studded tire
In just a few years, as in other parts of the world, Montreal added miles of bike lanes, making it one of the most bike-friendly cities in North America.
The city of almost 2 million inhabitants already has some 900 kilometers of cycle paths717 of which are accessible all year round, and promises to build 200 more by 2027. The city’s goal is to reach 15% of bicycle trips within this period.
Already between 2020 and 2021, bicycle trips, both in summer and winter, increased by 20%, Montreal Mayor Valérie Plante recently pointed out.
And “the practice of winter cycling is booming,” insists Hugo Bourgoin, spokesman for the city. In 2022, about 1.7 million cyclist passages were recorded on the roads during the coldest season.
In his Vélo Espresso shop, where the wheels hang from the ceiling, Olivier Quirion-Deslauriers confirms this. This mechanic has verified, each year, a 15% increase in customers who come to prepare their bikes to ride in winter, a practice “definitely more popular than before.”
And you don’t need a lot of equipment, although you do need adequate tires to avoid slipping.
“The studded tire gives you the grip you need on ice,” explains this sporty-looking young man with a beanie on his head and hands black with grease.
It seems “intimidating at first, but it’s accessible to everyone,” he says.