MrCrassic 

I've tried to talk to my company about this, and they won't reimburse me for anything. Very sad, since that would help tremendously in helping me not live paycheck to paycheck.

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dynodonn 

Holy smokes! I think this is where most people go a stray when starting to commute by bicycle, by jumping in head first with their wallet wide open. My current commuter is a $400 dollar MTB that averages 10 miles a day, as my fully equipped winter commuter for $600. My outerwear collection comes to $500 tops, and that was bought over a 4 year time frame.

Yes the weight loss and toned muscles are definitely worth it.

Kenay

i spent too much money on my first bike, But I am really enjoying it. I have talked to people always trying to adjust and customize there used or old bikes. I am happy to have a decent ride right now.

JMRobertson

I'm still in the red for my bike and what all, but within the next school year somewhere I'll break even. Selling my 22 year old truck for parts was probably the best thing I could do. Insurance went way down, and no registraition costs this year. But it will likely be about April before I can consider my bike to have paid off.

People who are comparing the "savings" and including the cost of the bike are not making a fair comparison because they're not including the $30,000ish that most people pay for their car on the other side of the line. Consider that about $.10/mile ($30k for 300k miles) is going to purchace the car and that gas is about $.10/mile (40 mpg at $4.00/g) and you can see that "gas" isn't even half of your expenses driving a car.

JoeSoMD

But JM... it ain't .10 per mile... the IRS reimbursement rate for using a car is currently 58.5 cents mile. This .585 includes gas and wear and tear. The IRS figure goes up and down with gas prices (prior to July is was 50.5 cents per mile). I can't remember if it is adjusted on an as-needed basis or on a regular basis. I found a nice website that discussed how the IRS figure is obtained, but parts of it are "secret" so that people cannot scam it. So when I assess "savings" for commuting by bike, I use the IRS figure. Google "IRS mileage reimbursement rate" if you want more info.

benda18

even at $4.00/g gas is incredibly cheap. the cost to fuel my body for a bike commute (the incremental cost vs. my pre-bike sedentary diet) is roughly the same as a single car commute fueling - and my car weighs 150x what my bike does (or 15x what i do).

but i ride for a better quality of life - and so i can be an elitist snob to lazy people.

daredevil

New to the thread and I haven't read any of the posts but for me, I haven't saved anything. Instead I have found more bike items to spend money on.

After the clothing, lights, fenders, racks, packs, studs etc. it will take a long time to save.

I think a person needs to have a really long commute to save much.

FreddyV

When I were full time commuting I would save about €1900 a year. However, I have trouble getting used to commuting, so I commute mostly 3 days a week, so I save about €1150 a year. I've set myself a budget for cycling gear, so a maximum of €300 a year is spent on that, so it really saves me about €750 a year.

JMRobertson

That was kind of my point... if you read my post. Gas isn't the only cost involved in vehicle operation. Too many people over emphasize it simply because it comes out of your wallet/purse at a pretty consistant rate. The other costs can't be ignored... hense the IRS number.

fordmanvt

I've spent $1500 this year on a bike, and it will take me three or four years to make that up. It's about the weight for me. I gained 15 pounds last winter. Now I have a bike and a trainer.

cyclezealot

Because of my bikes, we do few unnecessary trips for groceries, etc. Sometimes in a week the car only gets used once or twice. I'd say we save at least the equivilant of five dollars a week.

JMRobertson

$1500 is about 3-5 months of normal use of a car... more if you include parking fees.

I-Like-To-Bike

Your use of the IRS figure ignores the facts that the IRS doesn't allow one cent for commuting expenses for a motor vehicle. In addition, your use of the IRS rate to figure out actual costs would also conclude that motor vehicle ownership expenses are zero when it is not being used.

FYI:
June 24, 2008
Citing Gas Prices, I.R.S. Raises Auto Mileage Deduction
By THE ASSOCIATED PRESS

WASHINGTON (AP) — The Internal Revenue Service, citing the drain of high gas prices on households, said Monday that it was raising the automobile mileage rate that businesses and others could claim.

