Bicycle traffic in Budapest reached 2.8 million last year, according to metering stations of Budapest Transport Centre. This growth is helped by the continuous development of the capital’s cycling routes, the increasing number of B+R bicycle storage facilities and the popularity of the bike sharing system. Yet in winter, far fewer people get on their bikes. Unlike in Finnish cities, where even minus 20 degrees below zero does not discourage people from cycling. This is the story behind the video for which Hungarian subtitles have been produced by Clean Air Action Group.

As temperatures drop, many people who would otherwise use their bikes regularly leave them at home. But this should not be the case. This is evidenced, among other things, by the research project JALOIN of the Finnish Ministry of Transport and Communications, launched in 2001, whose objectives included assessing the development of cycling and making recommendations for encouraging it.

According to the research, the main factor that determines whether a person rides a bicycle in winter or not is the same as in summer: first and foremost, the feeling of safety. Poor road quality, proximity to cars or inadequate lighting can pose serious risks. These shortcomings are more apparent in less favourable weather conditions. So, the most important factor determining how many people cycle (even in winter!) is whether there is a network of safe cycle paths in the municipality.

Oulu, Finland’s sixth most populous city, has 875 kilometres of separated cycle paths connecting all parts of the city. Each route is designed to allow the same distance to be covered faster than by car, encouraging residents to cycle more. A network of safe cycling routes can be the biggest predictor of cycling rates in any city in the world. However, attention must also be paid to maintenance to ensure safety.

“In winter, even in sub-zero temperatures, I regularly cycle to our office, 14 kilometres from my home. Fortunately, I can cycle almost all the way on cycle paths and traffic-calmed streets. If I had to cycle on the main road, next to speeding cars, I certainly wouldn’t do it even in summer. So, my own experience proves that a safe network of cycle paths throughout the city is essential for a significant increase in the number of cyclists” - said András Lukács, President of Clean Air Action Group.

"The Danes used to say that there is no weather unsuitable for cycling, you just need to be well dressed. This is evidenced by the fact that 75 percent of Copenhagen residents regularly use their bikes in winter, as can be seen in a video from Denmark. Of course, they can only do this because of the excellent cycling infrastructure and the fact that snow is cleared from cycle paths before it is cleared from car lanes,” adds Judit Szegő, project manager of Clean Air Action Group.

The video on winter cycling in Finland, with Hungarian subtitles, can be viewed here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Uhx-26GfCBU