dscheidt

There's a provision in the US tax code that allows employers to pay qualified transit costs with tax-free money. "Qualified" means, basically, public transport or van/bus pools. No provision for cycling.

Wes

Well, I am retired so I dont save much. I have ridden my 520 to the store a few times, so probably saved 10-20 bucks this year.

I have never ridden my bikes to save money. I only ride because I want to.

I met a lady in a bike shop yesterday. She was a writer for the Kansas City Star and is woking on an article on commuting and bikeing in KC. Cant wait to read it.

ItsJustMe

When calculating cost savings, figure out a way to put a dollar value on being happier and healthier for the rest of your life.

mnaines

I don't think any human can put a dollar value on the standard of living.

cooker

Yes, quality of life has a dollar value. It's calculated using statistical methodology based on interviews of samples of subjects asking questions like "Would you accept these conditions if your salary was raised that amount?", etc.

uke

Sure you can. Why do you think we're the only industrialized nation left on earth without universal healthcare?

nowheels

nothing really..... I look at it more as a health benifit.

uke

I save around $12 riding per week instead of driving. But I drive when I have to; riding's just more fun.

I-Like-To-Bike

I only have my wife drive me to work about 10-15 times a year usually due to ice or wind conditions are too much for safe cycling. My big savings come from not owning a second car just for commuting to work
My wife's car expenses are in line with yours. A 2003 Nissan GXE bought new with cash for $14,000 including sales tax. Full Insurance about $600/yr. Total repairs for the past 5 years (60,000 miles) amounted to $100 for a repair of a defective engine warning light. Gas mileage is about 33 mpg (28 mpg if I use 10% ethanol, which I don't). About 2 oil changes/yr, $20 each, replaced a couple of air filters for $5/piece and I just bought new tires for the first time for about $300. Car is worth about $5200 on a trade so depreciation has been about $1760/year. Of course car depreciates whether it is driven or not. I probably will have a several hundred dollar maintenance bill for replacement of filters and belts soon since the car is due for a 60,000 mile checkup. I haven't done any maintenance on car outside of replacing air filters and mixing/adding windshield washer solution.

Note: some of our pals are double/triple counting auto expenses to arrive at outta sight costs/savings by including per mile estimates which already include estimated depreciation and maintenance on a new car, and then counting the same expenses again individually, all with no consideration for car's resale value. Especially dubious is using the high per mile cost based on the high depreciation of a new car AND the high yearly maintenance costs of an older well worn vehicle with small yearly depreciation cost.

caloso

I agree. I also think it's interesting how often the topic of money comes up, usually from the commuting curious. Or there are ideas that you do it because you're super athletic or super green. I usually say that I'm not doing it to save anything. I'm doing it to gain something, that is to gain more time on my bike.

sharkey00

Your response to including the cost of a car's depreciation over time. "Since no one counts that and after 5 years chances are the car has been very useful i'd say it really doesn't matter."
Including a car's deprecation over time as part of a car's total cost to own is a more accurate measure of car ownership cost. You will find this to be the industry standard for determining a car's true cost to own, https://www.edmunds.com/apps/cto/CTOintroController.
To say, "after 5 years chances are the car has been very useful" is a completely subjective statement. This depends entirely on your lifestyle, values, and living situation.
I am taking into account depreciation for my bike. I am counting it as a total loss or 100% depreciation. Cost of food is difficult to track and gauge accurately. Even if I spent an additional 100 dollars a month (my total food cost for ALL food purchased in a month is less than 150) that would just cancel out my insurance savings. Of note, I track all of my spending and can say concretely bike ownership for me is cheaper than car ownership. As for taking a year and making a list of my costs for driving then making a sheet the next year for biking I would not do that because I like biking and dislike driving to work. Which brings me to your final point I should not bike to save money. I bike because I enjoy it. I also save money by biking. I do not see a problem with that.

