Tips for Biking When It’s Cold in Chicago

You don’t need me to remind you how cold it is — but people still gotta get around. Many Chicagoans (braver souls than I) are still biking. Or, perhaps, you’re winter-biking-curious?

Either way, we’ve got tips from an expert: David Powe, assistant commissioner at the Chicago Department of Transportation. Powe leads Chicago’s micromobility programs, including Divvy bikeshare, Lime scooter operations, and Bike Chicago. Rain or shine (or snow or cold), he’s the bike guy.

The following has been edited for length and clarity.

What are tips for biking in cold (and very cold) weather?

“Layering and protecting your head, hands, and feet matters most,” Powe said.

For hands he recommends:

• Lobster gloves between -10 and 20 degrees
• Bar mitts for even lower temps

For head and face protection:

• A neck gaiter and wool beanie down to about 20 degrees
• A balaclava with the wool beanie for lower temps
• Goggles in heavy wind or active snowfall
• Make sure your hair is fully dry before heading out. (This is important!)

For your feet:

• Wool socks are key.
• Once temperatures drop to 10 degrees, it’s time to double up.
  

Do people actually use Divvy in the winter?

“There is a seasonal dip in Divvy ridership during the winter months, which is natural … but also winter ridership receives a boost from our year-round cyclists, who switch to Divvy to avoid wear and tear on their own bikes. That’s actually how I got into using Divvy before I started working for the city.”

How does the city support winter bike safety?

“The city focuses on keeping major bike routes usable year-round through snow removal, salting, and ongoing maintenance. We also work closely with Divvy and other partners to maintain bikes, ensure stations remain operational, and communicate safety guidance to riders throughout the season.

Though our crews have been hard at work clearing snow from bike lanes across the city, we need all hands on deck to keep them that way and ask that people do not push or pile snow into bike lanes when shoveling sidewalks to protect our cyclists.”