Montrealers encouraged to take up winter biking

Montrealers are being encouraged to brave the cold, slush, and snow and continue using their bikes during the winter to get around the city.

At the Forum du Vélo d’Hiver, a group of citizens organized presentations and kiosks to better inform Montrealers about how easy it is to cycle during the winter months.

“To do winter cycling all you need is a bike and winter,” forum co-organizer Chloé Baril said. “And that it’s for everyone, it’s not (only) for people who are really into sports, who are especially young or fit. It can be anyone.

“You just need to try it once and then you’re hooked.”

The forum offered safety tips and suggestions to adapt to cycling in cold weather, as well as bike maintenance and modifications.

“It’s just mudguards or fenders because there’s a lot of snow or dirt that get into your back,” recommended Julien Gagnon-Ouellette, a volunteer with Bike United Montreal. “So that’s the first one. Second is mostly, it’s not repairing but just maintenance, some oil to oil your chain because it gets (very) rusty in the winter.”

Bike United Montreal adds that using studded tires can make people feel more comfortable when cycling during the winter, but they’re not necessary if you know how to avoid ice.

“You need a bike,” Baril said. “You don’t even need a special bike, you don’t need a fat bike, you need your usual, ordinary bike. And just try it on a day where there’s no snow in the streets, which is like 90 per cent of the time in Montreal.”

The forum also guided a family bike ride throughout downtown Montreal. The organizers are encouraging people both young and old to take up winter biking.

“You have to try it one time,” said Montrealer Jean-François Gagné. “The first week you said, ‘oh, that’s going to be difficult.’ And then you said, ‘why didn’t I try it before?’ Because it’s so easy to do it.”

“It’s my first ever year so I’ve tried it for the first time this year,” added Catherine Beauchemin. “I loved it. It’s way less complex than we think it is, honestly… It’s so much fun. You get to love winter again.”

“I like to slide. I like to be fast,” added eight-year-old Lyli.

The forum is also taking place during the first season that BIXI is running a pilot program for their public bike sharing system during the winter in Montreal. BIXI says so far, the public has been responding positively to it.

“Try it. Try it,” said Baril. “Like you try it once and like 96 per cent of people who try winter biking they won’t go back to not biking in winter.”