Braving it by bike
BY Ron Nurwisah
To call Paul Davis a dedicated cyclist is an understatement. His daily year-round, 90-minute morning bike commute to work, which he repeats on the way home, takes him over highways, city streets and trails. It would be exceptional for anyone, but Davis lives in Whitehorse, where winter temperatures can plunge to -40° Celsius. The filmmaker documented his piercing-weather pedalling in his first short film, -40 Degrees Celsius, released last year and named Best Canadian Short at Toronto’s Planet in Focus film festival.
To ride in the winter, when temperatures can degrade steel and frostbite strikes in minutes, Davis has to be meticulous in his preparation. He rides a special bike and packs extra clothes, lights and backup batteries.
But it’s worth it, he says. “To be able to go outside, to see the sky … everything from the aurora borealis to the stars in the mornings, it’s a very powerful experience.” Davis also sees his transportation choice as setting a positive example for the next generation: “Children need role models for living a physically active lifestyle that’s also sustainable.”
