Originally Posted by
frantik
even if your bike set up is approaching the cost of an (inexpensive) used car, you're still not paying for gas, insurance, registration, parking, tickets, etc. The maintenance is also MUCH cheaper and can easily be done in your own home.
that's what i tell myself when i buy a new bike or upgrade stuff..
The moment I justify car-free or car-light living by saying it's cheaper than driving is the moment I need to rethink what I'm doing.
Yes, there are all sorts of benefits from a car-free or car-light lifestyle, including money savings, the cardio workout, a reduction in one's contribution to greenhouse gases and more. But the biggest advantage should be the joy of such a lifestyle for its own sake.
If I compare riding a bike with driving a car, I'm still focussing on car culture.
Right now, I'm at a point where my car-light lifestyle simply makes sense to me, on its own terms. Most days, I forget I even own a car.