The Seattle Department of Transportation estimates that between 4,000 and 8,000 Seattleites commute by bicycle each day. Not surprisingly, the choice to bike or not depends largely on weather conditions. 

Seattle's dark, wet winters can intimidate both cyclists and drivers. Can cyclists stay safely on the road year-round without overwhelming investments in gear? We spoke with Chris Cameron, bicycle commuter specialist for Cascade Bicycle Club's Education Foundation, who shared simple winter strategies:

Dress bright

Cyclists should wear a light-colored helmet and clothing, and some reflective gear. We found both serious and whimsical safety vests sold by local companies.

Stay lit

The minimum: A blinking white light on your handlebars and a red light in back. For the safest ride, mount another, bigger light on your helmet to illuminate the road 10-20 feet in front of you. The greenest versions are LED lights, which are bright and durable and will shine for years. Rechargeable batteries will keep you powered up. 

Take up space

When there's no bike path, Cameron says it's safer to ride in the first third of a car lane (about where the passenger seats of cars are). The distance will keep you out of "door range" of parked cars, make you most visible to traffic, and help you avoid getting trapped in a skinny path alongside cars. "It takes a little nerve to hold up traffic," he notes, "but in a downtown situation traffic goes 20 miles an hour, so you're not really holding them up."

Stay dry

Get soaked today, and you probably won't bike tomorrow. Waterproof gloves and booties can protect oft-overlooked extremities. Already have a Gore-Tex or other rain jacket? Add reflective stripes, ventilation and other biking alterations at Rainy Pass Repair.

Winterize your ride

Invest in full fenders to block splash from the bottom of the frame to the midpoint of each tire. The wider your tires, the better--Cameron recommends 28mm tires or wider (larger than most standard issue tires). He also suggests Kool Stop's salmon-colored brake pads, made of a softer compound for better stopping power.  

Learn more at Cameron's winter biking class downtown on Monday. And remember, if you're caught in a downpour, you can always put your bike on a Metro bus.