Cycling
The cycleway network in Oulu connects all the city districts and reaches even the surrounding region! The cycling routes are often shortcuts, and many places in Oulu can be reached more quickly by bike than driving a car – at best, you will not even have to stop for traffic lights during your ride.
The cycling routes in Oulu are maintained efficiently al the year round. The busiest routes are so-called cycling highways: wide routes paved with red asphalt, taking you to places like the Linnanmaa Campus in no time.
In Oulu, cycling is truly a noteworthy commuting method, a form of everyday exercise, a hobby, and an essential part of life. Grab a fatbike, a granny bike, an e‑bike, or anything with two wheels and pedals on it, and reach all of Oulu with a higher grade of ease!
Enjoy the sun and the warmth – go cycling in the Oulu summer
If you are about to hop on a bike in Oulu, check out the three different routes with water themes that the Oulu cycling map has to offer. The Route of Two Lakes, the Oulu River Route and the Seaside Route will take you to their respective waterways and scenes – including some nice recommendations about other activities besides cycling. See the Oulu Cycling Map in pdf format (opens in a new tab).
The numerous forest routes and trails in Oulu are significant recreation areas and shortcuts between places. Many cycling routes have nice and varying scenery: feel the salty air on a seashore trail, smell the fresh woods on both sides of the cycleway, or see the open fields and meadows underneath the big sky in front of you.
You will not get lost while cycling either – Oulu has the most comprehensive system of cycling signs in all of Finland. Besides the areas in Oulu, the system covers the nearby municipalities of Lumijoki, Liminka, Kempele, and Muhos as well.
Glistening snow and wonderful scenery – winter cycling is pop!
Half of the people in Oulu who ride bikes do it in the winter, too – cycling all year round, even when the snow is thick! Winter cycling in Oulu is no cause for wonder but a potential way of getting around, from toddlers to seniors. The city has been designed for this.
Efficient maintenance of cycling routes ensures that walking and cycling are a reasonable alternative for most trips around the year. If you want to become a true Oulu resident, hop on a bike in January and set out to admire the frosty city. What is more, there is an amazing route with varying terrain for mountain bike and fatbike riders in Kaakkuri. The winter outdoor route in Meri-Toppila has campfire sites, making it a wonderful day trip location for the whole family. Find the route information on the City of Oulu website (opens in a new tab).
The myth about winter bikers with massive special gear and clothes is truly just a myth, for regular warm clothes and a helmet are quite enough for winter biking. However, there are a few important things to remember:
- Front and rear lights in the winter darkness (red in the rear) along with a helmet are a major safety factor and no one should go cycling without them.
- Also check that your bike has the necessary reflectors on the front, the rear, and the sides.
- When the streets are slippery, studded tyres might prove necessary.
- When changing your tyres, you should also service your bike – a bike that works is a safe and pleasant vehicle to ride around!
Winter cycling in Oulu has even caught some attention in the international media which might seem funny to a local person: riding a bike to work, school, or hobbies is business as usual! Still, the cycling culture in Oulu seems interesting, especially in the wintertime. Read an article about it on the Euronews website (opens in a new tab).
An innovation from Oulu is making winter cycling easier and safer: the signs pointing the lanes for pedestrians and cyclists are projected directly on the snow with projection lighting. This excellent invention has been much praised in Finland. An eye-catching improvement for traffic safety – wow!
