Originally Posted by
wolfchild
If a person uses the same bikes, clothing and gear for commuting as they use for recreational riding then the cost is the same for both. Not all people who ride for transportation use cheap bikes. cheap clothing and cheap gear.
Of course you can use cheap gear for recreational riding, or very expensive gear for commuting. As a general rule, though, if you just need to get around town the entry barrier for biking is lower than for a car, but if you're going to take it seriously as a hobby the cost, both in equipment and time, will go up very quickly relative to birdwatching, stamp collecting, or any number of other hobbies. It's also worth remembering that it takes, all things considered, a solidly above average income to even afford a hobby in the first place. Recreational sport, especially equipment-dependent endurance sports like cycling, is just not something that poor people can afford.