Active winter city: Calgary only major Canadian city with e-scooters year-round
Posted Jan 13, 2023 7:34 pm.
Last Updated Jan 13, 2023 7:35 pm.
How do you get around in the winter? Despite long and sometimes brutal winters, Calgarians are leading the way when it comes to active winter transportation.
Calgarians know that this city is a winter city with long and cold snow-filled months, but that doesn’t stop some from getting out and enjoying active transportation.
“If you’re going to enjoy living here, you really need to embrace winter and get out and do stuff,” said Tim Schaefer, a year-long cyclist.
“Lots of Calgarians do, they go and cross-country ski, they downhill ski, they do various outdoor activities, and really, biking in the winter is just another one of those activities.”
However, Calgarians aren’t just cyclists, as this winter is the first one the ever-popular e-scooters stuck around for the chilly months.
Neuron Mobility told CityNews that Calgary is the only major Canadian city with e-scooters year-round.
The scooters are briefly removed when snow hits but are back as soon as they can. A neuron employee says they can hardly keep up as they’ll gather scooters to a central location, only for them to all be gone an hour later.
Read More: Calgary cyclist calls for increased winter biking accessibility
Schaefer says that being active in the winter can come easier than anticipated. He only began last winter.
“It actually wasn’t as bad as I thought it would be. You kind of adjust your riding style, so you don’t go as fast into the turns or corners as you might in the summertime. And when you make that adjustment, you’re actually fine,” Shaefer said.
“I would bike through just about anything.”
The community of Dover will see improved active transportation infrastructure, with the federal government announcing Thursday a $1.3 million investment for that community, Including an expanded network of bike lanes.
For the Calgarians thinking they might dust off the pedals or hop on an e-scooter this winter, Schaefer says don’t knock it til you try it.
“Give it a try, right? Not just once, but try it several times, maybe in different conditions or whatnot, before you actually decide that it’s not for you,” he said.
