Commuting - Told to buy a car

I had a really good one last week! I was commuting to work and came up on the last stop light. The driver in the car beside me rolled his window down and told me that he sees me all the time on a bicycle coming to work. He said that I need to manage my money better and I would be able to afford a car.

I responded by telling him that "I just bought a brand new MB C240 a week ago and I am commuting to work so that I don't become a fat-a$$ like you are sitting in the vehicle! By the way, come back to me when you have a truck that is more expensive than my bicycle!" He wasn't too appreciative of that remark! :D

I'm still waiting till I move out to the suburbs so I can get a nice $7000 seven to commute on. Then when some driver in a cheap hyundai drives up, I can say, "my bike probably costs more than your car."

I'm still waiting till I move out to the suburbs so I can get a nice $7000 seven to commute on. Then when some driver in a cheap hyundai drives up, I can say, "my bike probably costs more than your car."

This guy's junker would have been luck to bring $1000.

Be careful it is not wise to piss off people in large heavy vehicles . On the other hand I understand why you told him off.

bike bike now (2005 trek 520) costs more than my first and second car put together. Love the bike, don't miss the cars at all :)

ray

My wife and I just bought a 2nd car (a Toyta Prius) two weeks ago. Most often we still leave both of them at home, she rides the bus and I cycle.

The only time I take the car to work is if I must run an errand (i.e. pick up bricks at hardware store) or appointment (i.e. dr. appt 10mi away on 1hr. break) that can not be done on cycle only.

Al

I responded by telling him that "I just bought a brand new MB C240 a week ago and I am commuting to work so that I don't become a fat-a$$ like you are sitting in the vehicle! By the way, come back to me when you have a truck that is more expensive than my bicycle!" He wasn't too appreciative of that remark! :D

That wasn't really necessary was it... ;)
Could've just smiled and said ok while thinking to yourself... little does he know. I reserve harsh comments for people that cut me off and honk at me.

That wasn't really necessary was it... ;)
Could've just smiled and said ok while thinking to yourself... little does he know. I reserve harsh comments for people that cut me off and honk at me.

I agree, I think it was a little harsh. I would have gone the other way - I would have mentioned the car but I would have said that I liked to bike instead and describe some of the benefits of cycling to work.

I don't become a fat-a$$ like you are sitting in the vehicle! By the way, come back to me when you have a truck that is more expensive than my bicycle!" He wasn't too appreciative of that remark! :D
This says it all. In terms of finance, I've actually been able to invest quite a bit for my retirement, largely due to the fact that I haven't owned a car in five years. I've estimated that my bike has saved me $8,000-10,000 in that time.

This might sound stereotypical, but I'm guessing that driver's attitude is fairly typical in that part of the country. There are some people like that here in Seattle, but probably far fewer.

A more subtle way would've been to say, "I can't afford a car yet, my bike cost me $6500 cause I opted for the campy record shifter set."
Then watch them try and realize that you just said your bike costs several times their car.

A more subtle way would've been to say, "I can't afford a car yet, my bike cost me $6500 cause I opted for the campy record shifter set."
Then watch them try and realize that you just said your bike costs several times their car.

Ummm, to the cagers way of thinking wouldn't you just prove his point? After all they see little difference between some expensive uber bike and some Walmart special. He'd probably think you really have poor money management problems, but then how many financial advisors drive beater pick ups.

Ummm, to the cagers way of thinking wouldn't you just prove his point? After all they see little difference between some expensive uber bike and some Walmart special. He'd probably think you really have poor money management problems, but then how many financial advisors drive beater pick ups.

How about, "My bike only costs 1/4th what my mercedes convertible costs, I save that for weekends."

Once while waiting at a red light I had a carload of smarta$$ teenagers yell at me, "Get a car you idiot!" They laughed out loud as they drove off on the green light. Needless to say, I quickly caught up to them once the traffic came to a gridlock and as I passed them (you guessed it) I yelled, "Get a bike you idiots!" and as I rode away, they never caught up to me.

