Utility Cycling - First errands run of the year.

Today was my first errands run and first ride of the year for that matter.

Here is the info. on it;
http://commutinganderrands.blogspot.com/2009/03/03052009-errands.html
http://bicyclemileslog.blogspot.com/2009/03/03052009.html

My second will be tomorrow.

Good for getting out there, keep it up. If I may ask, where did the figure of 9 cents per mile come from?

Good for getting out there, keep it up. If I may ask, where did the figure of 9 cents per mile come from?


The $0.09 per mile is what it costs to operate my Jeep. Every mile I use my bike to commute or run errands I figure I make that much money back because I am not using my Jeep for it. I took the cost of gas and maintenance and figured I drive about 12,000 miles a year and came up with $0.09 a mile. Last year it was around $0.13 a mile because of the higher cost of gas.

As you can see I am still trying to "pay off" the things I bought so I could ride bike in cooler/colder weather thus extending my ride season. Last year I actually had a profit showing of about $40.00 and then I went out and bought some more things that I need.

That is pretty slim at .09 per mile, this site suggests MUCH higher costs per mile:

http://www.pacebus.com/sub/vanpool/cost_of_driving.asp

According to AAA with an SUV at 15,000 miles/year you are looking at an average of 65.4 cents per mile.

That is pretty slim at .09 per mile, this site suggests MUCH higher costs per mile:

http://www.pacebus.com/sub/vanpool/cost_of_driving.asp

According to AAA with an SUV at 15,000 miles/year you are looking at an average of 65.4 cents per mile.

That is because I am not taking into account the car loan and I am basing this on the costs in my area, not national averages. Perhaps I should change that. Thing is I have a Jeep Compass, not really a SUV and not really a passenger car either. I could probably consider it similar to a medium sedan and use that figure.

The cost of just owning a car doesn't change when you ride the bike so you can't deduct the whole cost of owning a car if you are car lite (as I am). I still have to pay insurance and maintenance even though I only drive about once a month. I just found out I have to put gas stabilizer in the car because I fill up so little. Cars suck. I just found out I have some small oil leak into one of the cylinders that is not a problem if I drive every day but since I don't, the oil builds up and it only fires on 3 cyclinders. Did I mention cars suck?

The cost of just owning a car doesn't change when you ride the bike so you can't deduct the whole cost of owning a car if you are car lite (as I am). I still have to pay insurance and maintenance even though I only drive about once a month. I just found out I have to put gas stabilizer in the car because I fill up so little. Cars suck. I just found out I have some small oil leak into one of the cylinders that is not a problem if I drive every day but since I don't, the oil builds up and it only fires on 3 cyclinders. Did I mention cars suck?

What amount would you recommend I use, if not the full amount per mile? Alos my Jeep is used more then your car. My wife does not ride bike and uses the Jeep to go and from work. I could take her back to work after lunch, come back home and use the Jeep to run errands. I don't, thus saving on the mileage, gas, wear and tear, etc. It also reduces the risk I am in an accident, my fault or not which helps save on my insurance. The less claims I have to file the better my insurance premiums. The only thing that is a constant regardless of how often or not the Jeep is driven is the cost of the loan.

That is because I am not taking into account the car loan and I am basing this on the costs in my area, not national averages. Perhaps I should change that. Thing is I have a Jeep Compass, not really a SUV and not really a passenger car either. I could probably consider it similar to a medium sedan and use that figure.

I would definitely count those things, they are coming out of your wallet after all... Yeah I was curious which Jeep, that would make a difference, I wuld think honest you would almost be considered closest to a minivan...

Correction I guess if you intend to keep the jeep and it's not really a replacement then you really can't count in the payment... I would still think it would be higher than .09/mile though. If you are calculating off just your maintenance from last year and didn't have to buy new tires or do a significant mileage based maintenance then your number would be way off... I would think over the period of the car the cost of operation (deducting the cost of the car and the insurance) you would still be a lot closer to .25-.35/per mile depending on your topography and gas prices....

I would definitely count those things, they are coming out of your wallet after all... Yeah I was curious which Jeep, that would make a difference, I wuld think honest you would almost be considered closest to a minivan...

My Compass is about half the size of a minivan, weighs probably 1/3rd less and only comes with a 4 cylinder engine.

Since it's only primarily used by your wife in the on season for cycling, twere me, I'd only be counting fuel costs since the insurance is a fixed variable of ownership regardless of use level. Add in the cost of maintenance over the year and do a spreadsheet that breaks down the total cost/mile, and then deduct that + the fuel not burned as a saving.

My Compass is about half the size of a minivan, weighs probably 1/3rd less and only comes with a 4 cylinder engine.

Right but anything made by Jeep is notoriously bad on gas.. my wife's minivan gets around 23-25 mpg... I would think your Compass is pretty close to that isn't it?

Right but anything made by Jeep is notoriously bad on gas.. my wife's minivan gets around 23-25 mpg... I would think your Compass is pretty close to that isn't it?

Actually my Compass is the same as your wife's minivan, but gets better on the highway. It gets around 23 for city and 28 on the highway.

We got the better 4 cylinder engine, I believe it is built by Mitsubishi. Our old Jeep was a Cherokee. It had the best engine Jeep ever made and it was an actual Jeep engine. It was the 4.0L Inline 6 Cylinder. A very powerful motor, but crappy on gas mileage for a 6 cylinder. We also are no longer into off roading and 4-wheeling like we used to be so we traded it in for a smaller more conservative Jeep.

That's about what hers gets on the freeway....a

Those inline sixes are great engines. Very powerful, but yes also not really efficient. Jeeps normally aren't very Aerodynamic either, the Compass though is pretty rounded.