Bicycle Commuting Series – Chapter 2
Do I Have Time to Commute by Bike?
You may be wondering if you have enough time to commute to work by bicycle.
If your commute just takes you across town, you may not save much time at all by driving. A car will always be faster on long straightaways, but for stop and go traffic, bicycles can keep up, or even be a faster transportation method. Stop signs, traffic lights, speed bumps, turns, school zones, parking lots…cars always get backed up in these situations, and this is where the bicycle makes up for lost time.
Cars and bicycles can be fairly close in elapsed time from door to door, but this is only part of the time equation. Once you’re at work, how many hours do you have to put in to pay for your car? Expenses like rising fuel costs, car payments, extended warranties, car insurance, registration, taxes, servicing, parts, and possibly even collision repair. It takes hours, if not days to earn enough money to pay for all this stuff!
What about exercise? Everyone is looking to get a little exercise, but it can be hard to find the time when you’re driving everywhere trying to “save time”. You could join a gym, but then that’s just more time you’ll have to spend at work paying for the membership! Using a bicycle to get to work combines two activities. Why not get your exercise while doing something you have to do anyhow?
So as you can see, the question now becomes, “Do I have time to commute by car?“. Think of how much time you could save by riding a bicycle to work, and what you could do with that extra time. Who knows? You may find that you really enjoy riding your bike, and may want to use your newly found time to take the long way to work.
Did you miss Bicycle Commuting Series – Chapter 1? Jump to: What to Wear for Your Bicycle Commute
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