It pains me to admit this but Minneapolis is relatively "Safe" right now. Big queer community, good antifa representation. The ridiculous and toxic passive aggressive culture of white Minnesotan's actually works in your favor because they'll just quietly shun you and never do anything directly confrontational. Good biking city, good food, plenty of culture for a smallish city.
Racism is pretty bad. Has some of the worst ethnic disparities in education. Cops are so racist that people burned down a cop station in protest. But I don't know that that makes it any worse than a lot of places in the US.
Some people do. There's a big culture of expensive fat bikes with enormous tires that can power through just about everything. Some people who bike commute all year long have heated handlebars and other gadgets to make biking when it's 0 degrees feasible. The streets are ice free probably 8-10 months of the year, though. January and February are the really bad months for cold and ice.
It pains me to admit this but Minneapolis is relatively "Safe" right now. Big queer community, good antifa representation. The ridiculous and toxic passive aggressive culture of white Minnesotan's actually works in your favor because they'll just quietly shun you and never do anything directly confrontational. Good biking city, good food, plenty of culture for a smallish city.
Racism is pretty bad. Has some of the worst ethnic disparities in education. Cops are so racist that people burned down a cop station in protest. But I don't know that that makes it any worse than a lot of places in the US.
Honest question: I keep hearing how Minnesotan winters are harsh and long... Do you keep biking through winter?
Some people do. There's a big culture of expensive fat bikes with enormous tires that can power through just about everything. Some people who bike commute all year long have heated handlebars and other gadgets to make biking when it's 0 degrees feasible. The streets are ice free probably 8-10 months of the year, though. January and February are the really bad months for cold and ice.
in chicago my biker friends do. they clear the snow from the streets
Knew a few people in upstate NY that biked to work year round, it was impressive