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Works well when the destination has a shower facility, or you don't mind moving slowly.

Or get an e-bike.

Umm bikes are neither safe [1] nor efficient (on multiple metrics) not to mention there are places where they are unusable (long distance, high slope roads), fun is subjective and there are exceptions to healthy (increased risk of injury being one of them, but also depends on your fitness and health).

[1] http://www.cdc.gov/motorvehiclesafety/bicycle/

Bicycles are safe, it's the road design that often isn't. Look at the stats in countries like the Netherlands, not the US, for an idea of what could be done.

That should be fun in Chicago or in South Bend under 12 inches of snow. Don't get me wrong I love biting it into a snow bank at 12, but at 33, probably not.

What do areas that start getting a lot of snow around this time of the year do?

Cycling in snowy areas is actually common during the winter (30 - 40% of cyclists)[1]. It can also be a good transportation option when public transit is unreliable [1].

Here is a good guide for anyone interested in winter cycling:

[PDF] https://faridrener.files.wordpress.com/2011/09/winter-riding...

[1] http://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/winter-cycling-tips-1.3314804