Originally Posted by
noglider
[MENTION=20232]I-Like-To-Bike[/MENTION], I know that way of looking at things, and I used to share it. But I've learned that almost everything is linear as I said before. The less you drive, the less frequently you need to replace it. So purchase price is related to number of miles driven. Insurance isn't quite as granular, but there are steps, so a little-used car costs less than a well-used car. Registration fees are not linear but they are not very significant compared with the other costs of driving.
If the OP commutes on his bike 5 days/week for 52 weeks instead of driving the car he already owns, he will "save" the car expenses of driving 2600 miles. His savings will only be linear for fuel, tolls and parking fees and a minimal amount of additional maintenance/tire cost costs. There will be no significant savings on the biggest slice of owning a car, the fixed costs - depreciation, insurance and loan interest. Of course only a wastrel or someone without financial concerns would suffer the depreciation and loan expenses incurred by buying and replacing a new car every five years if it is only used to commute 2600 miles a year.
The bottom line is if the OP or anyone else wants to save real money by bike commuting or as a substitute for a motor vehicle, and not fool themselves, the bicycle needs to replace the ownership of a motor vehicle, or to a lesser degree as substitute for the use of public transportation. This of course assumes that the bicycle commuter will be comfortable not having the convenience of an available car or convenient public transportation options for commuting/transportation use when weather, family responsibilities or health status makes daily bicycling impractical and/or unpleasant.
I voluntarily bike commuted all year most of my working life including in Philadelphia, rural Illinois, Iowa and Oregon, and Heidelberg Germany. It was a great experience and immensely rewarding physically and mentally; The financial saving were minor and irrelevant.
I recommend using a bicycle for transportation for anyone who can make it work for them, just don't expect any big $ savings or imaginary tax deduction.