And about bike costs, my hubby and I used to use his old El Camino to haul around our mountain bikes. The ongoing joke amongst our friends was that the bikes increased the value of the El Camino by 300%. :D

Once while waiting at a red light I had a carload of smarta$$ teenagers yell at me, "Get a car you idiot!" They laughed out loud as they drove off on the green light. Needless to say, I quickly caught up to them once the traffic came to a gridlock and as I passed them (you guessed it) I yelled, "Get a bike you idiots!" and as I rode away, they never caught up to me.

Hahhahah OOOOOOOOWNED!

It's old news. I get the old "do you want to buy this car I'm selling" all the time. I don't see the logic. I mean, even if I wanted a car, why would I buy whatever heap of dung they are trying to sell? Surely I'd spend my money on something of reasonable quality. Either way, I generally don't waste my time listening to the great unwashed anymore. Whatever they don't understand is purely their own problem.

my reply to this line of crep is "I am managing my money...riding this to work on bike saves me thousands a year...and I get exercise...think of it as a self-given pay raise"

Of course they usually just roll up the window and look away after that :)

I sold a motorcycle so I could get a bike and equip it for commuting. After all is said and done, I'll have paid more for the bike & accessories that I did for the motorcycle.

I am fortunate to own a very reliable exoperienced (used) car. So far, every year from the beginning of March to the beginning of December, it sits in the driveway, unless I need it to go out with the little lady, shopping, chores, etc, which generally sums up Friday PM through Saturday PM.
Though I am not a huge cyclist by any stretch, I can honestly say that I put more kilometers on the bike than I do in the car. By far, I know that my bike is worth more than the car. Heck! I paid more for 2 bike tires than I did for 4 car tires. Go figure right? Now, wouldn't it be nice if I got a set of those Conti GP4's... what else is on the (bike) wishlist...

I had a really good one last week! I was commuting to work and came up on the last stop light. The driver in the car beside me rolled his window down and told me that he sees me all the time on a bicycle coming to work. He said that I need to manage my money better and I would be able to afford a car.

I responded by telling him that "I just bought a brand new MB C240 a week ago and I am commuting to work so that I don't become a fat-a$$ like you are sitting in the vehicle! By the way, come back to me when you have a truck that is more expensive than my bicycle!" He wasn't too appreciative of that remark! :D

I thought the reply was a little hard.

Anyway. There are plenty of people like myself who struggled owning a car. I could never save any money when owning a motorcar after paying the monthly bank loan, insurance, gas, tolls, tickets and repairs. You have to make good money today to own a car in the city and it's silly when you consider all the bus and rail transport available.

Owning a car does not make you richer. It means your monthly transportation costs are very high.

Would anyone ever consider driving their car up to a bus stop to roll down the window and say, "y-know people, if you manage your money better, you could be owning cars like me and drive to work.".

I live in calgary, and our public transportation is bursting at the seams because parking downtown is either impossible or too expensive. Try telling an oil exec using alternative transportation he should save his money to buy a car. He probably already has a hummer and a lexus sitting in his garage.

[QUOTE
I responded by telling him that "I just bought a brand new MB C240 a week ago and I am commuting to work so that I don't become a fat-a$$ like you are sitting in the vehicle! By the way, come back to me when you have a truck that is more expensive than my bicycle!" He wasn't too appreciative of that remark! :D[/QUOTE]

How on earth could you have gotten all that out of your mouth on the spur of the moment? As you can see, my hat is off to you.
Of course, one always thinks of a come-back much later, but I would have impugned his intelligence for being a slave to his vehicle.

Would anyone ever consider driving their car up to a bus stop to roll down the window and say, "y-know people, if you manage your money better, you could be owning cars like me and drive to work.".
LOL, can you imagine? If you did that in Philly, you'd probably have half those people pull a gun and shoot at you.

I'm struck by the difference in acceptance levels towards bikers in different areas. I mean, here in the North East US, in the suburbs, I never had a problem and many drivers seem to be more careful around a bike. But there are no places to lock up a bike, and most traffic lights don't respond to a bike. The only time I experienced any aggressive behavior has been when I rode into the city.

