I always make sure to spend any potential savings on more bikes, bike stuff, food, and beer.

I bought 2 new bikes this year and more than 2 additional wheelsets, lots of tires, tubes, clothing, etc.

My commuter bike is a recycle center rescue with less than 75$ invested and I don't even remember the last time I put diesel in my truck.

Biking saves me a couple of grand a year and probably a few buck on larger pants too.

yes; fuel, wear and tear on the vehicle, carbon emissions, health benefits of exercise, no health club fees, etc.

Pretty much my attitude too. Money shouldn't be the #1 concern as long as you're not racking up debt.

After dealing with urban traffic on a bicycle all week, sitting in a cushy chair surrounded by metal can be a welcome relief.

In the two weeks before Hurricane Sandy I got three tickets. Two were for alternate side, both work related, and one for being in a no standing zone picking up a friend. Total: $235. These are the first summonses I've had in over a year and I consider them a hidden tax in NY in that I don't know anyone who doesn't get at least one a year. I lost my car to the storm while on emergency duty. The parking lot flooded, but no announcements were made. The book value on the car was $4,000. We only have liability so it's a total loss. For a hot minute I considered going carless. We live in Brooklyn and my brother-in-law, his wife and two year old son get by without one. However, since we have a three month old baby, I feel we need a car. So, $3,500, and two days later, we have a new car...that needed gas. Saturday, my day off, and important time with my wife and son, I spent seven hours trying to get gas only to watch them run out when I was literally the next in line, I guess someone has to be that guy. I also had the pleasure of watching a cop let some d*** in an Escalade cut the line. I was trying to get gas so I could get out to Rockaway to help two of my brothers who live out there and got hit pretty hard.
I could have biked out there, given them a good five hours or so, and biked home in that time. I'm sure a couple of those billions in loss and cleanup are car related. Is commuting by bike cheaper? Of course it is. Another question that comes up for me is how many more cars can I afford? I agree with Gov. Cuomo who says that you can argue about whether or not global warming is real, I think it is, but you can't argue with the frequency or the ferocity of the storms we have been getting. I was not able to go carless this time, but I will next time. I really do believe I'm kind of hooked into that motorist mentality that imagines no fate worse than being carless.

When you live in Holland where the gas is 1.75 euro per liter or 6,65 euro per gallon or $8.65 per gallon, biking always makes sense. annnnnd this country is almost built completely for bicycle commuting.

actually, i just filled up yesterday and it was only €1.60/L for Super 95 (it went down €0.15/L since the last time I filled up) ... I was actually shocked that it was less than €80 to fill up.

So paying an arm and a leg instead of a firstborn is an improvement?

Well said!

Two more priceless things:

My teenagers and their friends think "Mommy is badazz".

Look on my doctor's face when he could not find blood pressure above 100 on the fourth try (age-bracket related)

it's all tax, which in my opinion is OK as the roads are super-well designed and in stunningly beautiful condition. they also don't have a speed limit (in most areas) and don't require any tolls (at least in Germany.) the money also pays for noise reduction (for example, in a nearby town they built a 2km long above ground tunnel to prevent the town from having to listen to the highway noise) which greatly improves the quality of life.


therefore, I feel like I'm getting great value for the extra $3-4/gal. every time I head back to the states and drive (which I have to as most areas have crap for public transport) I can't stand it. Honestly, I always say that I gladly pay double the price for fuel if I had the same road quality as Germany.

Way to go, sci femme!

I got similar results from the doctor. Pulse rate of an athlete, too.

I will, but shouldn't have to, point out that all of that tax (4-5 USD/gallon) also funds all of the bicycle infrastructure we have over here (like separate/dedicated bike lanes and the thousands of km of bike paths that you guys get to use for free when you come over to tour.)

Therefore, I thought you'd be a bigger fan of the high gas prices, but maybe you don't understand how the system works

Yeah, Germany is about 10cents less than here.. In fact, I fill up in germany from time to time when we go visit just over the border.


Not only is it funding the dedicated bike lanes, but also creates an economic incentive to drive less and chose more efficient alternatives. which in turn pushes the prices of gas down (well not down because there are many other factors influencing the demand of fuel, but the taxes decrease demand to certain extent, making the actual fuel prices cheaper)

Yep. Burning close to 1000 calories a day just by bike commuting means I get to indulge in food and drink more often!

Interesting thread. I doubt even not counting my initial start-up costs I really saved much riding a bike. However, unlike some I don't have to pay for parking, etc. If I got rid of the car it would be a huge savings but I have no interest in doing that. I like to go to locations and events that are not near-by on the weekends (and some week nights). Public transit isn't an option, and a cab or renting a car would cost much more then having my own. Still, I enjoy commuting and if it wasn't for non-work reasons, I could probably do with not having a car and in that case I'd save a ton.

We only have one car and my wife drives it 99% of the time. (I hate driving.)

If I didn't bike commute I'd have to take public transit ($100 a month) and exercise at home (minimum 5 hours a week).

Spent about $500 on bike maintenance & parts this year.
Spent $1000 on a new bike but that only happens every 5 years or so.
Throw in some cold weather clothing and it's probably even with public transit.

The health benefits, the freedom of movement, and the extra time at home are all priceless.

Yes.

It will be a great day when the US starts to price the same way.
As long as people enjoy tithing to the petrol buddha, it will rule our lives

Similar reaction during my last checkup.

"You are no kid anymore, anything bothering you, take any medications, Aches, pains, shortness of breath, digestive problems ect...?"

No, and I feel great!

He just looked at me funny and said he almost never hears that from people my age (52).

Similar here but not because of age but of the extra inches around the waist. My doctor had blood work done last year just to be sure: sugar, cholesterol, etc... all fine!

Thanks to the damn bike, urban traffic, and cargo hauling, I gained 17lbs and my shirt and pants are tighter.

I do, I really do, but I never let myself to forget that every time a government starts effing with free market - s...tuff happens. Unintended stuff. Unexpected stuff. Again, with no intention of exiling this thread into P&R neverland, I find gas prices manipulation (leading to smaller cars, fewer cars, one cheap but expensive car per family, car is a privilege no mater your income, etc) a form of social engineering. My personal experience with social engineering left me extremely allergic to the idea.

Solyndra, Nissan Leaf, Chevy Volt.

It may save money in the short-term for the consumer, but it's an environmental disaster for everyone in the long-term.

Yep. Thanks to the commute, my pants have gotten tighter as well. But they are tight in the legs, not the waist.

What are you saying is an environmental disaster, electric cars?