Written by Laurel IvesFunctional support person
Oulu cityThe city of Oulu, which borders Lapland, is encouraging its residents to ride their bikes through the long, dark and snowy winter through a series of simple changes. What can other cities learn from the winter cycling pioneers?
It’s a crisp winter morning in Oulu, the Finnish coastal city that is the fourth most northerly in the world, just 100 km (60 miles) south of the Arctic Circle. A snowstorm last night and today’s temperatures hovering around -5 degrees Celsius (23 degrees Fahrenheit), but that doesn’t have to worry the city’s hardy cyclists. Everywhere you go, men and women of all ages rush past the fresh snow, bundled up in warm clothing, and seem to be enjoying the fleeting pale sunshine and biting cold air.
Proudly calling itself the “winter cycling capital of the world,” Oulu is covered in snow for five months of the year. In the dead of winter, temperatures can drop as low as -30C (-22F) with only four hours of daylight.
Despite these harsh conditions, 12% of winter trips in Oulu are made by bicycle. Compare this with England’s mild climate. Only 2% of trips are by bicycle.
So how did Oulu earn its reputation for not hindering cyclists’ travel even in the depths of winter?
At first glance, it seems like the beautiful winter environment has something to do with it.
“Ride 27km by bicycle. [17 miles] When you commute to work every day and the sun is shining and the snow reflects the light, it’s a great environment,” says Hari Varala, traffic engineer for the city of Oulu. He is responsible for promoting the benefits of cycling to residents. ” Sometimes they take longer routes across frozen waters. One time, he realized he was late for a team meeting, so he virtually stopped in the middle of the frozen ocean to join in. ”
But without proper cycling infrastructure, its appeal can quickly fade. Varala said the city also has a long-term commitment and investment in cycling as part of its commitment to sustainability and reducing vehicle emissions.
Oulu cityThe city uses large snowplows to clear snow from roads every day during the winter to encourage cycling. One of the most impactful changes is also the simplest. That means roads will only be cleared of snow once the bike path is completed.
“About 3 to 4 centimeters [1-2in] Fresh snow isn’t a problem for cars, but it can be a problem for cyclists, and older people can’t go outside at all,” Varala says. A maintained cycle path also provides access to the city for people using mobility scooters.
“The trick is that it doesn’t cost you a penny more. You use the same people and equipment that you use on the road. It’s just a matter of order of work,” Varala says.
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The teams responsible for maintaining the cycleways also have to use them themselves, so they experience first-hand the difference a well-maintained route can make. The company is also planning a “roadside event” where hot drinks will be served to get feedback from cyclists.
“How we communicate with residents is also important,” Varala says. “During a big snowstorm, in other places you might be told to leave your bike at home and get on the bus or car. In the city of Oulu, we have decided not to send such a message. We tell people, “It’s going to snow heavily, so please leave your car at home and go on your bike, because by 7 a.m. there will be no roads.”
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Elina Tertela, a 31-year-old freelance dancer and choreographer, rides her two children, ages 4 and 2, to daycare every day in a small trailer attached to her bike, then to work. I am. She says it’s the fastest and most reliable way to travel.
“I feel protected and comfortable here.” [the trailer]”And cycling is also a great warm-up for me,” says Teetera. “When it’s snowing, I wear glasses and a long coat and pants to protect me from the wind. It’s not that cold if I don’t stop.” ”
Teetera said her children, who are stuck in a trailer, are wearing the same warm clothes they wear to the playground, school and out on the town.
Oulu cityTarterra’s family lives happily together. At Metskangas School, one of Oulu’s largest schools, more than 90% of students commute to school by bicycle or on foot, even in the coldest winter months. One reason is that because of traffic mitigation measures, there are no shortcuts to get to school by car, but there are multiple routes for biking.
The average for all schools in Oulu is 50% of children traveling by bicycle, i.e. the best In Finland.
“I don’t think in many other countries, 7-year-olds would cycle to school by themselves,” says Varala, whose 4-year-old son loves cycling in the snow. He added. “You don’t hear kids complain about it because it’s part of our history and our way of life and they grow up with it.”
Oulu’s cycling heritage has a long history, dating back to the 1960s, when city planners first planned a network of cycle paths along the road. Since its establishment, the network has grown extensively and More than 900 km (559 miles) of pedestrian and cycle paths combined.and Oulu continues to expand its cycling network.
Switching to cycling can help Reduce emissions from transportation much faster Rather than replacing internal combustion engine cars with electric cars, one study in European cities found that switching to cycling or using an e-bike just one day a week Reduce the transport carbon footprint of a typical city resident by 0.5 tons of CO2 per yearEquivalent to a round-trip ticket from London to Rome.Reducing emissions from transport will be an important part of Finland National plan to reach net zero by 2035.
The Owl model is used as follows: Case studies from other northern cities I would like to enjoy winter cycling. In 2013, Winter Bicycle Federation was founded in Oulu to promote winter cycling internationally and has since held conferences in cities around the world.
One of the key issues in winter cycling is safety. Oulu has made several interventions to address this. Varala points out that even in the dark winter months, the roads are well-lit and there are 320 underpasses so that children, especially, do not have to cross the road. There are also projector-based signage systems that shine onto the snow from streetlights. Oulu residents are the most satisfied in Finland with the safety of urban transport, including bicycle infrastructure. According to a national survey.
Oulu cityThe city is currently working to widen the bike path from 3.5 meters to 6.6 meters (11 feet to 22 feet) to create a cycling “superhighway” for cyclists and pedestrians.
health benefits
Claes Krueger, 47, is the city’s development manager and is one of the residents who has made the transition from four wheels to two.
“It’s a great way to clear your head after working hard all day. It’s good exercise and helps you relax,” says Kruger. “I cycle in all weathers, I’ve cycled in -25 degrees Celsius.” [-13F], The reason I don’t have winter tires on my bike during a snowstorm is because the roads get jagged. Cycling is in our culture. In Oulu, I think cycling is a state of mind. ”
The mental and physical health benefits are another reason the city promotes cycling, Varara said. “We also want all our citizens to be able to go out during the winter,” he says. “We believe it keeps them healthier, happier and more active.”
Cycling is well known, but Benefits mental health, fitness, and cardiovascular health, as well as reducing risk of diabetes and cancer. In Europe, by encouraging healthy levels of physical activity, Prevent 10,000 premature deaths per year.
In high latitude regions like Oulu, winter cycling also has the benefit of increased exposure to sunlight and vitamin D when the days are shorter. In a survey of over 5,700 Finns, Physical activity was one factor associated with elevated vitamin D serum levels, along with a healthy BMI, smoking cessation, healthy eating, and more. (Read more about the effects of vitamin D on sleep, mental health, fatigue, immunity, and physical fitness.) Although many people are less active during the winter, Exercise in cold temperatures has special benefits for health and mental well-being.
No matter where you go in Oulu, 250,000 people live in urban areas, nature is never far away. Many of the city’s bike paths pass through parks and beaches. Many Finns point out that even though the temperature can be very low, it is a dry cold, which is easier to deal with than a damp, humid cold.
When I get on my bike for a winter bike ride, I notice that the snow on the ground and on the trees adds a sense of peace and tranquility to the whole experience. As long as you wear thermals and gloves.
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Correction: This article has been corrected to clarify that Oulu has 250,000 citizens in the metropolitan area, not just the urban area. It was also corrected that Oulu is considered to be on the border, not within Lapland.
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