Then over the weekend I took a trip (by car) down to Arlington, Virginia, and saw LOTS of commuters. One person was carrying groceries in a pannier, one had a guitar strapped to her back, one old guy in a derby cap and sports jacket looked like a college professor. There were bike lanes on the road, and places to lock up your bike all over the place. It was so different from here in the 'burbs and in Philly.

This guy's junker would have been luck to bring $1000.

$1K would buy a good bike.

That's a similar decision I had to make recently. A friend was going to sell me a truck for around $1k. It was a really good truck for the price. A great deal if I had wanted a truck. Then I started thinking about it. 1) I don't NEED it 2) I don't think I even WANT it. If I had a car, it might keep me off my bike sometimes and I wasn't willing to pay money to tempt myself to skip the best part of my day.

I COULD have taken that $1k that I was prepared to spend on the truck and bought a bike. But I decided that my old faithful bike has more miles left on it and it can wait. So the money went into 401k. Now, let that guy lecture me about managing my finances!

Would anyone ever consider driving their car up to a bus stop to roll down the window and say, "y-know people, if you manage your money better, you could be owning cars like me and drive to work.".
.

Publlic transportation is considered the poor mans motorcar. I don't see it that way but people are brain washed after watching 40 hours of sports car commercials each week that this is the only way of life. People would rather save nothing for retirement, pay minimum on credit cards, walk around with an empty check book for the luxury of showing the neighbors they have a car. It's insane.

Man, you've got balls telling off a driver like that. I'd be afraid they would circle back around and try to hit me from behind. Or down here in Alabama everybody and his brother has a hunting rifle. They just wait till the next day and you'd get sniped :D

I feel you guys here. My mom has been driving (no pun intended) me nuts about getting a car lately. She says she worries about me being out here with no transportation. I keep telling her that I've got a commuter bike with grocery panniers and a race bike that I can use for chores if the first one ever breaks. She keeps insisting that I have to have a car. I live downtown, where I can walk to almost everything I need, and we do have a bus system (not a good one, mind you) that gets me where I need to go. I just don't understand why some people are so insistent that you need a car. I'm in college... I'm happy with no insurance or car payment. Why complicate things even more than they already are? Plus, buying a car goes against everything I believe in.

Two words combined with a single finger hand signal .End of story !

Two words combined with a single finger hand signal .End of story !

Wrong. The right way to do things is to ask for the money for a car in cash + a years worth of insurance payments. Take that money and buy a super uber carbon bike and a fixie and a commuter bike.

Don't forget to deck out in polar hrm's, power meters, $300 waterproof/breatheable rain gear and any other accessories you want.

Then take the 10 grand or so left and spend it on drugs/beer/women.

Do to an unfortunate combinations of genetics, I have a difficult time being nice to a driver who is insulting, or harassing. But, on those days I am slightly less cranky than usual, I try to be nice to drivers. It might be better to just joke with them: "Well, I enjoy my bike, but if you are offering to GIVE me your Suburban, that would be a nice birthday present".

Many drivers have a very predictable schedule. The guy you irritate at 4 p.m. today had a good chance of being at the same intersection at 4 p.m. tomorrow. Having him like you may pay off tomorrow.

I have made a real effort (waay out of character) to be nicer to drivers, to go out of my way to NOT get in their way. I no longer insist on going first at a four way stop, just because I got there first. If a guy in a big truck thinks he ought to go first, I just try to smile and wave him through.

On the days I can fake being nice in a half-way convincing manner, it seems as if drivers are being nicer to me as well.

ditto about the investments...my portfolio is getting more of my income into it now as a result...this year will be a nice amount of extra, even after buying two rather pricey bikes, and two others :)

....so much for bad finance management....I spent money like it was water and still came out ahead.

I had a really good one last week! I was commuting to work and came up on the last stop light. The driver in the car beside me rolled his window down and told me that he sees me all the time on a bicycle coming to work. He said that I need to manage my money better and I would be able to afford a car.

