I was far from the only person winter cycling in Yellowknife, nor Ottawa, nor Montréal, and now, nor Kingston (though I had a -25° cut off this winter due to bringing my toddler around; I chose the temperature because that’s when kids stop having reccess outside).

One of Canada’s biggest cyclist YouTubers is from Calgary. Montréal has a ton of people winter cycling (and a low barrier to entry now that bixis are available in the winter). Edmonton has cyclist coffee hour year round on the bike paths. Winnipeg has a big winter cycling community as well (that’s second hand though, ive never been there). It’s been to long for my to speak intelligibly on how Ottawa winter cycling is going.

Maybe it’s my bias as an immigrant to Canada, but the number of people that think being outside in the winter is somehow impossible is mind blowing. I was fed that this country was founded on rugged individuals who brave the elements to eke out a living. This makes Canadians hardy, kind, and enduring. Instead I look at Xth generations and many have fallen into a contemptuous malaise where winter is somehow something to be endured, rather than embraced and enjoyed.

If you think that being outside is impossible, that’s fine. I don’t know you, your history, or your limitations. But if you’re interested in reconsidering your preconception, I’d recommend the book Frostbike by Tom Babin. Children play outside until at least -25° across the country, and colder the further north you go; the rest of us can too.

Time to migtrate my NAX over to my HAOS system!!!

Thanks so much.

I bring my bike battery indoors during the day below -10°, but it overnights about 0° all winter.

I take my kid to daycare every day on my ebike. It’s only 5km one way, but I used to do 14km pedal power when I lived in Montréal.

I don’t do it to be a smug prick, I do it because it’s faster than driving.

Frankly, the infrastructure choices in my city (Kingston) make driving on average slower than 30kph. If bicycles weren’t also stuck in traffic lights (same thing that slows all the cars) cycling would be faster than driving is now, and driving would be faster than it is now. Basically our problem is traffic lights.

Facts, interesting histories in how those came to and passed in North America.

I biked year round in Yellowknife. It was easier and faster than plugging in, then preheating, then driving in the winter. At least for in town, I’d only bike into the bush in the summer, but then again I’d use the sled in the winter, not a car.

Disabilities is fair, but what about the 25% of Canadians who’s disabilities preclude then from driving?

Secure parking is also legitimate, but that’s an infrastructure choice; we choose subsidize fucktons of car parking all over the place already.

For none Canadians, they are called honkies because they honked their horns for week, not because they are country bumpkins.

I’m positive there was some overlap, but still mostly separate circles in a Venn diagram.

This is huge!!!

Has anyone else made this work with home assistant yet? I’d love a guide, and if it doesn’t exist yet; hopefully I’ll have one by the end of the week.

Turbo kid is a good film

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AFlZ6pVtnv0

Affordable EVs already exist.

They’re called e-bikes and they cost less to purchase than car insurance for a year.

I track my bikes and ebikes on lubelogger. It’s not an optimal solution, but it tracks everything I need it too.

There’s a backup button in the settings that creates a .db file.

I’ve (now I see incorrectly) understood straight proportional representation to be party-list proportional.

Well do anything to solve the housing crisis, except build more homes.

While I think canada should keep selling oil to the world, I don’t think we should be using it domestically. Strong investment in public transportation, electric micro-mobility, and electrified rail.

“If the world wants pild it should be Canadian oil” sure, I’m not against this sentiment. But remember, “don’t get high on your own supply”

All that to say, the best way to decouple from global supply is to reduce national demand.

I’d guess shockingly similar to non-global scale conflict with social media.

Should have gone the Québec route and removed NSF charges.

Those are both Canadian medians, but that doesn’t invalidate your lived experience.

https://www.ratehub.ca/blog/what-is-the-total-cost-of-owning-a-car/

hE’s JuSt DoInG iT fOr ThE pEnSiOn

We know Pierre isn’t in it for the pension.

Because he qualified for his 15 years ago at the age of 31.

New snowbird destination?

And only $16k/year for a car in Canada! $2. 5k less than the average Canadian mortgage, what a bargain!