Why Do You Commute By Bicycle?
This is not an uncommon question. I always seem to answer it differently, depending on what day it is, or the weather on that day, or my mood. Sometimes I answer it by saying, "I wonder the same thing myself." Especially on a cold day. If I have gained weight, I tell people that I ride for the calorie burn. If there is a lot of construction on the highway to work, I tell people that I ride to avoid the orange barrels and the traffic congestion.
I don't ride because I'm a hippie-liberal-pinko-commie-vegetarian. People assume that I am a healthy eater—they say it to me all the time: "we were going to go eat pizza, but can you eat that?" Geez, people. I eat like a hog. Put it in front of me, and I'm going to eat it.
Lately, I have been telling people that I ride to work for one reason and one reason only: MONEY. Now that gasoline is back up to nearly $4 a gallon, bike commuting makes sense to a lot of people. And the reason I ride to work is much more obvious. I hate to spend money, so bike commuting is a great option.
I drive a pickup truck. A full size, four-wheel drive pickup truck, with a V-8 engine. As long as I'm not hauling a bicycle on top of it, I will get about 17mpg. Not too bad. During the winter, because of my teaching schedule, I was driving nearly every day, and filling my tank once a week. Lately, it costs me $85 to fill up. $85! That is a pair of tickets to the Lyle Lovett/John Hiatt concert next month (which I will have to miss due to Taylor's wedding).
There are all kinds of ideas being circulated about how to save money on gas, or to improve fuel economy. People are wanting to squeeze every last drop from their gasoline budget, and for good reason. When gas expenses take up a third of your monthly budget, something has got to give.
The only real, practical solution to the high price of fuel is to ride your bike more. Sure it will make you feel better. You will absolutely lose weight. And you will not pollute the air, or cause traffic congestion. You'll get to work in a better mood than you do now. You will reduce your chances of dying from heart disease or diabetes. All of the above are true.
But mostly, you're going to save a boat load of cash. And THAT, after all, is what it's all about.
I don't ride because I'm a hippie-liberal-pinko-commie-vegetarian. People assume that I am a healthy eater—they say it to me all the time: "we were going to go eat pizza, but can you eat that?" Geez, people. I eat like a hog. Put it in front of me, and I'm going to eat it.
Lately, I have been telling people that I ride to work for one reason and one reason only: MONEY. Now that gasoline is back up to nearly $4 a gallon, bike commuting makes sense to a lot of people. And the reason I ride to work is much more obvious. I hate to spend money, so bike commuting is a great option.
I drive a pickup truck. A full size, four-wheel drive pickup truck, with a V-8 engine. As long as I'm not hauling a bicycle on top of it, I will get about 17mpg. Not too bad. During the winter, because of my teaching schedule, I was driving nearly every day, and filling my tank once a week. Lately, it costs me $85 to fill up. $85! That is a pair of tickets to the Lyle Lovett/John Hiatt concert next month (which I will have to miss due to Taylor's wedding).
There are all kinds of ideas being circulated about how to save money on gas, or to improve fuel economy. People are wanting to squeeze every last drop from their gasoline budget, and for good reason. When gas expenses take up a third of your monthly budget, something has got to give.
- One recent news story details an iphone app that tells you where to find the cheapest gas. So you can drive six miles out of your way to save two pennies on a gallon of gas.
- Another suggestion made by the "experts" is to properly inflate your tires. That will improve fuel economy, so that instead of getting 15.5 mpg, you'll get 16 mpg.
- I would think more people would drive slower to save gas. They try all these tricks to get better fuel economy, then drive like Dale Earnhardt on their two mile trip to the grocery store. It just doesn't make a lot of sense.
The only real, practical solution to the high price of fuel is to ride your bike more. Sure it will make you feel better. You will absolutely lose weight. And you will not pollute the air, or cause traffic congestion. You'll get to work in a better mood than you do now. You will reduce your chances of dying from heart disease or diabetes. All of the above are true.
But mostly, you're going to save a boat load of cash. And THAT, after all, is what it's all about.
Even for folks who have a really long commute, it can be worth it to drive part way and bike the rest. I do it with a foldingbike that I can just keep in my trunk.
PLEASE post the video of the police officer trashing cyclists. Something really needs to be done about the anger we all receive from motorists in Oklahoma. If it hits national news, SO BE IT! We are ready to pack up and move to Colorado which is a much friendlier bike state! Why must people be so mean! Please consider posting!