It would be worth going to a decent bike shop and trying to find a bar bag that fits. You may find one that fits easily beneath the dashboard. The top bag is extremely useful and will remove the burden on your back.

He rarely cycled in the dark, as he has planned his day to make the most of the daylight.
Mudguards used to get jammed with mud on some of the "roads" he used, so never bothered with them.