A Not-So-Crazy-Idea: The Edmonton Freezeway

I came across this today, thought it is a really cool concept that I would love to see developed and implemented in Edmonton.

In short, it is a plan to build a wide cycling path from the Edmonton suburbs through downtown Edmonton that in the winter months, is frozen over and converted into a skating superhighway.

http://www.wired.com/2015/01/edmonton-freezeway-ice-skating/

[video=youtube;OV8qm14uLns]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OV8qm14uLns[/video]

Maybe a little unrealistic for more mild Toronto winters, but these are the kind of ideas that make cities global landmarks. It's good to see other Canadian cities looking at making the most of their winter weather.

When I lived in downtown Ottawa and studied at Carleton I used the canal to bike or skate to school daily. I loved Ottawa for that reason.

The technical challenge in Edmonton will be grade changes. Although Edmonton is relatively flat the path will need to be very very flat to skate on. My guess is anything more than a 1% slope will be too dangerous for most skaters, and that means a 1m grade change will need 100m of horizontal distance. Are they using an old railway line by any chance?