On February 16, 500 enthusiastic cyclists took part in Vélo sous zéro, the very first winter happening organized by Vélo Québec, in partnership with ENvironnement JEUnesse. With 500 places sold out in less than a week, the event was clearly eagerly awaited! We saw many different types of cyclists: many convinced 4-season cyclists, some who were trying their hand at winter cycling for the first time, and others who came as a family to celebrate winter and cycling. Vélo Québec members have long been calling for a winter event, and the enthusiastic response confirms that winter cycling is indeed a growing trend. The idea behind Vélo sous zéro was to demystify the practice among the general public, elected officials and the media. In addition to the strong turnout, the impressive media coverage made it a highly successful awareness-raising exercise.
Vélo sous zéro was an idea that had been in the back of our minds for a long time. Vélo Québec was keen to offer a new activity off the beaten track, one that would interest cyclists and surprise the rest of the population. There's a parallel to be drawn with Tour de l’Île de Montréal, which is celebrating its 30th anniversary this year.e anniversary. In 1985, you had to have faith in your ability to ask the city to close 50 kilometers of streets on a Sunday! It's easy to see the connection between the popular cycling events that have sprung up since 1985 and the growth in cycling in recent years. Vélo sous zéro is just the latest in a long line of successful cycling events.
It's true that cities are becoming increasingly aware of winter cycling. We should mention the efforts of Montreal, Longueuil and Westmount, and the tenacity of cyclists who convinced Outremont to maintain the Côte-Sainte-Catherine trail. Interest in winter biking is growing in northern cities everywhere. In fact, last February Vélo Québec took part in the second International Winter Bike Conference in Winnipeg. There, we presented our recommendations to the City of Montreal concerning the development of its white network, and also heard about interesting experiences from around the world. One thing's for sure: winter biking is here to stay.
Suzanne Lareau
President and General Manager
