Originally Posted by
I-Like-To-Bike
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.
First, I think you're underestimating commute distance by a factor of two. I read it as 5 miles each way, 10 miles a day, about 5,000 miles per year.
Second, by cutting down mileage on the car by 30-50%, a bike commuter can make the second car in the family last a lot longer. I paid my car off 15 years ago (but still have it). Cutting regular service by a half adds up, and the car's tires last twice as long. That adds up to real money. The only things that are not linear with miles driven are insurance and taxes.
Third, when gas prices were peaking, I found I could save $100/month just on gas. By that time I had most of the extras I needed or wanted for commuting, so I could afford new shorts (the major expense), tires, and chains for a year with a couple months' savings. Some of the rest I spent on nicer bike things, some on vacations and meals out. (It almost sounds like the old "spend the money you save on wine, women, and song, and waste the rest!")