Bicycling to beat the high cost of gas

With the price of gas approaching $4.00 per gallon, more people are using their bicycles for cheap transportation.

[Plain Jane]

That's great if you're lucky enough to live close to your job. But if it would take you say 1.5 hrs one way... that's 3 more hours away from your family each day. Exercise is one thing... but my time with my family is worth far more than the gas I'd be saving by biking every day.

[James Garlock]

Us hadicapped people have to use our large Vans to get our power chairs in them, so we have to face the increases of gas prices by staying home more, and cutting back on our food budgets and other things, unless we can us public transportation with lifts.

[Outdoor Lover]

Riding my bike around will become practical when someone invents a minivan-style bike....how else will I cart the kids and the groceries around?

[Brains]

I went almost 40 miles round trip and made 6 stops took less than 1 3/4 hours yesterday.I finaly made it home with a lawn tractor battery,a set of lawn mower blades,2 sparkplugs,2 bug strips,A new kitchen Faucet and the fittings to put it in. All was done on my 2006 Aprilia Sr 50 Factory Ditech moped Which Gets 110+ MPG. My Gas Guage Hardly Moved. Kind of hard for sombody carry that home on their petal bike.

[Kim from Muskegon]

I'd ride a bike if my commute wasn't 26 miles one way and wasn't 90% expressway travel, where bicycles aren't allowed. It would be a great way to get the exercise I'm lacking as well.

[a rational outlook]

I have friends that bike to work form the sticks. They drive to Rockford, park, and ride the bike path in. I'd do it to, but from my area, there's no bike paths...yet.

[Suzy]

I agree Kim.. my round trip to work everyday is 102 miles and it's mostly expressway. If there were a feasible way to do it, I'd be in with no problem! To answer everyone's question.. yup, I am looking for work closer to home but that situation is just as bad as the gas price situation! Remember the good ole days when we thought we were the strongest and best country to live in? hmmmm....

[bikerchick]

It sounds like there are a lot of excuses not to ride a bike. How about driving half way and then riding in the other half?? There are always options.

[Kimmy]

You don't have to bike to work, you can bike to other places that are close to where you live that you would normally drive to, to save money on gas and excercise. I live close to where I work so biking is an option for me, but if I lived in the city I probably wouldn't do it.

[Kim from Muskegon]

Kimmy wrote:

You don't have to bike to work, you can bike to other places that are close to where you live that you would normally drive to, to save money on gas and excercise. I live close to where I work so biking is an option for me, but if I lived in the city I probably wouldn't do it.

Good idea. I definitely need the exercise!

[Neko]

Someone should make Richard Cheney and Spence Abraham ride bicycles!!!

Any empty US military jets flying around the world to support the high price of gasoline?

[Paul]

I live near downtown and I've noticed a lot of people riding bikes now. Currently this is nice because the weather has been mild, but what happens in July and August when it's 85 with 40%humidity? I can't imagine there's showers in many of these offices. And if I worked in an office, I couldn't be sweaty and stinky for 1/2 the day.

Bikes are one part of the equation. Car pooling, public transportation, driving cars with better fuel economy, and rail would complete the rest. But I definitely like the road we're heading.

[BIKING FOR FUN]

bikerchick wrote:

It sounds like there are a lot of excuses not to ride a bike. How about driving half way and then riding in the other half?? There are always options.

So I drive 15 miles and park, get my bike out of the back of my bonneville, where the two kids I just dropped off at day care sit and ride the last 5 miles to work. Cause thats the only place I can park and ride to work. Not to mention the suit I have to wear to work & the chance of rain on any given day. I wish I could ride my bike to work and I think it's great that people are able to, but for some people including me it doesn't work. No excuses needed you try it in my shoes.

[FED UP]

I live very close to my, work and I have rode my bike to work on a few ocations, but I have to cross a street with 5 lanes of traffic, its very tough in the morning and its even worse in the afternoon when I get out of work. I nearly was hit three times by drivers who just don't give a sh!t about anyone on a bike. So I decided the little bit of gas I was saving was not worth my life. Since there is no bike paths near us, we often have to drive with our bikes on the rack to get to a bike path so we can ride safely because most drivers don't watch for bicyclists on the roads. If they want more people to ride their bikes they need build moe bike pathes that lead into business districts, and industrial areas. I'm all for riding bikes to cut down on fuel consumption, and green house gases, but it also needs to be safe.

[Alfred]

I love riding my Jeep bike, but I'm afraid that if we get to may bikers our governor will tax us in some way. Maybe bike plates.

[George5478]

I'd rather drive anyday...

[Tim]

Alfred wrote:

I love riding my Jeep bike, but I'm afraid that if we get to may bikers our governor will tax us in some way. Maybe bike plates.

I totally agree heaven forbid that we do something that the gov't can't get their hands on.

[Brains]

FED UP wrote:

I live very close to my, work and I have rode my bike to work on a few ocations, but I have to cross a street with 5 lanes of traffic, its very tough in the morning and its even worse in the afternoon when I get out of work. I nearly was hit three times by drivers who just don't give a sh!t about anyone on a bike. So I decided the little bit of gas I was saving was not worth my life. Since there is no bike paths near us, we often have to drive with our bikes on the rack to get to a bike path so we can ride safely because most drivers don't watch for bicyclists on the roads. If they want more people to ride their bikes they need build moe bike pathes that lead into business districts, and industrial areas. I'm all for riding bikes to cut down on fuel consumption, and green house gases, but it also needs to be safe.

They just need to make laws more strict for people who run over someone,If any one knows about laws in Germany you beter not run over even a chicken. The fine is the cost of the chicken,all the eggs the chicken would ever lay the cost of the chicks and their eggs and on and on....Mabe people would drive Safer and be more considerate.I ride a moped,and I ride right in the middle of the lane because I can. If you ride on the side of the road you will get run over! It is all about Respect for others! Give me the finger and the horn I HAVE A HORN AND TWO FINGERS!

[CaptJack]

I believe some new drivers-turned-bicyclists are finally discovering that the road structure that we have long demanded as motorists is simply incompatible with bicycling. In some places, the roads are downright dangerous. Some new cyclists may even begin to understand why there are "critical mass" rides in some major cities.

Bicycle commuting may not be for everyone, but given the right lanes and paths, a lot more people may take to it.

[Jason]

I think due to the reality of fuel prices, we should push for more bike-friendly town/city designs. 21st century civil engineering should factor in bike-friendly paths so that people can easily get form point A to point B without obstructing traffic or being in danger.

Davis, CA is a good example of a bike friendly town.