Who hid the bike lane?
Lloyd Alter
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- Plan your routes
This is a really difficult part of the equation and depends on how well your city copes with bikes. It would be right if cities paid as much attention to clearing bike routes as they do for cars, but alas, in most of North America they do not. (look at how they treat the roads in Copenhagen here) In summer, many cyclists take side streets where possible; in winter, they are not ploughed as regularly or as well, and may be little more than two tracks between piles of snow and parked cars. The bigger arteries are ploughed more carefully and more often, and cars are travelling more slowly and usually more carefully than in summer, so they can often be the better place to ride. See how bad it was in Toronto last year; the promise to be better this year. - Get Lotsa Lights
It gets dark early and you need them, really. You will often be sharing the lanes with cars who think that only nutbars would be out on bikes and they are not looking for you. Watch Olivia light up like a Christmas tree or look at some of the many posts on TreeHugger on bike lights: - Take care of your bike
Water, sand, salt, temperature changes, so many things to muck it up. Dry it off after use, keep everything lubricated and the brakes adjusted. You might also consider buying a junker for the worst of winter so you don't have to worry as much about it - Don't forget all of the other tips that apply all year round.
Wear a Helmet. Carry a decent lock and park in visible or proteced locations. Be polite to drivers and pedestrians, but be smug and self-satisfied to co-workers and others who spend more money and probably more time getting to work by car or bus. Learn how to use your gears properly.
Other TreeHugger and Planet Green Posts on Bikes and Winter:
DIY Ice Tires for your Bicycle
Ride Your Bike All Winter: Part 1
Ride Your Bike All Winter: Part 2
On Potato Omelets and Winter Cycling
Big Surprise: Bike Sales Drop in Winter
The Perfect Winter Bike
A Picture is Worth...Danish Bike Paths
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