Study sheds light on Calgary’s winter cyclists

An article published by the Calgary Herald last week highlighted a recent study on winter cycling. The study found that many widely accepted notions surrounding winter cycling are misguided. The research out of the University of Calgary’s Schulich School of Engineering suggests that weather isn’t as much a factor as many assume. Additionally, the demographic of winter cyclists were mostly male in this study, however that majority were middle aged as opposed to the perception that most winter cyclists are young males.

Dr. Farnaz Sadeghpour, who is spearheading the entire project, is aiming to teach her civil engineering students the merits of surveying the public when designing new systems. The idea is to better understand the needs and demands of an area.

The survey in Calgary found that temperature is not a deterrent. Most commuters ride 10 km to and from work, regardless of the elements, even in temperatures below -20 C. These findings speak to the appropriateness of developing proper bike lanes and subsequent maintenance strategies for the winter months in Canada.

The survey asked several specific questions. The biggest safety concern of the 2,100 cyclists interviewed suggested that snow and ice was the most prevalent concern. Lane width was the next area of concern, followed by poor pavement and loose gravel. The data overall exposed some contradictions to general perceptions on winter commuters. Most notably, this study accentuated the need for winter bicycle lane maintenance as northern climates in Canada are clearly suitable for winter riding.