Hamilton Bike Share hubs buried by snow, volunteers work to uncover bike

Community members across Hamilton are stepping up this winter by clearing snow around Hamilton Bike Share hubs after major storms like the one that blanketed the city last week.

The volunteers are calling on homeowners and plows to avoid shovelling snow onto the bikes.

Ian Brisbin, a Hamilton Bike Share volunteer, spent hours this past week clearing snow from a Hamilton Bike Share hub. He is just one of 25 people called “Hub Heros” who are volunteering to make sure bikes are accessible during and after snowstorms.

“Bike lanes are infrastructure. They can be for recreation but ultimately, they’re for people commuting,” said Brisbin.

Hamilton Bike Share is a non-profit group providing cyclists with at least 800 bikes at over 130 locations across the city. Chelsea Cox is the executive director of the program and says the more than 40 centimeters of snow Hamilton received last Monday made cycling dangerous and nearly impossible. “If bike lanes aren’t cleared then you sort of have to figure it out. You have to navigate slippery streets with cars. It can be very uncomfortable and feel unsafe. So it is really helpful when they’re able to clear snow quickly to enable people to get around,” she said,

According to the city of Hamilton, bike lanes are cleared at the same time as main streets. But a challenge bike share users face is homeowners shoveling the plowed snow in their driveway right onto the stored bikes.

Mike Field, Hamilton’s Acting Director of Transportation, Operations, and Maintenance, says he is aware of this problem and reminded homeowners to consider cyclists when they shovel. “Not just people who are cyclists can advocate for good cycling infrastructure in the winter. But everyone else can too by making sure that the bike lanes are clear and they’re not making it worse than it already is,” said Field.

If you live near a Hamilton Bike Share hub and can help with snow removal this winter, you can call 289-768-bike or email help@hamilton-bike-share.ca.