‪It is rather beautiful here in Oulu 🇫🇮, right now.

[alexafontanilla2024@mastodon.social]

@Neotheta
#PostOfTheWeek (season 3):
Through a series of simple changes, the city of Oulu, bordering Lapland, encourages its residents to cycle through the long, dark, snowy winter. What can other cities learn from the pioneer of winter cycling?

It's a crisp winter morning in the Finnish coastal city of Oulu, the fourth most northerly city in the world, just 100km (60 miles) south of the Arctic Circle.

[alexafontanilla2024@mastodon.social]

@Neotheta
Last night there was a snowstorm and today the temperature hovers around -5C (23F), but that is not deterring the city's hardy cyclists. Everywhere you go, people of all ages flurry by over the fresh snow, wrapped in winter clothes and seemingly enjoying the brief pale sunshine and bitingly cold air.

Oulu, which proudly calls itself "the winter cycling capital of the world" is blanketed in snow for five months of the year.

[alexafontanilla2024@mastodon.social]

@Neotheta
During the depths of winter, temperatures can drop as low as -30C (-22F), with just four hours of daylight.

Despite these harsh conditions, 12% of winter journeys are made by bicycle in the city of Oulu. Compare that with the milder climate of England, where year-round the proportion of trips made by bike is just 2%.

[thepolishdispatch@mstdn.social]

@pekkatahkola thanks!

[sesav@mastodon.social]

@pekkatahkola Absolutely stunning. ☺️

[nachtet@norden.social]

@pekkatahkola This is really beautiful, thanks for sharing. 🩵

[maniabel@mastodon.de]

@pekkatahkola When I see these bike lanes, it makes me sad. Just think of what could be possible if there was the will to do it. #Hamburg, the self-proclaimed “cycling world city,” apparently doesn't want it.

[xs4me2@mastodon.social]

@pekkatahkola Wow!

[thomasfuchs@hachyderm.io]

@pekkatahkola pretty! I'have been to Tampere in December years ago and this reminds me of it.

[mxchara@seattle.pink]

@pekkatahkola lovely shot of the first-order corona around the Moon in that first shot

[tg9541@mas.to]

@pekkatahkola just wondering... what happened to that bike?

[superuserdo@punkstodon.de]

@pekkatahkola looks so beautiful 🤩

[cyb3rrunn3r@troet.cafe]

@pekkatahkola 🥰

[revndm@queer.cool]

@pekkatahkola @Tarnport niin kaunis 😍

[wthinker@libranet.de]

@pekkatahkola In our Belarus also are beautiful now. But here are warmer, -16, and the roads are worse. 😀

#winterbike #BY

[contrasocial@mastodon.social]

@pekkatahkola

My love of snow and ice grows as I get older. I used to get frustrated by the inconvenience and discomfort that can come with it, but when you accept winter's rules and work on it's terms it's an opportunity for a lot of pleasantness, joy and coziness.

[pekkatahkola@mas.to]

@tg9541 Wondering that too. Poor fella might have been damaged and or stolen, and abandoned, and/or maybe set aside by the snow plow driver. Still seems mostly bicycle-shaped though. No idea 🤷

[crenquis@mstdn.io]

@pekkatahkola I want to go there... I really do miss those very cold days where the snow squeaks and the trees crack and groan.

[gardengeek@mstdn.social]

@pekkatahkola

whoa!! so beautiful!! talk about a winter wonderland!! ❄️

[pekkatahkola@mas.to]

@mxchara Thanks! 🥰