Presentation about the best winter maintenance processes from Finland, ways to evaluate the quality of winter maintenance and examples of good maintenance. Presented by Finnish Cyclists' Federations' Executive Director Matti Koistinen in Riga November 27th 2015.

1. Winter Maintenance
Cyclists Point of View
Matti Koistinen, Executive Director
Finnish Cyclists’ Federation

3. In Joensuu 57 % and in Oulu 50 % of cyclists cycle through winter. (Photo: Pekka Tahkola, Navico Ltd)
Climate – does it really matter?

4. Helsinki-Vantaa Airport is never closed because of
winter or snow. Why cycle routes should be?

5. Oulu
Joensuu
Riga
Lingköping
Copenhagen
Umeå
Tampere
Recommendation of the day
Kaisa Karhula / Tampere University of
Technology: Best Practices of Cycle Path
Winter Maintenance Process
http://tinyurl.com/bestwinter

6. Average precipitation mm
0
10
20
30
40
50
60
70
80
90
Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec
Tampere Riga Oulu Copenhagen

7. Average high °C
Tampere −3.4 −3.5 1,2 8,2 15,4 19,5 22,2 19,9 14 7,5 1,5 −1.9 8,4
Riga −2.3 −1.7 2,7 9,8 16,2 20,1 21,7 21 16,3 10,4 3,9 0,3 9,87
Oulu −6 −5.7 −0.9 5,6 12,5 17,9 20,9 18,3 12,5 5,8 −0.4 −4 6,37
Copenhagen 2,5 2,8 5,5 10,2 15,5 19,1 21,2 21 16,7 11,9 6,9 4,1 11,4
Average low °C
Tampere −9.7 −10.6 −6.6 −1.3 3,8 8,6 11,7 10,4 5,9 1,9 −3.0 −7.6 0,3
Riga −7.8 −7.6 −4.7 1 5,9 10 12,3 11,8 8 4 −0.5 −4.4 2,33
Oulu −13.6 −13.3 −8.8 −2.6 3,3 9 12,2 10,1 5,4 0,8 −5.5 −10.8 −1.15
Copenhagen −1.7 −1.9 −0.4 2,4 7 10,8 12,9 12,6 9,7 6,1 2,4 −0.2 5

8. Cycling in Tampere
• Population 220 000
• 800 km’s of cycle paths, including paths
in the parks
• Copenhagen: 400 km’s
• Mode share 2012: cycling 6 %, walking 25
%, busses 17 %, cars 45 %
• Only one out six continues cycling
through the winter
• Most of the cycle paths combined with
pedestrians

9. Tampere Winter Maintenance Researches 2013 & 2015
Group of cyclists evaluating their daily routes
• Four weeks in January-February
• 2013: 11 Cyclists. 2015: 23 Cyclists.
• Web survey to fill up after the trip
• Photos play important role in reporting
• Basic question: ”How well would your granny
be able to cycle here without winter tires?”

10. 0"%"
10"%"
20"%"
30"%"
40"%"
50"%"
60"%"
70"%"
80"%"
90"%"
100"%"
0-7" 7-10" 10-16" 16-19" 19-24"
Arvosanojen*jakauma*aikavälei1äin*
5"
4"
3"
2"
1"
• Total 515 reports
• Total 2231 grades
for different routes
• Average 3,26
Results 2015 General maintenance quality from 1 to 5

11. Bad maintenance vs. good maintenance

12. High quality routes
• Plenty of room for snow
• Good drainage
• Well timed operations (especially with the clearing of the driveway)
• More spacious streets
• Right maintenance procedures for right time of the year
• Separeted bicycle infrastucture. Bikelanes in Tampere are difficult for
maintenance (mostly because of their poor design).
What makes the difference?

13. Wheather effects
Rainfall (mm/h)
Temperature (°C)
Grade (1 to 5)
Snow Depth (cm)

15. Problems & Solutions

16. Curb Stones
Solutions:
1. Removal of curb stones from cycle tracks
2. Contractors clearing the driway must be resposible for clearing the cyclist & pedestrian crossings too

17. Slush & mush
Solutions:
1. Order of the snow clearing is the key for success. There must be good communication between contractors.
2. Even streets are clear, there might be slush on cycle tracks. Better monitoring of cycle tracks would help.

18. Tracks & slush removal
The cycle track is
all slush!
Tractor is coming
for help.
Oh yeah, he
cleared it!
!@#%##!
IT'S SAME FRIKKIN
SLUSH–JUST
FLATTEN!!
Solutions:
1. Equipment must be right: ladle isn’t good for clearing cycle paths. Snow plow is much better.
2. Drivers must be instructed: there is a lot you can do with right attitude & skills.
3. Slush must be always removed before gritting.

19. © Pekka Tahkola

20. Storage of snow
Solutions:
1. Room for the snow must be always designed when designing the street.
2. Snow should be stored on parking spaces rather than cycle tracks.
3. There must be better control for property owners snow. They shouldn’t store it on cycle tracks.

21. Better design
Solutions:
1. More co-operation between different city departments from elderly people care to public transit and schools.
2. “How would my granny ride here in the winter” –test for street plans.
3. There will be more cyclists in the future. We have to prepare for it now.
4. There will be faster cyclists in the future thanks to e-bikes. We have to prepare for it now.

22. Slipperiness
Solutions:
1. Information about weather changes must go straight to contractors and drivers.
2. Slush removal always before gritting.
3. Different seasons need different solutions: autumn and spring calcium chloride is good, in mid-winter gravel

23. Bike parking in winter
✔
✖
?
✔

24. Good winter maintenance needs
• Right attitude
• Good prediction of weather conditions
• Right tools & equipment
• Motivated & skilled staff
• Well built infrastructure
• High quality of leadership from the city
towards contractors
• Resources
• Monitoring & developing

25. (CC) WolfgangE

26. © Pekka Tahkola

27. © Pekka Tahkola

28. Matti Koistinen
P. +358 44 2795588
matti.koistinen@pyoraliitto.fi
More slides & shows about cycling
(including this one):
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