternative,
Winter cycling gains momentum as way to avoid TTC scramble and chase away seasonal blues
David Shellnutt is a hardcore winter cyclist but even he has his limits — after a 10-centimetre snowfall last winter, he grudgingly decided to take the streetcar to work.
Then he walked to King St. W. and saw a streetcar lineup 40-people-deep. He went back to his apartment, strapped on his ski helmet and prepared to do battle with Mother Nature.
“You just had to plow through the snow like a luge run or a bobsled,” he said. “I was giggling like a child the whole way. It was fun.”
Cycling through Toronto’s streets in the winter may seem crazy to some, but year-round cyclists say more people are joining their club. They also insist the icy cold ride is not only efficient, it’s rewarding — as long as you know what you’re in for.
For Laura Pin, the secret to surviving her jaw-dropping winter commute — 32 kilometres round trip from Parkdale to York University thrice weekly — is layers. Lots and lots of layers.
The 29-year-old York University PhD student dons a balaclava, wool socks, long johns or leggings, ski goggles, good mittens, a helmet and a warm jacket, along with her day clothes underneath or over top. “I like when I look ridiculous,” she said. Dedicated as she is, even Pin won’t ride when roads are snowy or icy.
“You don’t have a margin for error,” she said, recalling a time when she spun out on Queen St. W. after sliding on ice at an intersection.
But she said it’s a misconception that the roads are bad all winter long. City snow clearing efforts and natural melting mean she’s only forced off the roads for around 15 days per year, she said.
Yvonne Bambrick, an urban cycling consultant and author of The Urban Cycling Survival Guide, said she’s noticed more and more people dipping their toes in the icy winter cycling pool in recent years.
She chalks more interest up to better city clearing of snowy bike lanes and more separated bike lanes.
This year, the city is permanently implementing a program dedicated to clearing bike lanes in the downtown core. The project — previously in pilot stages since 2012 — means the city will ensure snow is removed from dedicated bike lanes within 48 to 72 hours after snowfall, said city staff.
But increased interest could just stem from people discovering its rewards.
“Riding throughout the winter is one of the best ways to chase the winter blues away,” said Bambrick, adding that she feels like a “badass” when she cycles in the winter months.
For those new to the cycling game, Bambrick suggests taking things slow. Practice breaking and turning on a quiet side road after a snowfall to practice, she advises. And beware the dreaded streetcar track; “If you get in there, you’re done for,” she said.
But for experienced riders, obstacles can be appealing.
“We race to the death,” joked Derek Chadbourne, owner of the Bike Joint on Harbord St. who organizes Toronto’s annual Icycling race in February.
Up to 30 racers sign up each year, studding their tires with tiny screws before they dash around Dufferin Grove Park’s skating rinks.
As for Shellnutt — a personal injury lawyer who commuted to work by bike every day last year — he’ll happily continue to bypass the TTC.
“It’s madness, absolute madness,” he said of streetcar travel. “And what’s worse is in the wintertime, everyone’s wearing huge jackets and they’re so miserable.” And cycling? “It makes me feel free.”