Originally Posted by
tarwheel
I've lived in the South for nearly 50 years and I'm baffled why we don't have more cyclists compared to places like Minnesota, Wisconsin, Colorado, Oregon that have much less favorable weather. Although summers can be brutal here, you can easily deal with the heat by riding at appropriate times, wearing the right clothes and drinking plenty of fluids. Winter is actually my favorite season for commuting here because we rarely get snow and ice, and I don't ride in that kind of weather. Weather is pretty close to ideal in spring and fall, but we often to get bad storms and windy weather then.
Regarding the 60% increase in bike commuters, I doubt if we have seen that sort of increase here. At least I don't see it. I sometimes go for months without seeing other bike commuters on my route, except for right downtown.
In a strange way I think the relatively high number of bike commuters in Minneapolis is connected to the long, dark, and cold winters. There's a longstanding willingness to invest in things that will make this often godforsaken tundra into a more livable place. We do not take nice weather for granted and outdoor experiences are cherished, even something as simple as riding your bike to work on a sunny, warm day.