Thanks for explaining. This makes a lot more sense than the usual "OMG winter" and "OMG distance" comments. Lack of infrastructure and crappy drivers are indeed a huge discouragement, but this is also a chicken and egg problem in a way.

The other reasonable point was that the airplane was hit by a continuous rod warhead which is more typical for air to air missiles. Buk missiles are usually HE-frag.

Unfortunately $1000 would just about pay for the flight. Make it $3000 and we might have a deal ;-)

It is probably a fake, but Ukrainian pilots are indeed crappy. They lack training and flight hours. Here is an example of how they fly

You don't need to switch. I use studded tyres (these are actually more for good traction on ice) from December until maybe April. You don't need to switch over to different tyres when it gets warmer, just keep using studded ones for additional safety. You aren't as fast using them as summer slicks, but riding fast in winter isn't nice to the lungs anyway. There isn't that much snow here in Germany, but there is a lot of ice. Cycling with studded tyres is safer than even walking, that is why I use my bicycle as often as I can.

Most of those? Not really. There are exactly two connections that are built for 300 kph: Frankfurt-Cologne and Nuremberg-Munich. Even so, I have yet to sit in an ICE that goes faster than 250.

These turboprops that are used by regional airlines are indeed that slow (ATR-72 cruise speed is 510 kph, Saab 340's is 467 kph, Bombardier Q200's is 537 kph).

I am not the one who is ignorant about studded tyres. Even though with that kind of snow, backcountry ski is more fun.

My round trip to work is 48 km (54 km in a car). Not enough for you?

I have done the same, in Germany though. None of your mentioned problems whatsoever.

Snow is not really a problem for a bicycle. Neither is carrying stuff, for that matter. That is what racks are for. Your picture of a bicycle is a bit skewed by all these fixie riding hipsters, but this kind of a bike is, thankfully, a small minority (but with loud owners).

A 20 mile round trip is easily doable on a bicycle. During the rush hour it is actually faster than using a car.

Had to show my id in several hotels in Germany, Czech republic, Finland...

How did the hipster burn his tongue? He drank his coffee before it was cool.

I reckon you have never heard of the miscarriage of justice.