As temperatures continue to drop, staying warm and riding safely becomes crucial. Whether commuting to work, running errands, or simply exploring the city on two wheels, here are some tips to help you navigate the cold and enjoy your Indego experience to the fullest.

1. Check both tires before selecting an Indego bike

Colder temperatures can decrease tire pressure by as much as 2% for every 10 degrees of temperature change. Especially in winter, we recommend you squeeze both tires to double-check that they are inflated before selecting an Indego bike.

2. Layer your clothing

Once you start biking, your body warms you up, so layering your clothing is important to keep you warm and also avoid overheating. We recommend wearing a base layer to wick away sweat, an insulating second layer to help keep you warm, and an outer waterproof or windproof layer to protect you from wind, rain, or snow.

3. Be visible

Wearing bright colors can help pedestrians and drivers see you, especially during dark winter nights. Indego bikes also have built-in lights and reflectors for added visibility.

4. Coast on ice

If you encounter any ice, avoid turning or braking; instead, try to coast until you have completely passed it. You should also watch out for wet leaves and metal road features (i.e. grates); they freeze before the pavement does and are slippery when wet.

5. Plan your ride before departure

Smaller streets and bike lanes sometimes go unplowed in the winter so you may have to change up your route. Reminder: You are allowed to ride in the middle of the lane and cars are required to pass with 4 feet of space. You’ll also want to check Indego’s live station map to see real-time bike type and dock availability before heading out to your departure station.

6. Enable push notifications on the Indego app

Lastly, it can be helpful to enable push notifications on the Indego app to be alerted of weather-related service interruptions. To do this, log into your account on the Indego app and go to Settings > Notifications.

Happy riding to all our winter warriors! Do you have any recommendations for biking in winter? Let us know in the comments below.