It's easier than you think to keep bike commuting throughout the winter in Madison and the surrounding area. Each year, Madison Bike Winter holds a "fashion show" showing some clothing options that real-life winter commuters wear, to give folks ideas on how to keep biking. Most often, it's the cold that we have to deal with, and you need to make sure you are dressed appropriately and have the right gear to keep peddling to/from work and school. See our
How To Bike Winter page for more information on riding safely and dressing appropriately.
Winter bicycling is also a great way to get outside with your kids and bike with them to/from school, which again may be easier than you think. It all depends on how far of a commute it is to school, and be sure to have all the right gear to allow both you and your child(ren) to bike safely in the winter. Always remember to take into consideration the overall weather each day, and proceed at both your own comfort level, and that of your child(ren).
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| Credit: MBIIC, Nathan Vergin |
The City of Madison does a great job of clearing most bike paths after a snowfall, and does attempt to clear on-street bike lanes, but may not unless of significant narrowing of the street, so plan your route accordingly. During winter months, you may need to occasionally "take the lane" on your commute trip, so be sure to be comfortable on-street with motor-vehicles, and always use caution and your best instinct while biking.
Remember that Madison Metro has bike racks on all its buses, so if it's OK in the morning but gets bad by the time you leave work/school, maybe consider using the bus and vice versa. Lastly, biking to and from work and school in the winter is a great way to get exercise, relieve stress, possibly save money on parking, save money on gas, and it's FUN!
