skiing bike lanes toronto snowstorm

People are cross-country skiing to get around Toronto after snowstorm

When the massive snowstorm on Thursday disrupted almost all forms of transportation, residents found creative solutions to commute around Toronto.

Rather than reaching for the car keys or taking their chances on a gnarled TTC network, some people strapped on their skis instead to navigate the nearly 40 centimetres of snow that turned the city into a powdered paradise.

Many took advantage of the empty bike lanes downtown, many of which were plowed before the sidewalks.

Quintessential Torontonian
byu/alpennys intoronto

One video making the rounds on the internet shows an individual skiing while walking their dog. 

Dog Dad in Toronto Today!
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Another video features a guy on Bloordale literally running on skis, perhaps training for the Winter Olympics? 

Bike lanes aren’t just for bikes…
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"Dwight Shute energy off the charts," one user commented, and we couldn't agree more.

Sassy comments aside, a few people raised concerns about salt potentially damaging the skis. They're not wrong. The bike lanes and streets were salted after being plowed, and even with some snow still left on the ground, there's a good chance the slushy slurry contains jagged chunks of road salt.

Salt can cause permanent damage to skis and eat away at the metal edges and base. Over time, salt speeds up rust and makes it harder for skis to hold wax, impacting their longevity. In addition to potential long-term damage, the bottoms of skis are definitely not designed to traverse surfaces like jagged salt crystals.

Just something to think about before your next impromptu ski adventure in Toronto.
 

Lead photo by

MonitorMaterial5204/Reddit


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