The Finnish coastal city of Oulu, just 100 km south of the Arctic Circle, proudly calls itself “the winter cycling capital of the world“. The place remains blanketed in snow for five months of the year. Temperatures can drop as low as -30C, amid just four hours of daylight.
But the harsh conditions hardly discourage the residents of Oulu from cycling. In fact, 12% of winter journeys in the city are made by bicycle. Compare that to the milder climate of England, where the proportion of trips made by bike year-round is just 2%.
Oulu expanding cycling network as residents seem pleased
In Oulu, the cycling heritage goes back decades as the network of cycle paths was first planned to sit alongside the roads by city planners in the 1960s. The city now has more than 900 km of pedestrian and cycle paths combined, and it continues to expand the network.
Oulu encourages cycling by clearing the paths every day during the cold season, using a fleet of heavy-duty snow ploughs. One of the most impactful changes is also one of the simplest: clear the roads of snow only when the cycling routes are done.
In addition, the place uses several interventions to address concerns over safety. The paths are well-lit and there are 320 underpasses so that children, in particular, don’t have to cross roads, says Harri Vaarala, a traffic engineer responsible for promoting the benefits of cycling.
Residents of Oulu are among the most satisfied in the country with safety of city transport, according to a national survey. The city is now working on widening the cycle paths from 3.5 m to 6.6 m to build cycling “superhighways” for cyclists and pedestrians.
Reduced emissions; mental and physical health benefits
Switching to cycling is beneficial for the planet as it is known to help reduce emissions from transport far more quickly than replacing internal combustion engine cars with electric vehicles. Cutting transport emissions is a key part of Finland’s plan to reach net zero by 2035.
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Furthermore, the mental and physical health benefits are another reason for the city’s cycling push, highlighted Vaarala. Interestingly, the Oulu model has been gaining considerable attention and is being used as a case study for other cities in the north hoping to embrace winter cycling.
