go test ride it - and while you're at it you should be test riding a bunch of other bikes. you can't make a decision like this based on an ad a tiny picture. (whether it's this bike or another) good luck and have fun becoming a bike commuter!

when you tst ride a bike take your time. don't rush and don't let the seller distract you by gabbing on and on about other things. check the brakes, shifting and any accessories to see that they are working and or what maintencnacne they require. squeeze the tires, they shold be hard and free of dry rot type cracks. pick up the front and rear wheels one at a time and spin them and watch how the rim passes by the brake pad to see if it wobbles or if it spins true

you sound like a novice beginner (which is fine) but it may mean that you should buy a bike thats been checked by a pro. because old used bikes usually require service of some kind. sometimes lots of service. btw; you can ride a bike with steel rims, even in the rain, just be aware that their performance isn't the same as more modern alloy wheels, but they still work, you just have to plan longer stopping distances but I dont think youll be going to fast am I right?

canvas your area for shops selling used bikes. you can put fenders on anything. btw: I'm a huge fan of old style steel 10-speed bikes and there's a ton of them out there, don't rush your purchase. right now you have to be an expert in reserach