SnowHowYear-round active mobility – resources and network

Resources

4 resources

  • ReportStrategyMethodCore resource

    Winter maintenance strategy and implementation study and tracking, Minneapolis

    City of Minneapolis, Department of Public Works · 2024 · United States

    The City of Minneapolis' 2024 Winter Walking and Biking Study evaluates winter maintenance policies, operational responsibilities, costs and opportunities to improve pedestrian accessibility and year-round cycling through 2030. It presents eight recommended actions for winter walking and five for winter cycling, including four sidewalk assistance pilots supported by a $595,000 budget allocation. The proposals address snow clearance, support for older residents and people with limited mobility, targeted maintenance services, improved cycling route maintenance and public information on snow-clearing operations. A particularly valuable feature is the city's publicly accessible Transportation Action Plan progress tracking system, which connects strategic objectives to individual actions, implementation schedules, status updates and documented milestones. This allows residents, practitioners and decision-makers to follow how winter mobility policies are translated into operational improvements. The online monitoring system documents continued implementation beyond the original study. For winter 2025–2026, Minneapolis funded four sidewalk snow and ice removal pilots, building on the previous season's experiments. Participation in the neighborhood snow patrol pilot increased from four neighborhoods in 2024–2025 to eight in 2025–2026. Other publicly reported measures include revised sidewalk enforcement fees, improved complaint-handling procedures and ongoing accessibility improvements. Link: https://go.minneapolismn.gov/final-plan/walking/strategy-4 Together, the study and its public implementation tracking offer a practical example of evidence-informed winter mobility governance, combining costed interventions, pilot programmes, measurable milestones and transparent reporting. The tracking system documents implementation progress, although it does not by itself establish the effects of these measures on walking and cycling activity or safety.

    • Planning & Design
    • Maintenance & Operations
    • Policy, Strategy & Governance
  • ToolkitCore resource

    Winter Cities Toolkit

    8 80 Cities · 2021 · Canada, United States

    An online toolkit developed through the Wintermission programme, providing practical resources for creating inclusive, active and welcoming public spaces during winter. It includes community engagement methods, winter life surveys, action planning worksheets, snow management policy examples and winter city strategies, drawing on experiences from three US cities.

    • Planning & Design
    • Behaviour & Mobility Management
    • Communication & Engagement
    • Policy, Strategy & Governance
  • GuidelineToolkit

    Winter Places: A Design Guide for Winter Placemaking

    Jonathan Berk, Principal, Bench Consulting / Patronicity · 2020 · United States

    A practical design guide presenting creative, low-cost and rapidly implementable ideas for activating public spaces during winter. Developed through an international design challenge, the guide explores temporary installations, outdoor gathering spaces, microclimate-sensitive design and community engagement to make streets and town centres more welcoming and socially vibrant in cold weather.

    • Planning & Design
    • Communication & Engagement
    • Health, Safety & Wellbeing
  • Report

    Minneapolis Pedestrian and Bicycle Winter Maintenance Study

    City of Minneapolis · 2018 · United States

    This 2018 municipal study provides a comprehensive review of winter maintenance practices, responsibilities and improvement options for pedestrian and cycling infrastructure in Minneapolis. It documents existing snow and ice clearance policies and compares maintenance approaches across 13 North American municipalities in the United States and Canada, drawing on municipal interviews, policy documents and operational practices. The report examines sidewalk clearing responsibilities, enforcement, snow removal methods, anti-icing treatments, accessibility and winter cycling maintenance standards. It identifies short- and long-term improvement options, including priority winter walking and cycling networks, enhanced inspections, assistance programmes for vulnerable residents, partial or citywide municipal sidewalk clearing, and defined service levels for cycling routes. Options are assessed using indicative implementation cost categories, potential benefits and operational challenges. Rather than recommending a single model, the study provides a structured basis for municipalities to compare winter maintenance policies, service levels, responsibilities and investment priorities. It also serves as the foundation for Minneapolis' subsequent 2024 Winter Walking and Biking Study and its publicly tracked implementation measures.

    • Maintenance & Operations
    • Policy, Strategy & Governance
    • Health, Safety & Wellbeing