Snow has already covered the whole Czech Republic, along with many important cycling routes. Many people have left their bikes at home, perhaps due to minimal maintenance of cycling paths in Czech cities. Nevertheless, you can still encounter people on bikes. What do you need to prepare for in Winter?
On the internet you can find many guides on cycling in Winter. The online magazine „Městem na kole“ is no exception. On this topic, one often comes across footage from the Finnish city of Oulu, famous for its winter cycling tradition.
The basics of cycling in Winter revolve around three measures: 1) Adapt clothing, 2) Adjust riding style, 3) Adapt the bike.
In terms of clothing, it is crucial to pay attention to the peripheral parts of the body such as legs, hands, neck, and head, which can easily get cold. The rest of the body doesn’t need to be completely bundled up; the movement on the bike will generate warmth.
One’s riding style in winter is, of course, more cautious and slower, but it depends mainly on local conditions. The most risky situations occur when the temperature fluctuates around freezing, leading to a lot of frost or icy patches. Even salted roads with slush can be risky in this regard.
On the other hand, moving on packed or fresh snow or completely cleared dry roads is usually less problematic in Winter, even when it’s well below freezing. In case of slippery spots, it’s essential to follow similar principles as in wet conditions: ride cautiously, do not change direction on slippery surfaces, and avoid accelerating/braking. Nothing will happen if you walk your bike over a risky spot. Be cautious of hidden icy spots under the snow, especially the fresh one.
If the roads are not cleared and dry, winter weather requires movement on more sheltered infrastructure. In general, when cycling in Winter, it’s necessary to slow down, making riding in traffic very demanding, especially when the accumulation of snow in regular streets reduces opportunities for passing.
Regarding the bike, it’s important to consider that the bike may undergo more stress. Some people choose a „worse“ bike for winter. Especially, salt is not good for bikes. If you’re cycling in fresh snow, it may be advisable to have more space between the wheels and fenders on your winter bike to prevent snow from sticking too much. For winter, it’s suitable to have tires with a thicker tread and a rubber compound designed for winter conditions. If you are moving in areas where snow and ice persist on the majority of your routes, studded tires can be beneficial.
After the ride, be prepared for the fact that the bike will be dirty, with snow and ice clinging to it. It is advisable to place something underneath the bike when it is parked indoors. Shared bikes can be a useful option, as they are available in some cities year-round.
More than usual, pay attention to proper bicycle lighting.
In contrast to Oulu and other cities with well-developed cycling infrastructure, we are not aware of any Czech city that specifically focuses on the maintenance of a network of primary cycling corridors. The maintenance of cycle paths is rather sporadic; some sections are maintained along with pedestrian routes, while other significant cycling paths are not maintained at all in Winter because they do not serve as major pedestrian connections.
For example, for Prague, you can find a map of winter maintenance managed by TSK here, but some winter maintenance is also carried out by individual city districts themselves. For instance, Prague 6 is known for its extensive and for Prague relatively unique program for maintaining sidewalks.
Regarding winter maintenance and cycling, one fundamental principle can be observed: it is crucial to prevent freezing and icy surfaces. Therefore, it is necessary to clear snow as soon as possible before it gets trampled on, compacts, and freezes.
In the case of continuous snowfall and stable temperatures below freezing, another option is regular plowing, as riding on freshly packed snow can be quite pleasant.
In areas where winter maintenance is done using salt mixtures, and with fluctuating temperatures around zero, like in most major Czech cities, the first approach of clearing snow as soon as possible is generally more reliable.
In the absence of more continuous maintenance of many essential cycling routes, residents themselves are taking action. The AutoMat association (MNK is an independent project of the association, editor’s note) has started operating two snowplows, thanks in part to fundraising.
They aim, based on the time availability of numerous volunteers, to clear significant cycling routes that would otherwise remain unmaintained. Vratislav Filler from the AutoMat association adds that the key is the timely intervention, plowing cycle paths before the snow gets trampled. This year, the snowplow has already been used on the backbone cycling route A22. Those interested in helping with plowing can contact Vratislav Filler via email.
AutoMat’s snowplow is not the only civic initiative in the field of cycling path maintenance. Local resident Ondřej Hlaváč took a playful approach to a showcase section of Prague’s cycling network, the elevated cycling lane on the superior A2 cycling route at Smetanovo Nábřeží, using a regular rake.
Explaining his action for „Městem na kole“, Ondřej Hlaváč states: „I live in the neighborhood, and I regularly use this place, whether on a bike, tram, or occasionally by car. After two days of snow, it was clear that the city wouldn’t take care of clearing the bike lane. Cyclists are then forced onto the roadway, where they mix with cars and trams. I returned in the evening from a run on Petřín; we had a rake at home behind the door, so it just clicked. But a person must be willing to lend a hand. We all need to keep our eyes open for opportunities to help, whether it’s helping neighbors or assisting with cycling infrastructure.“
He also adds that his intention was to show that cycling infrastructure is present in the city, and people want it: „We all know that those currently in control tend to adhere to a theory against the humanization of the city center and calming traffic. And when a person feels that something is wrong, they must take action. This lane on Smetanovo Nábřeží can also serve as a reminder to passersby and drivers that cycling infrastructure exists in Prague, that people want it, and they are willing to do something about it,“ adds Ondřej Hlaváč regarding his action.
The fact that his action did not go unnoticed is evidenced by a post from the „Praha číslo 1“ (Prague number 1) group on Facebook.
This is an adjusted ChatGPT translation of this article: https://mestemnakole.cz/2023/12/zima-je-tady-lide-svepomoci-zametaji-cyklostezky/
Líbil se Vám článek? Podpořte náš další obsah!
Stačí 10 Kč a minuta Vašeho času.
Vyberte prosím částku, poté budete přesmerováni na darujme.cz
komentář