I responded by telling him that "I just bought a brand new MB C240 a week ago and I am commuting to work so that I don't become a fat-a$$ like you are sitting in the vehicle! By the way, come back to me when you have a truck that is more expensive than my bicycle!" He wasn't too appreciative of that remark! :D

"someone has to stay in shape for your wife... ******! By the way, you bought this bike!"

She keeps insisting that I have to have a car.

I can't tell you the number of time my truck broke down and I had to rely on my bicycle to get myself around town. My bicycle is the most reliable form of transportation I have ever owned.

I remember once the altenator broke on my truck. I too the altenator off, put it in my pannier, and rode to the alernato/starter shop to have it rebuilt, rode back home and put the part back on the truck.

Surely I'd spend my money on something of reasonable quality. .

I can REALLY visualize this as a reply, with a good Australian accent and inflection in just the right spots.

I've also found that being respectful towards drivers tends to make them more respectful towards you, at least in my area. There have actually been quite a few occasions when a driver has waved me through an intersection first or allowed me to cross/turn in front of him/her even though they technically had the right-of-way. I'm not sure if their mentality is that they're not sure how to act around cyclists so they just let me go on about my way and get out of their way so they don't have to worry about hitting me or what. I've also noticed that when they pass me on a 2-lane road, they tend to give me most of the entire right-hand lane as cushion. I'm not really complaining or anything; I just find it amusing since all I REALLY need is a couple of feet of space. It's not like I"m just going to randomly swerve out into the middle of the lane or anything.

Yeah, most drivers give me at least half a lane of width. There is one section of my commute home that I've walking because it's a blind spot around a curve and an intersection at the bottom of a hill that's percendicular to that curve. It's just safer to walk.

My commute to/from work is a joke, being only 2.3 miles of paved city streets with sidewalks, so I have nothing to worry about there. However, when I get out riding around in town actually going place that's when I have more interaction with drivers. I've luckily found that most don't have a problem with sharing the road with me. A few isolated incidents of honking and yelling, but I just roll my eyes and keep riding. Also, we do have public transportation and all of our buses have bike racks on the front that hold two bikes. On occasion, if I need to get somewhere quicker than I can with my bike, I'll ride down to the main transfer point and catch the bus going west to cut down on time/distance. It costs a buck and works out really well.

The driver in the car beside me rolled his window down and told me that he sees me all the time on a bicycle coming to work. He said that I need to manage my money better and I would be able to afford a car.

You are managing your money better by bicycling instead of driving.

According to a recent Atlanta news story that stated that the average total cost per mile of driving in this city is 65 cents, and also accounting for parking costs, my 30 mile round-trip bicycle commute saves about $22 each trip.

If I rode my bike to work only twice per week, I'd still save $2,288 per year, or $176 per month.

Supposedly, we Americans love our cars, but we trash them on all these little one mile trips that promote accelerated engine wear, drive them in corrosive salty slush, and stuff them into narrow parking spots where door dings are a near certainty. How much enjoyment can we get from them under these conditions?

Paul

Ummm, to the cagers way of thinking wouldn't you just prove his point? After all they see little difference between some expensive uber bike and some Walmart special. He'd probably think you really have poor money management problems, but then how many financial advisors drive beater pick ups.


Good point. If someone told me I had poor money management skills because I was on a bike, I'd want to point out that my $250-dollar vehicle (I rock the ghetto-fab fixed gear conversion) gets me to work faster than his >$3000 vehicle, and I get the added benefit of handsome, muscular legs.

Good point. If someone told me I had poor money management skills because I was on a bike, I'd want to point out that my $250-dollar vehicle (I rock the ghetto-fab fixed gear conversion) gets me to work faster than his >$3000 vehicle, and I get the added benefit of handsome, muscular legs.

I must suck at money management then ... I only have 5 bikes and 1 car ... all but one bike double the value of the car, most increase it by way more ...
As I say to the guys at work ... yeah, I could have a really nice car if I wanted to, but I don't see the need ... and yes I did spend $140 on those pedals, and in a month or so I'll still have them, but where is the same amount of money you have spent on cigarettes then?

