Community Cruisers

HUB Bike Workshops: Banff, The Fenlands – Tues 5-8pm • Canmore Rec. Centre – Wed & Thurs, 5-8pm

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bike all winter

BIKE ALL WINTER

It’s easy and affordable. It saves time and fuel. It’s good exercise and it’s fun – the feeling of two-wheeling over crunchy snow on a sunny winter day in the Rockies is hard to beat. No matter the weather nor the conditions, you can still bike to work, bike to school, bike to the library or just bike for fun. Even on the frostiest of winter days, with the right equipment and attitude, biking can be wonderful. 

The Bike All Winter program aims to increase the number and visibility of people using bikes for transportation during the winter months by focusing on residents of Canmore and Banff that are currently not using bikes for transportation year round but would like to start.

Apply Now
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Bike All Winter is run entirely by volunteers and has been in operation since September of 2020. In 2022, the program won an Alberta Emerald Award in the Air category.

Participants receive assistance to winterize their bike, including free or subsidized winter bicycle tires, lights and fenders, training on winter bike riding, as well as a Bike All Winter Mentor in exchange for a commitment to ride their bike in winter.

Key community benefits of the program include: reduction in GHG emissions and local air pollution due to reducing motor vehicle use; more people on bicycles make the roads safer for everyone; bicycling is an efficient and economical way to get around, and people on bicycles feel connected to their community and support local business.

Bike All Winter program applications are accepted annually from September 15 to October 15, and the program runs from November to March.

Check out this map for winter bike routes. 

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happy WINTER cruisers

"It's way easier than it looks to navigate snow and ice..."
MaudeCanmore
Maude
“Riding my bike in the winter makes me feel happy."
Captain Canmore
Captain
“Snow muffles a lot of sound, and riding in the winter is surprisingly quiet!"
Emma Canmore
Emma
"I like to get out of my comfort zone. Biking in the winter is that for me..."
UlrikeBanff
Ulrike
"Cold is good! Studded tires love the cold. Trust me, try it, you'll like it."
RickBanff
Rick
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Applications for 2025/26 will open on september 15, 2025.

APPLication form

This is the application for Community Cruisers’ 2024/25 Bike All Winter Program. The program will give up to 100 people free or subsidized winter bicycle tires, lights and fenders (and other supports) in exchange for a commitment to ride their bike in winter. Bike All Winter will run from November 2024 until March 2025 and aims to increase the number and visibility of people on bikes year round by helping them to get a grip on winter riding. All people are encouraged to apply. By applying you agree to participate in:

  • Riding your bike this winter!
  • A one-on-one meeting to prepare your bike for winter.
  • Surveys at the beginning and end of the program.
  • Photos to be shared by Community Cruisers on social media and on Community Cruisers’ website.

Aspects of the program we encourage everyone to participate in include:

  • Bike All Winter photo shoots
  • Light My Bike workshop and night ride
  • Personal posts on social media

DEMOGRAPHIC INFORMATION
Bike All Winter aims to increase the number of people riding bikes in winter. Participants will ideally represent a wide diversity of people. All questions are optional, demographic information will be considered while selecting participants.




WINTER RIDING AND WINTER BIKES


COMMITMENT

In exchange for equipment, Bike All Winter participants will be asked to talk about their experiences on video, in writing, and on social media.
I agree that if I am a participant in Bike All Winter I will: *

PERSONAL INFORMATION

Bike All Winter is funded by the Town of Canmore and the Town of Banff. In operating this program we may need to share your personal information with your town of residence. Please indicate below if you consent for us to share your personal information as its relates to this program only.

GENEROUSLY SUPPORTED BY:

Town of Banff
Winter

WINTER RIDING TIPS

Take it Slow: In winter, don’t be in a hurry. Avoid busy streets in favour of quieter pathways and give yourself more time to get where you’re going.

Lower Your Saddle: This simple adjustment lowers your centre of gravity and makes it easier to put your foot down if you slip. Dropping your saddle an inch or so can make a big difference in safety and control.

Reduce Tire Pressure: Run your pressure a bit lower in winter so there’s more rubber gripping the road. That slows you down a bit, but slower is better when there’s ice and snow around.

Being visible just makes sense

which is why the Traffic Safety Act in Alberta requires cyclists to have a white front light and a red rear light on their bike when they are traveling in the dark. And did you know that steady bike lights are more effective than flashing bike lights in the dark?

Did You Know?

Steady bike lights are more effective than flashing bike lights in the dark.

Flashing bike lights can dazzle other cyclists, confuse drivers and alter depth perception – making drivers less aware of the distance between you and them. In fact, in Austria and the Netherlands flashing bike lights are forbidden by law.Steady bike lights are more effective than flashing bike lights in the dark. Flashing bikelights can dazzle other cyclists, confuse drivers and alter depth perception – making drivers less aware of the distance between you and them. In fact, in Austria and the Netherlands flashing bike lights are forbidden by law.

Using your light during the day can help too!

A Danish study found that cyclists with daytime lights have  32 percent less accidents