July 12, 2007
Get Yer Motors Runnin' and RIDE TO WORK!
Next Wednesday, July 18th, is Ride to Work Day.
I ride to work just about every day currently (on average about 4 days a week) so making it out on Wednesday shouldn't be a problem. In fact unless I need to haul something large, I'll ride rain or shine. The RideToWork.org site and editorials in magazines like the American Motorcyclist Association (AMA)'s American Motorcyclist Magazine often list why motorcycles make great commuting machines. For me the list is pretty similar if not simpler:
- It's the only time I get to ride, and I LOVE to ride.
- Even with all of the blind idiots on the road, it's a great stress reliever at the end of the day. My Blackberry can't bug my while I'm riding.
- 39 Miles per gallon (yes, even on a 26 year old bike with a huge windshield). Simpler and cheaper maintenance than my car.
That's pretty much it. Bikes exert less wear and tear on the roads, sure, but I don't really think of that. My acceleration is better on my bike than my car, but that's a minor concern. What I really love is riding, relaxing, and saving money and the environment while I'm at it. I commute about 250 miles a week.
(250 miles/week * $3.50/gal.) / 22 miles/gallon = $39.77/week in my car.
(250 miles/week * $3.50/gal.) / 39 miles/gallon = $22.44/week on my bike.
You can buy a really tricked out bike and riding gear, insure and register it for about half of the same costs on a decent used car, and use about half the gas while doing it. Perhaps it's an option for you to consider.