The tax agency said the optional standard rate to calculate deductible operating costs for business vehicles will rise to 58.5 cents a mile, from 50.5 cents, for the final six months of 2008.

That rate also applies to businesses and others entitled to depreciation allowances that operate autos for charitable, medical or moving purposes.

The I.R.S. said it was also changing the rate for computing deductible medical or moving expenses to 27 cents a mile, from 19 cents, for the final six months of the year.

That applies to individuals not entitled to depreciation allowances.

Congress must enact legislation to change the rate for providing services for charitable organizations, so that will stay at 14 cents a mile.

The I.R.S. normally updates the rates once a year in the fall for the next calendar year.

DataJunkie

I spend all my $$ on crack and hookers when I commute.

I-Like-To-Bike

You working at home?

DataJunkie

zing!
d'oh!

JoeSoMD

Sure... understood. But the question is... what is a reasonable value to use when trading off the use of a bicycle against the use of an automobile? My contention is, like JM's, that it is not just the gas.

So I'm comfortable using the 58.5 cents per mile as the automobile rate, but I have not come up with a rate for a bicylce yet.

I-Like-To-Bike

You may be comfortable with the 58.5 cents per mile as the automobile rate, but a bicyclist doesn't save anywhere in the vicinity of that ratefor every mile that a bicycle is ridden instead of a motor vehicle, no matter what "mileage expense rate" you come up with for bicycling. Only the variable costs, mostly gas and parking, and a minute percentage of maintenance, are saved per mile. The significent dollar savings only come when bicycling allows a person/family to reduce the number of cars it owns, maintains, and insures.

Nobodyetal

The only reason I save any money commuting by bike is that I'm doing that instead of buying a second car. This allows the (newly) stay-at-home wife to have a car to run errands with the baby, and also allows me to get to work (joy).

I figure I probably save at least $300 a month in payments and insurance - another hundred bucks a month in gas (~100 city miles a week equates to 2 tanks of gas monthly at $50/pop).

Granted 4 months in I'm probably only just breaking even as I bought an entry-level bike new from Performance and then miscellaneous accoutrements for it. Plus there's the list of further accessories I want to get, and bike trailer(s) when the bambino gets old enough, and oh-my-god-do-I-totally-want-an-LHT-or-Big-Dummy.

But like many others have said - if I was only doing it to save money I probably wouldn't do it. There's no price on a morning ride in the clear fresh air, or being able to fasten my belt an additional notch for the first time since before college.

JoeSoMD

Well... here's some more info:

The cost of operating a car for one year is approximately $5,170 (AAA Mid-Atlantic, www.bicyclinginfo.org)
The cost of operating a bicycle for a year is only $120 (League of American Bicyclists, www.bicyclinginfo.org).

The $120 a year sounds way low to me, but even if multiplied by a factor of ten it provides a pretty big delta compared to driving.

Meghdoot

+1. Not much saving as i never had a car, thanks to NYC subways.

I-Like-To-Bike

Your figures are relevant ONLY if and when operating a bicycle for a year replaces operating and owning a late model car for a year, and performs all the functions/tasks formerly accomplished with the automobile.

BroadSTPhilly

ILTB I admire your tenacity but it doesn't look like you are getting through here.

I-Like-To-Bike

The "problem" is that bicycling in general, and bike commuting have many admirable qualities, but trying to promote it with doofus sleight-of-hand "economics" doesn't fool anybody who can count the money in their own wallet/purse. And is even less likely to entice anyone to give it a whirl.

bdinger

It saves about zilch unless you have a long commute, and a really ridiculous expensive vehicle that you get rid of. Like, say, 25 miles or more and you own a Chevy Tahoe. Then you could commute on a flipping Madone, and still save money. Not much, but you could.

Rather most of us do it just because it's what we do. Simple. I told my wife that particular thing last night, that I know it doesn't save us a dime, but it sure helps in other ways (my mood and fitness being the main two), and does she really want to change that? Does she really want me to go back to being the slug I was for the several months over last winter where I drove to/from work? Yeah no.

Don't look at it as saving money, many won't. Look at it as a lifestyle choice and just enjoy the ride.