Think Gas Prices Are Encouraging More Bicyclists?
Sunday May 18, 2008
Check out this cartoon by Jim Borgman of the Cincinnati Enquirer to get one take on how things have gone in the past year or so.
Think there's any truth to this? Have you seen more people out riding? And do you think that's actually movement away from driving -- or because of something else? Comment below.
Comments
I already live in a mid-size town which favors bicycle travel (commuting, errands and for pleasure). So I don’t see much difference in the numbers of people I see riding daily. For 14 years, I’ve “set an example” -
95% of my travel miles are by bike.
I don’t own a car. Rent one for travel over 50 miles.
So when I see $40-$50 totals on gas pumps, I know I can’t afford a car anyway. The cost of 100 gallons of gas covers my entire “bike expenses” for a year - “I get change back most years.”
I’m one of those people that used to ride a lot, to/from work, roughly 120 miles a week. In the last 2 years I’ve really stopped riding (new job too far, kids, etc.)
Anyway, the high gas prices have kicked me back into riding, and I’m now riding once a week (12 miles each way) and that will probably increase to more than that.
My wallet may hate high gas prices, but my heart and soul love it!
Sadly in my area I have not seen an increase in the number of people riding. I think by and large Americans are too spoiled to be serious about riding a bicycle. I am considering buying a cruiser bike with baskets to do all my errands on. Most of the stores I shop at are within 3 miles of home. I think the savings in gas would quickly pay for the bike.
In Ireland we were a great Cycling Nation up to 1975 and then we discovered the Car when we became more Affluent. Now since 1998 we have become more Cycle Conscious again and more People are taking up Cycling again each Year. The Government have even Put in Cycle Lanes and Paths but have a long way to go to compare with Amsterdam or Copenhagen.There are Two things Influencing this the Cost of Petrol and Diesel and the wish to get down the Weight and get Fit.
As to myself I have always had Bicycles. I had a brief Flirtation with a Car back in1980-86 until someone crashed into it where I had it Parked for the Night,and since then Have only had Bikes. I live Three Miles from the City of Dublin and never use Public Transport but use my Bike always.I have several Bikes, one a very Strong Dutch Bike with Rear Carrier and Detachable Front Carrier that can carry a load of Groceries and even Cement if I wanted to. Dublin 4.20 pm GMT.
I think gas prices are one factor in an increase of cycling.
I live in Memphis, one of the “worst biking cities” according to some cycling magazine. So, any increase indicates real intent and is less likely a fad.
Over the past 6 months I have regularly seen at least one other cyclist daily. They are usually new people. So it seems more people are at least giving it a try.
Mine was the only cycle using the bike rack that our office park has for our building. Six months or so ago, an Xtra-cycle began showing up daily. Over the past two weeks, another cycle has shown up a number of times. Our bike rack is almost getting crowded!
Another survey said that Memphis was one of the worst cities for the 7 deadly sins. In the Men’s Health survey, Memphis was one of the unhealthiest cities. We rate highly for obesity in those surveys.
Memphians have a lot to atone for. Maybe some are using cycling to do so. I started cycling again 4 years ago for health. I quickly shifted to commuting for economy. Now I continue for the joy and piety (holier-than-thou goes a long way in Memphis).
I don’t think you can justify bicycling in an economic sense–here’s why.
I just got back from bicycling to my gym in Bellefonte PA, from my apt outside State College PA. 27mi and 2:00 round-trip.
Now, had I done that on my motorcycle, I’d have burned 0.4 gal, costing roughly $1.45.
On my bicycle, I probably burned 1300kcal over 2hrs. Now, “cheap” food (say boxed mac+cheese) costs about $2/1000kcal, or $2.60 for the trip. However, had I begun to “bonk” in Bellefonte, and needed to hit a fast-food restaraunt to get fuelled up, estimate $7.00 to get the job done, at which point it’d be cheaper to take an SUV!
I bike predominantly for enjoyment, and for health, but I don’t tell myself I’m saving any cash.
I have definitely seen more people riding lately. Here in New Orleans, where you’d believe that we’re not bike friendly streets, we are getting new bike paths up in lots of places. I ride 18 miles round trip to work almost every day and each day I’ll see someone new on the path or road. I rarely get a horn honked at me and rarely feel unsafe. I saw gas for $3.75 today and think that people who can ride to work, soon will be.
Bryan, you may not be able to justify bicycling in an economic sense, but I and many others can.
My family was able to sell our mini-van because I committed to commuting by bike to work. Ignoring loan payments and gasoline, I saved $1,000 annually in fixed costs by eliminating insurance and time-based maintenance (oil changes, tires due to dry rot, etc.) Only a portion of that saving is offset by bicycle maintenance and specialized provisions (shoes, clothing, helmet, etc.)
I can’t attribute any change in my food bill to cycling–cycling hasn’t affected how I eat.
Such variable costs/benefits such as reductions in prescriptions, exercise (join a gym, buy equipment?), increase in productivity, etc., may or may not be cycle-related. In my case, prescription reduction saved $1,200 annually.
I would hope all cyclists in the U.S. cycled for enjoyment, and that they would see health improvements. These are good enough reasons. But, some of us gain cash savings as a benefit as well.
Nonetheless, the more of us there are who are seen while cyling, the more cycling comes to non-cyclists minds. It doesn’t really matter why someone starts–there just seems to be more benefits than detriments physiologically, psychologically, ecologically, societally, and maybe economically.
I live in Louisville KY and I have seen a slight increase in bicyclists on the streets… I am a daily bike commuter. In combination with public transit which allows 2 bikes on a rack on the front of the bus, I can go anywhere.
I’m definitely saving real cash! My next step, sell the truck!
I used to bike to work daily (about 13 mi. each way) when I was single and living in L.A., then I moved to a small mountain town and got married (to a woman with two teenage sons) and fell out of biking (the way people drive up here made me too nervous to get on the roads).
The gas prices have definitely prompted me to take it up again, and I’ll be riding to work (about 15 mi. each way) thru the summer (it’s not really an option the rest of the year, as I have to take the kids to school).
I live in LA, but went to college in Florida for the past 5 years. After coming back, I was surprised at the number of cyclists that are out riding now.
Now if only they would ride more safely…
Just got back from the Netherlands - now those people bike! Saw one lady going shopping with a basket, 1 kid in front, 2 in back, and she was pregnant. Just biked to do her errands, didn’t talk it to death.
Americans are silly. Here in the U.S., we get all dressed up in our “official” bike clothes and water bottle, put our bikes in the car, drive to the trail, bike up and down it, reverse the procedure, and then pat ourselves on the back because we are “serious icyclists” and “into alternative means of transportation”. I know, can’t be helped, we aren’t set up for serious biking here. So, you won’t see a change in anything for a long time. But, eventually, it will be safe to bike on the roads, because there will be few cars on them,because, as it is in Europe, no one can afford to buy gasoline.