5 ms·

It is not a problem in Minneapolis either.

protomyth 13y ago
Its a problem in North Dakota and I get the feeling that you in Minneapolis weren't biking all winter with the extreme chills and snow. If you were, then fine but a normal bike rider would be killed.
- nswanberg 13y ago
  My particulars aren't very interesting, but having lived in northern Minnesota near Fargo and Minneapolis, and having spent three weeks in Minneapolis in December (I live in sunny Boulder), running outside each night during that damn cold snap, I've got some experience dealing with cold. It's no fun and requires the right equipment but it's both survivable and enjoyable. But I'm hardly alone: http://www.mprnews.org/story/2014/01/29/why-would-you-bike-commute http://www.mprnews.org/story/2014/01/29/why-would-you-bike-c... Cold can be a problem, but it's also a problem for drivers. Rain can be a problem. Heat can be a problem. But all of these can be overcome, and these are just some of the problems with getting more people to stop driving to work (I personally think proximity to work and perceptions of being seen biking to work are bigger problems in the USA, but I haven't studied the problem much).
  - Gravityloss 13y ago
    Quite many people bicycle around the year in Oulu which is quite far north. http://www.ibikeoulu.com/ http://www.ibikeoulu.com/ Some key thing are that it's very flat and there are bike roads which are snow plowed consistently. And there are lots of students.
    - maxerickson 13y ago
      The temperatures there are very similar to Minneapolis. I guess distance from the ocean makes up for a lot of the difference in latitude.
- kjell 13y ago
  Winter biking in Minneapolis is real. I bike 5 miles to work most days. This was a cold and snowy winter, but it was better than last year because there was more snow and less ice. [In Minneapolis, nothing stops bicyclists — not even winter](http://www.latimes.com/nation/la-na-minneapolis-winter-biking-20140320,0,5607445.story http://www.latimes.com/nation/la-na-minneapolis-winter-bikin...) [Biking is up, even — and especially — in cold weather](http://www.startribune.com/local/minneapolis/236827801.html http://www.startribune.com/local/minneapolis/236827801.html) [Twin Cities winter bike community feels the pinch](http://www.startribune.com/lifestyle/247300181.html http://www.startribune.com/lifestyle/247300181.html) [Why would you bike commute in the winter](http://www.mprnews.org/story/2014/01/29/why-would-you-bike-commute http://www.mprnews.org/story/2014/01/29/why-would-you-bike-c...) [Ride on in Winter (2011)](http://www.startribune.com/lifestyle/114216374.html http://www.startribune.com/lifestyle/114216374.html)
  - protomyth 13y ago
    There is no way the average person is going to bike to work in a 40mph wind in -10F weather. It isn't safe. You can keep pointing to people, but for most people it just isn't an option because of distance and safety.
    - vardump 13y ago
      Seriously. Biking in -10F (-23C) is just a matter of clothing. People do this all the time during winter, me included, with absolutely no issues. And I'm definitely not athletic. Although 40mph headwind might make it rather hot & sweaty business...

Its a problem in North Dakota and I get the feeling that you in Minneapolis weren't biking all winter with the extreme chills and snow. If you were, then fine but a normal bike rider would be killed.

nswanberg 13y ago
My particulars aren't very interesting, but having lived in northern Minnesota near Fargo and Minneapolis, and having spent three weeks in Minneapolis in December (I live in sunny Boulder), running outside each night during that damn cold snap, I've got some experience dealing with cold. It's no fun and requires the right equipment but it's both survivable and enjoyable. But I'm hardly alone: http://www.mprnews.org/story/2014/01/29/why-would-you-bike-commute http://www.mprnews.org/story/2014/01/29/why-would-you-bike-c... Cold can be a problem, but it's also a problem for drivers. Rain can be a problem. Heat can be a problem. But all of these can be overcome, and these are just some of the problems with getting more people to stop driving to work (I personally think proximity to work and perceptions of being seen biking to work are bigger problems in the USA, but I haven't studied the problem much).
- Gravityloss 13y ago
  Quite many people bicycle around the year in Oulu which is quite far north. http://www.ibikeoulu.com/ http://www.ibikeoulu.com/ Some key thing are that it's very flat and there are bike roads which are snow plowed consistently. And there are lots of students.
  - maxerickson 13y ago
    The temperatures there are very similar to Minneapolis. I guess distance from the ocean makes up for a lot of the difference in latitude.
kjell 13y ago
Winter biking in Minneapolis is real. I bike 5 miles to work most days. This was a cold and snowy winter, but it was better than last year because there was more snow and less ice. [In Minneapolis, nothing stops bicyclists — not even winter](http://www.latimes.com/nation/la-na-minneapolis-winter-biking-20140320,0,5607445.story http://www.latimes.com/nation/la-na-minneapolis-winter-bikin...) [Biking is up, even — and especially — in cold weather](http://www.startribune.com/local/minneapolis/236827801.html http://www.startribune.com/local/minneapolis/236827801.html) [Twin Cities winter bike community feels the pinch](http://www.startribune.com/lifestyle/247300181.html http://www.startribune.com/lifestyle/247300181.html) [Why would you bike commute in the winter](http://www.mprnews.org/story/2014/01/29/why-would-you-bike-commute http://www.mprnews.org/story/2014/01/29/why-would-you-bike-c...) [Ride on in Winter (2011)](http://www.startribune.com/lifestyle/114216374.html http://www.startribune.com/lifestyle/114216374.html)
- protomyth 13y ago
  There is no way the average person is going to bike to work in a 40mph wind in -10F weather. It isn't safe. You can keep pointing to people, but for most people it just isn't an option because of distance and safety.
  - vardump 13y ago
    Seriously. Biking in -10F (-23C) is just a matter of clothing. People do this all the time during winter, me included, with absolutely no issues. And I'm definitely not athletic. Although 40mph headwind might make it rather hot & sweaty business...