Originally Posted by
noglider
Even $2.50 per ride in NYC is highly subsidized and an excellent value. It is especially true here because there are no zones. A ride of any length costs the same. But yes, if you pay $2.50 here and there throughout your week, you might not notice how much it adds up to. Or even if you do, it might be hard to imagine how much it is when you SAVE that much by not spending it.
There are so many good reasons to ride a bike, even if you leave out some of the good ones, such as the environment or physical fitness. People compliment me for riding so much because of its effects on my health. I do like that effect, but my response is that I do it because it's more fun than traveling any other way. The fun brings me in, and the other benefits keep me at it.
I agree about the environment and health benefits. I consider those a bare minimum to living a reasonable life.
I like public transport as far as long-distance high-speed rail is concerned. Unfortunately, because I travel 500 miles per weekend on it, the UK is still behind Germany and Japan which produce their energy for rail service solely with renewable sources (I assume that the Japanese consider nuclear renewable for sake of argument).