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Instead, Gin Kilgore suggests giving cold-weather biking a spin. She helped found Bike Winter, a Chicago-based grassroots organization that promotes all-season cycling, with offshoots in St. Louis, MI, and in Milwaukee and Madison, WI. “Winter biking helps you stay active and in the sunshine all year, which is so good for the body and mind,” Kilgore said. “And it sure beats shivering at the bus stop.”

If you normally get around on a European-style city bike, your vehicle is probably well-equipped for inclement weather; otherwise it may be time to winterize. Mark Beaver, co-owner of Cyclesmith bike shop in Halifax, NS, has a few suggestions for accessories to keep your bike out of the basement. “Halifax winters are, in a word, changeable,” he said. “We get storms that start as snow, which turns into rain and then freezes into ice; so you have to be prepared for anything.”

To keep the cold and wet off your feet, back and bike, Beaver recommends full fenders with mudflaps. A chainguard is especially helpful for protecting your clothes this time of year.

Less daylight means you’ll be riding in the dark more often, so a white headlight and a red rear blinkie are essential. Assuming your city does a decent job of plowing after snowstorms, whatever tires you normally use should work fine. If you think you’ll be doing a lot of riding on snow, consider switching to wider tires with a knobby tread.

How you dress is at least as important as what you ride. “You’re not going to have any fun if you’re cold,” said Beaver. “But a lot of items the active person may already own are good for winter cycling.” He recommends investing in a waterproof, breathable jacket and wearing several thin layers on your upper and lower body that you can put on and take off as temperatures fluctuate.

Gin Kilgore likes to layer with silk long underwear tops and bottoms. “They’re warm, lightweight, wicking and not prone to being stinky,” she said. Polypropylene and merino wool undergarments are also great. It’s important to pay special attention to keeping your extremities warm. Keep your hands toasty with ski gloves or mittens and wear a wool or fleece hat or balaclava under your helmet. The Power Cap, a trim, black fleece cycling cap with earflaps by Louis Garneau, is a popular choice.

As for feet, Kilgore recommends buying waterproof, windproof boots one to one-and-a-half sizes too big so that you’ll have plenty of room for thick socks and toe wiggling. Or try NEOS, warm, waterproof overshoes that you can wear over fancy footwear.

If your residential street isn’t plowed, walk your bike to the nearest major street. In the saddle, remember to ride a bit slower than usual to maintain control in wet conditions, and stay seated for maximum traction on snow or ice. If you live in a town like Minneapolis where off-street commuting paths are maintained during the winter, try using these trails as a traffic-free alternative. And if the weather gets to be too much for you, don’t hesitate to put your bike on a bus or train for a well-earned ride home.