For 3-400$ the torker graduate with drum brakes might be a good choice. I have a "customized" peugeot 5 speed with drum brakes and it's super nice to ride in the winter. There's not really any plausible way to contaminate the brakes and while they don't work as well as good hydraulic discs would, they are low maintenance and very predictable. My ride is a bit heavy but a new graduate wouldn't be quite as heavy as mine, and it doesn't come with a dynamo hub up front either so that'd be more money but I'd want one doing 32km every day in the winter it seems like batteries would get expensive but usb charging works for those that have computers at work. The nicest thing about the SA 5 speed hub is that they make many different shifters and they are pretty cheap on ebay if you wanted to upgrade to drops. The new torker is a bit more than I remember though looking at that page so Ima just gush about drum brakes instead... even upgrading a used MTB's front wheel to a drum/dynohub would give a solid brake and power for lights, basic cheap ones on ebay are okay for city use in my built-up city. I have nicer B&M lights on another bike and they are great if you can afford them.