My Miles (estimate):
1. To Work: 17mi/day*260days= 4420mi
2. Farmer’s Market: 13mi*20 = 260
3. Misc. rides to store: 52*10= 520
4. Critical Mass: 10*13= 130
Total Mileage: 5330
My Bikes:
1. Circa 1997 Schwinn Homegrown converted to single speed with knobby street tires (work commuter)
2. 2005 Breezer Citizen 3-speed with trailer bike and child-car attachments (grocery getter)
Things I Bought for Biking (that I can remember)*:
2 pairs of shorts (baggies), Two poly shirts, 3 pairs of socks, 2 chains, 2 pairs of pedals, numerous tubes and patch kits, 1 pair cranks, 1 bottom bracket, one rigid fork (the suspension was warn out), 2 rear tires (my front tire is about 5 years old and has about 8000 miles), 1 saddle, 2 rear lights, 2 front lights, two boxes gauze pads, 2 boxes band aids, two rolls medical tape, 1 tube of triple antibiotic goo, 1 pump, 1 rear hub rebuild kit, 1 single speed conversion kit, 1 brake cable kit, 2 sets of brake pads, 1 set of brake levers, repair of internal hub (I messed it up trying to adjust it), one rear fender, reflective tape, 1 pair shoes (my others were 6 years old)
Keep in mind that this was not my first year of commuting. Most of these purchases were required just to maintain the bikes.
* Does not include cash purchases
Total Cost: $1358.49
you know furthering you math(and i am no mathematician)
if you had traveled the same 5330 miles in a Honda Odyssey (2005)(at $0.51 a mile). It would cost 2718.3 for the same difference in miles which is a saving of 1359.81.
(it an Odyssey because that is what my dad drives )
Thanks, Tim. I also forgot to mention that the analysis does not include the extra fuel I need to eat in order to commute but that is not really the point. I still feel like $1400 is a lot of money to maintain bikes as primary transportation. In addition to the money is time lost to make the repairs myself. See my recent blog on time required for repair work over 30 days.