I'm curious as to what types of vehicles people are leaving home and choosing to bike commute or if a lot of you were already in this mindset and just have a beater for emergencies and times when a bike just won't do.

Myself, I have 2 late model vehicles, a boat, and a few motorcycles that are getting very little use now. One being a truck that is now only used to transport the bikes to a safe route for family rides. The other vehicle is used by my wife but is also getting less use. Boat, no use at all , motorcyles, very little to none. Might be time to start clearing house a little as there is a LOT of money just sitting in my garage Hard call as I've only been commuting for a couple months but there's no reason for me to stop now as it's always kind of bothered me to drive anyway.

How about you, are you doing it out of pure need, guilt, or desire and what are you choosing not to drive?

No garage, but I do have a Honda Civic in my driveway. It's an HX which gets 35mpg in the city and 40mpg on the highway. And no, it's not a hybrid. Because of its low emissions and low fuel consumption rate I don't feel too bad about driving it a few days a week when I'm not riding my bike to work. Eventually I will ride my bike a lot more. Just need to hook myself up with a rear rack and panniers so that I don't have to deal with my cumbersome backpack (which leaves me with a rather sweaty back).

So to answer your other question, I'm bike commuting about twice a week out of desire. It started as a way to get some exercise on my non-running days, but lately I've been seeing big dividends from the enjoyment factor and the gas savings. Someday in the near future I may be using my Civic only on the weekends.

Toyota is safely in the garage (well, carport) 6-7 days a week. It would have died years ago if I drove it daily.

My girlfriend and I currently have 2 cars in the driveway - both of which sit there the majority of the time. I've been riding towork every day since May and she takes the subway and has now also started riding. We have:

1. 1999 Nissan Altima SE (mine)
2. 1997 Toyota Carolla DX (hers)

I'm one phone call away from finalizing the sale of my Altima so we'll be down to one car. When it's time to replace the Carolla we'll be getting a hybrid - o if the carolla can hang on for 15 or 20 more years we'll pick up a hydrogen fuel cell powered vehicle

I choose not to drive a 1993 Honda Accord with about 114,000 miles on it, out of fear of car repair bills. That's the hidden, un-definable, "funny-money" savings in bike commuting; money I might not have to spend at some time in the future on a car repair.

1993 Volvo 240 wagon (4cyl, the only SUV I'll ever need - bike transporter and grocery-getter)
1988 Volvo 240 sedan (5spd manual with an awesome stereo system - fun car)



I love 'em, but I leave 'em (in the driveway all week long)

'01 F250 V10
'01 Honda Cr500
'01 Yamaha Roadstar 1600cc

I have a 2003 wagon in the garage. I commute by bike on days I teach, but some days I go to court or need to transport dog and need the car - public transportation in stl is not good.

My fiancee and I share a 2001 Ford Focus. That's our only car.

I leave my '01 Ford Focus on the street. Most driving now is around the block looking for a spot or long (500 mi. ea. way) trips. Sometimes I go to meetings in NJ, but mostly it sits on the street collecting dents, scratches, flyers and bird droppings.

1986 Dodge B350 Ram Van Maxi (the 15 passenger leviathan) sits all week long and only comes out when I need to transport my band's instruments or need a rolling bike shop. Between those 2 uses, I usually need it only once a week.

Best,
e.

A 1999 Chevrolet Tahoe (in the street actually The garage is for bicycles Get your priorities straight ) which I bought with 35000 miles in 2001 and it currently has 70000 miles on it. I use it for driving into the Colorado Rockies to go fishing and camping and for family outings where we need to carry 4 bikes. I also use it when I go on occasional bike club mountain bike rides and I can carry 3 other people and their gear.

Do I feel bad about owning an SUV. Nope. I've put only 35000 miles on the car in 4 years, I ride my bike to work an average of 110 days per year (and have consistently for 25 years), I don't put 2.6 tons of CO2 in the air every year (a lifetime savings of 65 tons of CO2) , and have ridden at least once a month for last 300 months. And, at current gas prices, I figure I'm saving around $50-$75 per week...

Hey! I should have saved enough for a new bike by now. Honey.....?

If I had to drive, I'd have to take the family mini-van. My wife drives a Pontiac Vibe and the mini-van is for when we have company, take trips with our bikes, or need to haul something large. I use it a few times a year for commuting, mostly so I can get oil changes or E-checks during my lunch break.
Craig

In the garage are the bikes, food, camping storage, etc.

