My commute is a little over a mile to the train station. I ride a
beach cruiser with a rack and a commuter pannier. I've been commuting on this bike since 1992, and my longest commute has been 3 miles one way. The only weather that will prevent me from riding my bike is when the snow on the road is still too deep to get through. It's the perfect short-distance commuter IMO. I service the bearings every once in a while (like every 5-10 years) and put used motor oil on the chain every few years. Still using the original tires. I wear my regular clothes on the bike. That used to be a suit, but the world seems to have gotten more casual so now it's chinos and a blazer. I wear
overshoes and an old REI rainsuit over my work clothes when the weather is crappy. When It's dark I wear one of those construction worker
safety vests. Sometimes I'll clip a light on the back, but usually not.