In my experience cycling is most efficient means of transport in terms of cost and time.
I bought a TREK 1.2 in 2011, which is an entry-level road bike, for £700 (the price has since come down) for £700 and to date, four and a half years on, have spent about the same amount on clothes, gadgets, gear, tools, and maintenance, given me a total expenditure on my bike of £1425 to date.
I cycle to work three to four times a week, although I tend to walk more in December and January because it's pretty horrendous cycling in the dark and the cold. I work 39 weeks of the year (us teachers get 13 weeks 'holiday' a year, which isn't sufficient time to heal from the extreme levels of psychological abuse you're forced to both give and take during term time, hence the early-retirement drive), and 39 weeks *3 (average bike journeys per week) *4.5 – (years since purchase of current bike) = 526 journeys since bike and gubbins purchases.
£1425/ 526 = £2.70 per trip to work (and falling), which to my mind is pretty good given that it takes me half the amount of time to cycle to work compared to walking – just under 40 minutes walking works out at 15-20 minutes cycling once I've factored in the faff factor of getting kitted/ unkitted/ locked at both ends of the journey.
Irritatingly, as it stands the average cost of £2.70 is 10 pence more than the cost of the average daily train fair to work, which would be even cheaper if I got a monthly or yearly season ticket, but given that the train tempts me towards the dreaded Puccino's Cappuccino, in reality the average daily cost of the train journey would end up being greater than the average daily bike journey even with an annual season ticket. If I got the train to work on a regular basis I would gravitate towards coffee-on-the-train at least once a week, probably more, in fact before the bike, this was a near-daily ritual.
In any case, after 6 years of use, assuming a total 6 yearly cost of £1500 (I've got all the tools I need and gear lasts a while, so I don't anticipate much future expenditure) then the average daily commute comes out at £2.13/ journey, which is cheaper than any ticket-combination purchase option.
On top of this there's the added enjoyment I had in my first year of going on long weekend cycle rides, plus the benefits of the few dozen 20K fitness rides I've done to break up my usual running schedule, but It's hardly worth costing and factoring those things in – suffice to say the above costings are on the high side, and if anything the cost per journey is lower.
Also, getting the train to work is a wholly unpleasant experience because it means soaking up the negative 'work-dread' vibes from the masses, not to mention the feeling of being shafted when the inevitable train delays remind you of the profit being drained out of a once functional nationalised system into the pockets of distant shareholders.
The ultimate clincher for the economic argument for cycling to work is that the average cost of cycling to work drops for every additional year I use the bike. Because I've bought a quality machine that should last me decades, baring a major accident, my future outlay updating parts, gear and tools, and maintenance costs will be minimal enough for a continued reduction in my average annual cost of transportation.
So to conclude this section, what my case demonstrates is that even if the costs of an equivalent train fair to work is relatively cheap, and even if you are strong enough to resist buying coffees on the train, assuming you buy a very nice bike and maintain it yourself, it will take you 6 years to.
Of course if your local public transport is more costly, and/ or you're prepared to buy cheaper, and you cycle into work more often than a mere 100-ish journeys a year, your bike will pay for itself in a much shorter space of time.
you're so right about the time analysis! The more cars on the road, the more efficient the bike comes in relation to cars, although you might want to wear a filter in that situation!
NB - A friend of mine mentioned this scare story about saddles and male prostrate cancer, something I've yet to research, but apparently there's a link...
can anyone tell people like me if bicycle will be suitable for them when work is beyond 20 kilometers...
Personally I'd say that's too far for a daily commute, you'd need to move closer to work!
@revisesociology Great post! All costs aside, it also just feels incredible to walk into work with a great blood flow and energetic feeling after a bike ride. I'm all for it! Great message :)
I feel like most people these days are too reliant on automobiles (including myself), riding a bike is a far better mode of transport for your health, wealth and the environment!
It's easy to get 'locked in' - I just bought a car recently to facilitate a move out of the area (I simply need one to view multiple properties), first one I've owned in 15 years, they are such a money sink! Back to the bike once I've resettled.
I'm glad you mention buying a quality bike. Because state side you'll have to spend a minimum of $100 for a Schwinn bike that can handle any distance plus another $20 for a quality "Kryptonite" brand "u-lock" style lock. A seat cover is also something to remember.
https://www.walmart.com/ip/Kryptonite-4-x-9-U-LOCK/10370936
Only $20 - I spent nearly $100 (equivalent) on mine! And buying quality is so worth it, I've NEVER had a puncture on one set of very thin road tyres, in many years. Of course, I might have just got lucky!
This post amuses me because the Kryptonite locks recently jumped in price as did the quality.
For my current two bikes the $20 lock is enough. When I move back out west and spend money on an actual good quality bike to run my errands with I'll be buying one of the $60 Kryptonite locks.
Why you should cycle - BECAUSE IT'S FUCKING AWESOME PERIOD.
I love my bicycle.
True! And me too! But I'm just too 'in my head' to to not add on some intellectual rational arguments too!
Haha understood!
And for sure, cycling I approve. Those e-scooters, wheelers or whatever thingies?! NO! Those scream of laziness.
Along with walking, cycling is my favorite mode of transport. I've cycled or walked to work in most cities I've lived, including Toronto and several cities in Japan.
Usually, it's faster to cycle than to take the bus or the subway. By the time you walk to the station, wait for the train (or bus), spend 30 minutes or more on the train, then get off and walk to your destination, you could have cycled there in much less time.
It helps if the city has a network of cycling paths. I spent the past 5 years in Singapore (a tiny city-state), which already has a few hundred kilometers of cycling paths -- along coastal parks, along rivers and canals, and along old, abandoned railway lines. It's planning to increase the cycling paths over the next few years to over 700 kilometers (if my memory is correct).
Cycling is not only great for health and inexpensive, it's also a great way for a city to clean up its air and to develop a system that does not rely so heavily on the automobile. Making for a cleaner, greener city.
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STOPvery nice post I enjoyed reading it thanks for sharing. I have upvoted. I have a new story about how money plus money I hope you might like it thanks.if yu like do upvote
https://steemit.com/blog/@diverse-thinker/money-begets-money
i wish i could role the pedda and circle to my office daily, i just have to cut cost now. am.done upvoting this great post on steemfollower
great post, thank you for this informative story and i will be considering also using a bike or a e-bike :D
@revisesociology Masses of knowledge. Many thanks..
Apologies, but having checked out your posting history, who are you? You joined this month (September) and you just seem to have resteemed a lot of posts? What are you doing here and why are posting nonsensical comments? Are you you alluding to something to which I have MAD suspicions about?