Out in the driveway and in the street are my 2002 Mitsubishi Mirage and my g/f's 2000 Honda Civic. I'm the only one that bikes to work. My g/f is a little....outdoorsy challenged. My car gets about 30mpg driving it to and from work. I bike as long as I don't need to haul something that won't fit on my bike to work. Every day I ride is one car commute worth of gas that's saved.

We have a subaru outback (hers) & dodge pickup (mine). The garage has bikes, motorcycles & yard implements. Though the good bikes (hers) are in the basement. I've driven the pickup to work way too much this year, but have made an effort to take the m/c or bicycle. Made it on the bicycle today after a too-long hiatus.

I proudly leave my 1989 Ford Ranger at home on the average three days/week so I can bike commute. Although my Ranger is the oldest vehicle on the lot at work, I have been abel to hold the milage to under 82,000 so I have kept repairs to a minimum through bike commuting. My wife has a Ford Taurus in the garage we use about 12,000/miles per year.

Sweet Jebus, this could get ugly

1979 Porsche 928 (drove it to work today)
1993 Ford Ranger 4x4 (for sale real soon)
1998 Jeep Cherokee Sport (wifes)
2006 VW Jetta TDI (the new car - 50MPG!)
1989 Kawasaki Ninja 250 (the beater bike)
2005 Ducati Monster 620 (the other commuter bike)
2006 Yamaha V-Star Custom (wifes)

I sold my car last month, so there's not one that I am choosing not to drive. Our family vehicle is a '98 Chevy Venture van.

I used to commute to the bus stop on an oversized cruiser skateboard with huge wheels, but there's no bus service out where I work now. That's actually what prompted me to dust off the old bike and start riding.

There is also my canoe sitting in the backyard, but I don't think it would get me to work very well.

I just cleaned the garage yesterday, so I had the chance to take inventory. Six bicycles, two trail-a-bikes, and two trailers. The minivan is parked on the street.

1993 Mercedes 300E station wagon
1980 Mercedes 500SE
1981 Cessna Cutlass RG airplane (at airport, not in garage)


Paul

I leave at home most days:

My 2004 Subaruy Forester XT, with $3K in stereo equipment (sigh)
Bicycles: Spectrum Ti, Spectrum Softride, Spectrum Track Bike and Santana Ti tandem

I ride my Lemond Propad with feders and a rack to work.

2001 VW Golf TDI (Chipped)
My primary car
1993 Ford F250 Diesel
for driving on the beach

2004 Toyota Sienna aka the minivan (wifes transportation)

I sold my car last spring and couldn't be happier about it.

Considering that almost everyone in this thread has multiple vehicles (up to seven!), and very expensive vehicles (airplane, mostly late model cars), I don't see why people here complain about gas prices so much. If you can afford 7 vehicles, or an airplane, or to drive a brand new car, you could easily afford 6 vehicles and the gas for them.

You'd think the members of this forum were stingy or low-income after listening to them complain about the financial liabilities of cars, then you find out they own 2 or 3 or 7 of them, and a plane.

So it's not just me. I was wondering if I'd see some Escalades, Hummers, or similar but I guess not many of those people have re-evaluated yet

I was commuting by motorcycle for a few months as I refused to support the raising prices of fuel and then decided bicycle commuting was an option and would have a lot of benefits. Bought a new roadie to spark the flame and have yet to look back except at some of my other endulgences in the past

I'm kind of embarrased by what my dependency was on fuel as virtually all my activities required large amounts of fuel. Those included racing motorcross (quad and bike) which has been put on the back burner with the other 3 dirtbikes currently just sitting. We competed in wakeboarding so I have a very expensive gas guzzler just sitting now as well as the 2003 3/4 diesel I pulled it with. My wife got a new vehicle (FX35) about a year ago when I desperately tried talking her into a car but felt I couldn't push her due to my previous choices. My most sensable (ha) mode of transportation a Yamaha R1 that is also just sitting now. So now I feel really good about the changes I've made but left wondering what I'm going to do with all those toys Maybe a surge in gas supplies, lowering the cost of fuel so I can unload a bunch of it More likley is that I'll have to bite the bullet and suck up the losses.