Bolo Grubb

I save money on things like Parking (very expensive at university) and health care. I spend a lot of money on food and cycling stuff. I think it is a wash at best for me

huhenio

zero

Lizzylou

Any money that is saved by commuting is merely spent on things like new components or jerseys.

HopliteGrad

Now that I'm getting past the initial setup costs (bike, panniers, replacement components, etc.) of about a grand, I can pretty well forget my car except for trips from school to home (a 6 hr drive). It will take me 2000 bike miles replacing car miles to make that break even against the car-only lifestyle. That's okay. I will do those miles before too long.

The intangibles are already worth it though. Having a nice butt for my girl to pinch? That's gotta be worth a LOT.

The surprise for me was that the accesories cost me a lot more than the bike/components. I bought two goodwill bikes for a combined total of $150. But lights, helmet, racks, panniers, that stuff is EXPENSIVE, even if you go bargain bin diving at Nashbar like I do.

dynodonn 

You can only spend so much on components and outerwear for the bicycle. I have a fleet of bicycles equipped with commuting gear, and several outfits of outer wear depending on the season, and my bicycle expenditures had peaked quite some time ago. I added up all my bicycle expenditures over the last three years, and I still cannot buy a decent newer used motor vehicle, I have viewed on all of our local car dealerships, with it.

rajman

If I did not ride, I would walk. My current commute is very short.

I spend far more on bikes and bike stuff than I did on shoes when I walked exclusively, so I would have to say cyclocommuting is costing me several hundred dollars a year.

However, it allows me to comfortably buy lots more groceries on my commute home without hurting my back (Beer Too!)

Grim

Probably costs me more. I live 4 miles from work so even driving the 454 Suburban I'm only spending about $50 a month in fuel. I seem to spend at leases that every pay check in bike swag and bike related gear. Spend $95 last night fro Trekking bars, bar wrap, stem extension, 90mm stem, new cables if I need them and if I don't they will go on the Peugeot, few other odds and ends.

Where I live I can't live totally without a car nor do I want to so no savings in insurance but they are all paid for. 2 kids wife etc and my hobbies tend to be auto related. I have a Toyota built out for long distance Expedition type travel that is actually serving as a DD for my wife since I commute on the bike. Suburban for pulling camper and second vehicle if weather is bad for riding I also have a1970 Convertible LeMans hobby car thats worth double what the other two are combined.

Markok765

$5 a day in bus tickets.

nicnic

I first tried riding my bike to work on May 16th, which was National Bike to Work Day. Since then, I have worked 74 days, 48 of which I bicycle commuted.

It takes me about 1/3 of a gallon of gas to get to work and back. Assuming an average price of $4.00/gallon, I have saved about $64 worth of gas (not taking into account the fact that I carpooled with my g/f about half the time).

In the last few months, I've spent about $3270 on bikes, clothing, and accessories. Therefore, I have saved -$3206 by commuting. At least most of that stuff I won't have to buy again for a long time (hopefully).

However, the 20 lb+ weight loss is priceless

ibikee

I spend a whopping 15 dollars a week on gas. That includes a date with the girlfriend the next town over. I drive a Full size gas guzzling Silverado which I love to drive. Commute is 22 miles round trip so that is better than a gallon of gas a day.
Lets see.... I don't take blood pressure medicine anymore cause it got too low.
I get to irritate my co-workers when they ***** about the 80 dollars every three days to fill up.
So with all the entertainment and health benifits to go with the gas savings, I save a lot !

EatMyA**

~4k

Kenay

I dont pay to go to the gym and more. Thats nice. That saves money.

JPMacG

So far, after 3 years of commuting, I am still on the negative. I have spent more on bike stuff than I have saved in car expenses. I expect to break even after about 5 years, and from then on I will actually saving something.

MrCrassic 

I'll do the math right here (all round-trip):

Subway+Train+Bus+1 mile walk: $22/day
Ride+Train+more ride: $13/day
Car: $8/day + $40/week for gas

WINNER: MY BIKE

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