This is what the side streets often look like in Chicago when it's snowing.
As you indicated, studded tires (SMWs) pretty much make this routine except where there's packed snow. I'm on a folding bike with 20" wheels, so handling gets a bit squirrelly when the wheel climbs up onto the snow pack, then punches through. It's like there's a momentary "free-fall" which can be a challenge for keeping the balance. Luckily, I'm only going a total of about 7 miles on relatively traffic-free side streets.
The last time I couldn't ride because of weather was in February of 2015. I probably won't get much riding in this winter because I broke a bone in my leg a couple weeks ago... walking to my garage to get the bike out! I'd have been safe on the bike.
Steve