Is the Greenbelt Usable in the Winter (Boise, Moscow: apartment, condo)

[LillyLillyLilly]

Is it kept free of ice and snow? Assuming there are few people out there, is it safe during daytime hours?

[Syringaloid]

Originally Posted by LillyLillyLilly

Is it kept free of ice and snow? Assuming there are few people out there, is it safe during daytime hours?

It is kind of rare for snow to stick in Boise (the mountains will have snow ) so the greenbelt is usually clear of ice/snow depending on the area and the amount of use during winter. Boise is still pretty active during winter with joggers, bikers, etc. so the greenbelt is still a lively place even during cold weather although not as busy as warm months. The greenbelt is a really safe place to enjoy during daytime hours and even during the evenings, but when the darkness comes just use common sense on the areas you are at.
But overall the greenbelt is a safe place. It is well maintained and much of it outside of downtown is through nice housing and apartment/condo areas, until you get out of city limits heading towards Lucky Peak.

[juliempdx]

I used the greenbelt all the time when I lived there and never had an issue. I wouldn't use it at night alone though

[stingraynm]

I can echo the safety recommendations. Once every few years there's someone who gets murdered on the Greenbelt (extremely rare, but it happens, and always at night or early morning when use is sparse). I also had two naive friends get mugged on it while walking late at night. If you are on it late at night, be with a group and you shouldn't have any problems.

As for your snow question, in the occasional event that Boise does get several inches of snow, there may be some slippery pack and ice in shadier areas. Overall, it's not bad compared to paths in Moscow or Pullman up North, where I had to learn for the first time to contend with snow on a bicycle after growing up in Boise and riding year-round. I haven't lived in Boise during a winter for about 9 years now, but when I lived there, Boise had no salt or plow service for the Greenbelt, despite its proficiency on clearing the roadways. (Down here in NM, it's like people were caught by surprise, and those of us without snow-worthy vehicles are best off just hoping for the tendency of a noon-sun-melt. I miss the Northwest in that regard.)

[LillyLillyLilly]

Originally Posted by stingraynm

but when I lived there, Boise had no salt or plow service for the Greenbelt, despite its proficiency on clearing the roadways.

I walked bench streets last winter (Kootenai/Vista/Latah/Overland area) and tho the streets themselves were kept fairly clear, the edges that people walking or biking would use stayed icy sometimes for a couple weeks at a time. It seemed like as soon as it melted, we'd get another snow. Even sidewalks on the main roads like Vista and Overland were not cleared and remained icy for days and days. With the trees along the greenbelt, I'm thinking it will stay icy even longer.