Have heard thta if someone in a car is annoying , you open their back door at a stoplight, then bike away ... by the time they get out, walk around to shut it, then get back in the car, you are long gone ...

just a thought

Not all encounters with vehicles are unpleasant. Last week I had stopped at a busy intersection waiting to make a left at a very long light. A motorcyclist pulled up alongside and we chatted a bit. Coincidentally a group of leather-clad, black shiny helmeted motorcyclists appeared at the light to our left. I couldn't resist asking my newfound friend if he knew those 'girly-men'. He smiled and said that he didn't. A few seconds later he motioned to me to turn to my right. A driver had rolled down his window and was asking me if the motorcylist and I were racing. Just as the light changed I said, "Yeah, I can take him", and rode off. Of course, the motorcyclist was way ahead of me.

I guess what I left out is that I'm probably a main part of the show. No doubt I'm one of the older cyclist seen on these NJ roads. Not that I'm so ancient, mid-sixties, but a white beard and decked out in cycling gear garners quite a few opened mouth looks. I must say that being older I'm not getting the wisecracks that some of the you younger cyclists get. But I'm not crazy about the thumbs up sign and dropped jaws, either. Just want to get on down the road and not be bothered.

....
I'm in college... I'm happy with no insurance or car payment. Why complicate things even more than they already are? Plus, buying a car goes against everything I believe in.


You are correct. Hold off on getting a car as long as possible. They are money pits.

Aim to live in urban areas where a car is truly a burden-- Manhattan, for example.

You are correct. Hold off on getting a car as long as possible. They are money pits.

Aim to live in urban areas where a car is truly a burden-- Manhattan, for example.

Unfortunately, from a financial point of view, in manhattan, EVERYTHING else is a burden.

A driver had rolled down his window and was asking me if the motorcylist and I were racing.

Have you seen that Lance commercial where he pullup besidea Harley Hells Angel type and knods for a race? It was toward the end of the commercial.

I had a pleasant encounter with a motorcyclist once. I had just finished climbing a long, long hill and waiting to turn left at a light. The motorcyclist came up to the light, and while we waited for the green he commented that he should get on a bicycle and get more exercise. I immediately asked if he wanted to swap! :D He laughed, said no, and the light changed. We both had smiles on our faces as we departed!

[threadjack comment]

Have you seen that Lance commercial where he pullup besidea Harley Hells Angel type and knods for a race? It was toward the end of the commercial.
I PASSED a motorcycle last weekend, then pulled in front of him. He was I was still pulling away from him when I turned off. That was fun. :D [/end threadjack comment]

Back to the subject of the thread. This week, I came up on a guy commuting on an old mountain bike, no helmet--no lights, no clipless, just the basics. He commented on how much stuff I had on SUV-like commuter. I told him I sold my car before I bought the nice bike stuff. He just shook his head and said, "You're going the wrong way, man."

I'm still waiting till I move out to the suburbs so I can get a nice $7000 seven to commute on. Then when some driver in a cheap hyundai drives up, I can say, "my bike probably costs more than your car."

Hey! I drive a Hyundai. ;) I consider myself smart, too. The dependability rating is equal to Honda, tied at number 2. That, and to get a Honda specced to what my Elantra is would have cost me 23000. :) I paid 13,000 (and whatever I was upside down on my other car.)

;)

1 old truck, three bikes...

Road, Beach, Commuter/tour.

I'm doing fine, thanks.

The only reason I would buy a car would be so I can get my bike to the trails that are out of riding distance. Outside of that, I don't have much use for a car. A car can't get me anywhere that I can't get just as well on my bike. Plus I save money on gas, insurance, and maintenance. Not to mention, I'm healthier because of it :)

The only reason I would buy a car would be so I can get my bike to the trails that are out of riding distance. Outside of that, I don't have much use for a car. A car can't get me anywhere that I can't get just as well on my bike. Plus I save money on gas, insurance, and maintenance. Not to mention, I'm healthier because of it :)

Hear! Hear!

Since I've gotten back on my bike, my blood pressure is back to almost normal, my mood has drastically improved, and I'm finding my waistline again!