Winter cyclist profile — Jakub the IT worker

Name / Occupation / Age
Jakub / IT worker / 23

What do you use your bike for?
Everything from leisure rides to errands.

How often do you ride?
I try to be on bike at least two hours a day, but come summer far more often.

How long have you been commuting by bicycle and what made you decide to start?

I have been commuting since I came to Toronto for university some five years ago. I decided to start biking because I got fed up with the TTC and thought it would be fun to ride on a bike instead of waiting on a platform. To my fortune it was a lot better by bike.

My commute went from High Park to downtown and back again, which seemed like such a long way back then, but it got easier. To anyone wanting to start commuting I would say just give it a try. When I started I wasn’t that fit, I didn’t have the best bike or gadgets, but I grew to love the commute and it became the highlight of my day.

When did you start commuting in winter and why?
Same year, same reason. Winter biking to me seems more challenging and is therefore a bit more rewarding.

What are the biggest challenges for winter bikers in Toronto?
Oddly enough snow is the least of challenges in Toronto. It melts fast enough so winter biking usually means dealing with slush, salt and ice and all three are a pain. Also you can’t really rely on the safety of bike lane routes come winter because of the way the City plows during winter.

What reaction do you get from co-workers?
Indifference!

What’s the best thing about commuting by bicycle in winter?
Hmm… Getting to your destination and being the only bike on the rack.

Do you ride other bikes during the winter?
Yes, I have two bikes just for winter. My BMX is my day-to-day winter bike, but for the really nasty weather I have a beater mountain bike I use.

Can you give a brief description of your route?
This year it’s pretty short. Up Beverley to Harbord, but I take a lot of detours every morning to have a coffee, get the paper, or generally whatever I feel like doing before work, so it changes every morning. If it weren’t for commuting by bike I would probably not have the flexibility to alter my morning routine this way.

Where are your favourite places or streets to bike in Toronto? Least?
Harbord is easily the best street to bike in Toronto: moderate traffic load, bike lane, and drivers are generally more respectful of cyclists since they are common there. Least favorite is Yonge street for precisely the opposite reasons: high traffic and low respect toward cyclists. I also think a lot of people that are not from Toronto tend to go on Yonge more and people from the suburbs are just not used to cyclists on the road. Take a ride in Mississauga just once and you will see a night and day difference in driver behavior.

What do you like about biking in Toronto in winter?And dislike?
I like the challenge, I like riding year round and staying active. I dislike the damage salt can do to the drive train, wheel hubs, and especially the bottom bracket after a season of riding. This is why I generally ride beaters during the winter months.

What could the City do to make winter biking better?
If the City plowed the streets with cyclists in mind I think it would be better for everyone. Especially after a big snowstorm, the city plows the street and usually leaves the bike lane dumped on. Worse yet if there are parked cars in the right lane it makes for a situation where a cyclist has to ride on the rightmost side of the leftmost driving lane to be safe and this leads to tense situations pitting the caution of bikers against the patience of drivers. Not a good combo!

What’s your favourite piece of winter cycling clothing?
The toque. It is probably the most mandatory and versatile piece of winter clothing ever made in the world.

Any bike gadget/gear winter cyclists should not go out without?
Visibility sucks in the winter, so I would say the craziest brightest light you can find is the best bike gadget you can have in the winter.

Have you done any Holiday shopping by bike?
Yes and will continue to do so when I finish my shopping on the 24th.