By Michelle Lieberman, AICP, Institute of Transportation Studies, UC Davis
The coldest months of the year are upon us and contrary to popular belief, many of our California communities are experiencing ice and snow. Does that stop people from walking and bicycling? No! Some people choose to walk or bicycle in winter because they enjoy it while others do so because it’s the best or only transportation option available to them. But, ice and snow can put a damper on the walking and bicycling experience and cause travelers to change their plans. A study by Winters et al. cited in Toole Design’s Winter Maintenance Resource Guide indicated that icy or snowy conditions have a statistically significant negative impact on bicycling, and snow and ice can be hazards to people bicycling. Surveys in several cities have also shown that a lack of winter maintenance contributes to lesser amounts of both walking and bicycling. A recent Streetsblog article elaborates on how policy can help support people biking in “bad weather.”
What can municipalities do to help ensure people are able to safely get around on foot or by bike while we wait for warm weather to return?
Guides like Toole Design’s Winter Maintenance Resource Guide, Alta Planning and Design’s Winter Bike Lane Maintenance: A Review of National and International Best Practices, and FHWA’s Guide for Maintaining Active Transportation Infrastructure for Enhanced Safety offer best practices for maintaining streets and sidewalks through icy and snowy conditions. Here are some key considerations that are described in more detail in the guides:
- Actions to take before, during, and after snow and ice occur:
- Before: Pre-treating paths, walkways, or street surfaces with salt brine will lower the temperature at which liquid freezes, often keeping pavement wet and reducing the formation of ice.
- During: Clearing accumulated precipitation often prevents footsteps and bicycle tires from packing snow onto surfaces.
- After: Clearing snow and ice with equipment and spreading material (e.g., sand, small diameter gravel, salt) speeds melting and improves traction.
- Different types of snow removal equipment – have equipment that is no wider than a walkway or bikeway. This might mean using smaller vehicles than would otherwise be used for local roadways.
- Creating and implementing a snow removal plan – consider where snow piles might block bikeways or walkways or become a visibility issue. Be sure to address separated bikeways which might not automatically be maintained with the adjacent roadways. Identify priority pedestrian routes that are cleared by municipal crews even when clearing sidewalks is typically the responsibility of individual property owners.
- Designing pedestrian, bicycle, and traffic calming infrastructure elements to make winter maintenance easier – pay attention to slope and drainage to prevent slick, icy surfaces or standing water. Curb extensions, raised crosswalks, and other traffic-calming elements that might impede a snow removal vehicle should be signed or marked.
The guides also include case examples from Delaware, Minnesota, and Vermont.
Here in California, Caltrans’ Maintenance Manual Chapter P. Pedestrian and Bicycle Facilities and Chapter R. Snow and Ice Removal includes snow and ice removal guidance and policy for the state highway system. Caltrans has worked with local communities abutting or intersected by state highways to implement location-specific maintenance that supports pedestrian and bicycle facilities. For example, in downtown South Lake Tahoe, Caltrans plows snow to the center of the road (to the left rather than to the right). The snow is blown into dump trucks and trucked to another location, thus never affecting the sidewalks and bike paths. The City of South Lake Tahoe and local businesses take on further sidewalk and bike path snow removal. The community has installed heated sidewalks that mitigate most issues!
If your community doesn’t have a snow and ice removal plan that includes pedestrian and bicycle facilities or doesn’t prioritize maintaining these facilities, now is the time to put best practices from guides and case examples in place.
Where can you find tips for bicycling in winter weather?
If you’re looking to keep cycling through the winter months or to encourage others to do so, check out tips on clothing, gear, bike maintenance, and storage from Love to Ride and the Sierra Club. Also, connect with your local bicycling organization where likely there are members who have braved the elements for years and are happy to share their tips.
Looking to encourage active travel throughout the winter as part of your Safe Routes to School program?
Look to parts of the country where people have long embraced winter! Safe Routes to School programs in states like Minnesota, Michigan, and Oregon host Winter Walk to School Day and other cold weather activities. These programs provide a plethora of ideas and information for getting students and families active all year long.
Whatever your plans are this winter, we hope you have a safe and active way to get around.
