Vienna records record numbers of bicycle use despite snow and ice – in Vienna now almost as many people cycle through the winter as ten years ago in the summer. This is precisely why the VCÖ urges caution and provides tips for safe cycling under challenging conditions.
More and more Viennese are using their bicycles in winter, namely 50 percent more than ten years ago. At many of the eighteen counting points in the city, more cyclists are now counted in the winter than ten years ago in the summer. The number of cyclists in the city alone has increased by about five percent every year, and in winter the increase is almost 20 percent year on year.
“Lower” wheels for less risk of falling
VCÖ expert Katharina Jaschinsky supports the trend: it is not only about climate protection, but also about strengthening the immune system in winter through “a portion of healthy exercise”. However, cycling in winter has its pitfalls: well-adjusted brakes and good lighting – ideally independent of classic dynamos so that you can be seen while waiting at intersections – are now even more important.
A little less tire pressure can also help in winter riding conditions, as can a lower saddle. Clothing should not only be adapted to the temperatures, but should also provide the ability to respond to the body’s warming, especially over longer distances. Brightly colored clothing also increases visibility even more.
When wet, cold and possibly with road salt, the bicycle needs an extra dose of care, i.e. lubricate the chain more often and clean the bicycle more often. For particularly cold days, it is also advisable to have a defroster with you before standing in front of your frost-blocked bike lock. But above all, the VCÖ warns: “It is particularly important to adapt your driving style to the road conditions, to drive more comfortably, attentively and carefully.”
Source: Krone
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