Bikes are also exposed to the elements and easily stolen. Yes someone will chime in saying they are perfectly fine cycling in freezing winter or muggy summer weather, but that’s not going to do any favors in convincing most people to embrace cycling as their primary means of transportation.
Not to mention the far more significant problem of bicycling in winter climates, which renders a bicycle (at best) somewhat unsafe for many months of the year. Typically, I would end up with some snow and snowy slush on me if I tried biking in the winter, not to mention very cold limbs.
The weather may not permit that option. Although I see people riding bicycles through winter in the city I live in, thats a risk I wouldn't take myself.
There are people who don't know how to ride the bike. Shocking, I know, it was for me too. It might work in SoCal, but in temperate climates in winter, biking through ice, snow, and sludge is a non-starter for most. I, personally, don't do it during the summer either, because I sweat a lot and there is no shower at my workplace. Bikes get stolen all the time. The bikes stationed throughout the city for rent are heavy, with low centre of gravity and have only 3 gears.
Cycling in the winter is fine, actually. Bikes cope with snow and ice better than cars, and the physical exertion keeps you warmer than you would be on foot.
It'd be more popular if it were safer/easier. Which is true pretty much everywhere. Some of the places where biking is the most common also have quite harsh winters (e.g. Netherlands, Denmark, Sweden, etc.).
I'm not sure how this is talking down to anybody. It's generally true that if you're cycling in the winter (I do it in the UK) you'll be perfectly warm even wearing minimal clothing. The first 5 minutes might be a bit chilly if you're just in shorts, but after that you'll warm right up.
If you find bike enthusiasts condescending that's a shame. It is a great way to travel - environmentally friendly, cost efficient, and actually often quicker than public transport (even cars) within major cities. Certainly more convenient, as you don't need to wait for a train or bus, and can generally lock it up just about anywhere.
From my experience in the US, the main issue isn't an image problem, just that the road infrastructure has been designed with no thought for cyclists; and the distances (outside of places like NYC and San Fran) are just huge.
Sure if you are super motivated you can bike in any weather. But for 95% of people they will only be willing to bike if it is nice out.
The average person is not going to go out and buy a fat bike or spiked tires for the winter. And they probably shouldn't, biking in winter is dangerous if you don't know what you are doing. And sure I could wear a full rain suite and bike in the rain, but that is far less convenient than just driving and wearing a light jacket. So sure it is possible to bike in all weather, in the same way that it is possible to walk 5k, just no one wants to.
(I'm not OP) Why not? I ride even during storms, much less shying away from what, some cold winds in winter? By the time you reach your destination if you're wearing the right clothing you not only won't feel cold, you might even feel too hot. If I ride for longer than 10 minutes I need to open my jacket or put it in my backpack to let some air in to prevent my body from sweating.
Of all the seasons I'd name summer as being worse to ride than winter because there is no getting away from the fact that you'll be drenched in sweat during summer. Thankfully I don't need to go to work on a bicycle because we have great public transportation here in France, so I mostly use it for other things and just for the sake of it (I like cycling). Cycling to work would not be convenient during warm seasons, to say the least. Winter is the best, just get a jacket that protects you from the wind, some gloves and decent shoes.
I take your point(s) that the argument cant be "Everyone just use bikes and trains". That's obviously not practical but to be fair it's not what is being suggested either.
But in relation to the point you made about bad or cold weather being a factor for bikes being an impractical mode of transport. Please take a few minutes to consider the points and examples provided in this video (1).
TLDW: There is a town in Finland (Oulu) where cycling is a primary mode of transport (over a fifth of of all trips are by bike and 77% of people cycle occasionally) even in winter when it gets down to -20 Celsius.
Weather is always spouted as a reason for not investing in bike infrastructure which is really annoying because that becomes a self fulfilling prophecy. It's the lack of safe and adequate bike infrastructure that stops people from cycling. Anyway, I thought it was worth adding that point of nuance to the discussion.
So, where I'm at, there's at least 2 months a year where it would be miserably hot to ride a bike for any distance. At least 3 weeks this summer, it's been dangerously hot. We get about 1.5 months total of days at or below freezing. Another 1.5 where you'd really have to bundle up. Then add in days when it's snowing or icy. Then add in days when it's pouring rain.
It would probably be possible to get away with a bike around here if you lived near everything you needed and really planned things out as far as getting places early in the summer and having an emergency plan if something happened and you were stuck somewhere in the freezing cold. At least you have some time in a vehicle cab before the temperature drops dangerously low.
There's definitely places where an ebike can replace a car. There's a lot of places where it would really limit your ability to get anywhere outside of walking distance.
Climate and infrastructure is what keeping me from using a bike for non recreational purposes. Continuous bike lanes, driver culture where bicycles are treated as equal on the road and temperatures that don't hit 40c.
I mean, no offense, of course some people like you will bike in all weather, but the reality is that a lot of people will not. See this study, and that's for the Netherlands, not NA winter.
I have a hard time seeing there being much cycling in winter. Icy conditions are scary on a bicycle. All it takes is for snow to cover some ice and the bicycle can simply slip out from under you. Not only that. It's also possible for temperature to be above 0 during the day, but drop to below freezing in the evening/at night. You might not even realize that some of the bike paths are icy. I had that happen a few years ago. My knee still feels painful from time to time because of it.
Another problem with cycling in the snow is that it's way harder. You need much wider and softer tires, but this also means that you need to put in more energy. Going uphill is a pain. Add a little soft snow and/or ice to it and it's awful. You'll also sweat in the coat. Batteries for ebikes don't work as well in the cold either.
I think you pretty much need an alternative transportation system for winter. Or maybe we should all start using electric tricycles or quads.
I live in Boston, and while it isn't Canada, it can get quite cold in the winter. Plenty of people here, I included, bike in the winter. As long as you wear the right clothes have low-temperature lubricants and winter tires on your bike, winter biking isn't that big of an issue. If anything it's better than summer biking because I don't get as hot or sweat as much. Mud season is far worse for biking, but it last only a month or so if that.
I really doubt it is. The biggest barrier must be the weather - biking in the cold and rain is just super unpleasant for an average person, especially for errands and commute. I know you can prep, but it's still pain. I gave up due to Seattle rain, and I am not even an average commuter - I'd go on a major hike on a rainy day... but biking in the same weather just sucks so much. And Seattle is mild.
I can see how it can be the 2nd biggest barrier, although for me in Seattle it's the fear of my bike being stolen. Dunno if I'm lucky or what, but the only 2 times I've been in serious cycling accidents it was 100% my fault (both times at 20+ mph passing cars on the left - rear ended another car once, and rode into tram tracks the other). I'm still afraid of cars but not as much as having to uber back in wet cycling clothes if my bike gets stolen :)
Some people might see it that way, but most people see ice on the roads and really narrow shoulders as a literally deadly risk to biking outdoors. There might be some hardos that’ll still bike in these conditions, but for the other 95% of people who want to get some bike exercise, indoors is the way to go.
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