Cycling Toronto's annual “Coldest Day of the Year” takes place amid unseasonably warm weather.

Toronto's annual Coldest Day of the Year Bike Ride took place on Saturday, but the weather didn't live up to its name. Temperatures will reach a mild 7°C during the day, well above the expected 10-12°C and well above the typical daytime average of -1.7°C for this time of year. Toronto saw a record temperature of 15.7°C on Friday, the hottest February 9 in 86 years, according to Environment Canada, continuing the unseasonably warm weather. Despite the unseasonably warm weather, the event celebrated winter cycling in the city and the recent extension of bike lanes on West Bloor Street. These are the lanes that Ontario Premier Doug Ford wants eliminated.

What a treat it was to be a part of the Coldest Day of the Year ride today @CycleToronto! Hundreds of people were out on a balmy day (above 10'C) and we walked from Tom Riley Park to Christy Pits Park. #BikeTO #TOpoli #VisionZero #Etobicoke (1/4) 🚲🧵 pic.twitter.com/PvgRwjB4ET

— Robert Zaichkowski (rzaichkowski.bsky.social) (@RZaichkowski) February 10, 2024

“We were able to ride eight kilometers of safe bike lanes from Etobicoke to the edge of downtown. “It's something to really celebrate,” said Michael Longfield, executive director of Cycle Toronto, in an interview with the Toronto Star. “Many people are finding that cycling in mid-February is practical and enjoyable all over town.”

Good weather for the “Coldest Day of the Year Ride” organized by @CycleToronto https://t.co/VLz4mx47Tr

— jnyyz 🚲 (@jnyyz) February 10, 2024

Hundreds of cyclists took part in Saturday's event, which isn't unusual for their ride, but the warm temperatures may have prompted even more to turn out.

Longfield noted the increase in protected bike lanes in Toronto this winter. He sees mild weather as both positive and negative, encouraging cycling as well as highlighting the urgency of climate action. He noted that interest in walkable and bikeable streets has increased since the pandemic began. The Toronto Cycle aims to use warm February days, designated as the “coldest day of the year,” to highlight the urgency of addressing the climate crisis.

Referring to new mayor Olivia Chow, Longfield said: “The city has made historic progress under a mayor who himself rides a bike.

Chow was elected in June 2023, following a by-election on 26 June, to replace former mayor John Tory, who resigned amid controversy surrounding an extramarital affair.

The widow of politician Jack Layton often uses her bicycle to get around the city, she does not have a car. On his first day in office, hundreds of cyclists joined him on the way to City Hall.