Is the season over for biking?

In six short weeks I have noticed that the biking situation (at least when it comes to biking as a means of transportation) seems a bit different here in Norway than it was in Lund, Sweden.  Keep in mind that my perspective is quite limited and...let's face it...it is the end November.   Things may look much different around here in the spring, but this is what I have observed so far.

Just to back up for a second, during the short time we lived in Lund, I learned to utilize my bike as a means of transportation, not just as a form of exercise.  When living in the U.S., it was more of an event to take my bike out for a ride on the trails....the thought of taking my bike (instead of the car) to run a quick errand never- ever- crossed my mind.

In Lund, bikes are EVERYWHERE- day or night, rain or shine, and even sometimes even in the snow.   I would often ride my bike to work (about 30 minutes each way), to the grocery store (as long as I didn't buy too many things) and back and forth with the girls to school.  Yes, it's a University town and most students did not have cars, but many "grown-ups" were biking, too!

Bike parking at the train station in Lund

I guess the funny thing is that riding my bike everywhere became "normal" because so many others were doing the same thing, even through most of the winter.   Although some people (almost) always rode their bikes or took public transportation, this was NOT me.  I was not ready to give up the car to save the planet and much preferred to drive when the weather was bad or if I needed to travel to the mall or IKEA.

So now we're living in Sandefjord, where I (incorrectly) assumed that the biking environment would be similar to what we experienced in Sweden.   I have seen a handful of kids still riding their bikes to school,  but I have to say I have seen very few adult riding around town since we moved here.  Again, it is November in NORWAY,  but I admit I expected to see a few more folks biking all year round.

As for me, partially because of habit and partially due to necessity (we are currently a one car family), I am still riding bike to the gym or to the grocery store.

Yep...that's my bike...all alone

I sometimes think people see me riding around in 30 degree weather (or about 0 degrees Celsius) and wonder if 1) I cannot afford a car (which, in Norway, is not out of the question) or 2) I have had some kind of driving "problem" and am currently not allowed behind the wheel.  And that pretty much sums up what I thought when I saw people riding their bikes around the suburbs of Chicago (especially if they were riding in bad weather).   Shame on me for making such assumptions.

Anyway, due to deteriorating weather conditions, the hills, and poor brakes, my biking may be curtailed in the near future.  For now, I guess I will keep riding as long as it seems reasonably safe.

My goal is to avoid this!

Don't get me wrong...the Norwegians seem to love the outdoors (more on that later) and are quite fit and active (from what I have observed so far).  Perhaps they just have enough sense to trade their bikes for skis once winter arrives.

My season may soon be over as well!