Commitment to commuter cycling
 

A 2018 study found on average "one-way household trips show that the majority (59.4%) of vehicle trips were less than six miles."

Has anyone thought about getting rid of their vehicle and becoming cycle dependent? I know weather based on where you live is a factor, but as an avid cyclist once said (para), "It's not whether it's too cold to cycle, but rather are you properly suited up."

Be good to get your thoughts and dialog going. Thanks - Steve

https://cimg1.ibsrv.net/gimg/bikefor...70c77b9236.png
My 2010 Cannondale Quick:)

There is a "Living Car Free" subforum on here that you should visit.

Thank you so much about the “Living Car Free” Forum.

I’m a new member to the “BikeForum” community and still learning how to navigate around.

Thanks Again - Steve

I think it's a valid question to ask in the Commuting Forum. Obviously the goal of folks in the Car Free forum is to become (or stay) car free. But what about bike commuters?

The title of this post is "Commitment to Commuter Cycling" and the question is about "becoming cycle dependent".

It may seem like a logical progression from bike commuting to a car-free existence. After all, bike commuters are car-free commuters, which usually means commuting to work, or a regularly visited location; but the term "commuting" is vague or broad enough to encompass driving or travel in general. But I don't think one follows the other.

For me, and I assume many others, biking to work is how I fit fitness into my daily schedule. My drive to and from work takes about 50 minutes out of my day. My bike ride to and from work takes about an hour and a half of riding (plus another 30 min for changing, etc.). Thats 90 minutes of exercise for only 40 extra minutes traveling. Plus unlike a stationary bike or treadmill, once I get going I can't stop halfway if I'm not feeling it.

And since some semblance of fitness is my goal and I live in a walkable neighborhood I will also walk or bike to the grocery store when buying few enough items to carry home on foot or in my bike baskets. I will also walk to lunch on workdays, which means 15-20 minutes each way depending on where I'm going, and sometimes biking further. On paydays I will bike three miles at lunch to hit two banks and lunch. But again, my goal is staying fit-ish. And that is why I also take in a weekend ride or two, just for the sheer joy of it also.

I know there are some who bike to reduce their impact on the environment, or to keep from enriching certain industries or countries, but those are not my prime motivators.

But I do drive...and I see no practical alternative to most of it.

While I do bike in snow , ice and rain year-round I do have limits: 5F and 3-inches of snow. Below 5F it is too dangerous if I have to stop due to mechanical or physical issues, and above 3-inches my speed drops to walking speed. If it's too icy to drive and too cold to bike, I will take the bus, but that takes up to 90 minutes each way!

And then there is the issue of family commitments. When I was young and single I could have probably been car free. But my wife dosen't bike and a tandem would only lead to divorce, so that makes biking out for dinner or entertainment with her impossible. If one has young children they need to ferry around, a cargo bike or a bike with a trailer may work in some situations, but not mine. We have had ongoing medical conditions in the family that require getting across town or state quickly. For the last couple of years we have been taking care of my 90-year old mother-in-law who no longer drives and can barely walk. And, heck, I'm almost 60, and am keenly aware of wear and tear on my body, and a diminishing of achievable physical limits.

Family-sized grocery runs and other shopping, after-school sports and activities, socializing, get-togethers and entertainment are all possible without a car, but they require an enourmous time commitment or reliance on public transportation or cabs, ride shares, etc, which in themselves require time and monetary commitments.

And then there's the funk and mess of days filled with cycling.

I realize that some people are in situations that precludes car ownership, and I sympathize with them. Others have made a decision to live car-free and I admire that kind of commitment if it doesn't negatively impact their families.

Time, weather, distance local topography and cargo and passenger-carrying ability, funk and mess...for a truly car-free life these require the kind of committment I am not willing to make, and fortunately, I don't have to.

But I am willing, able and eager to bike to work and back. It is a great joy, and yields the level of fitness I desire to enjoy life and be healthy enough to be there for my family.

Yes - check out "Living Car Free". But, be aware that it can get a bit interesting in there at times!

To answer your question: I was bike-dependent for 5 1/2 years in a small town in the Upper Midwest. Other household members opted for transit (which was poor) or walking. Sidewalks (for walking) and wide traffic lanes (for cycling) made it easy to get around, haul a trailer, and so on. The biggest issue was ice; we had to use cleated shoes and spiked tires in the winter.

My current location is a bit different. Roads are very narrow, there is little cycling infrastructure, things are more spread out, and my 9 mile one-way commute to work is not served by transit. Bike dependence would be more difficult (but not impossible) for an adult with grocery collection duties and a full-time job.

When I lived in AZ (I know, what's winter?) I got around with nothing but a bicycle (didn't even own a car or motorcycle) for nearly 10 years, averaging right around 1000 miles/month.

Now, I commute, and will stop on the way home for groceries if they're reasonably small (less than 4-5 plastic bags worth). I am looking into getting a trailer for the bulkier stuff (my wife drinks diet soda), but usually I just drive for that. I commute probably 9 days out of 10 on average, and still go on weekend rides.

I live in a hilly area. I always use the bike if possible. Lots of times however I need to arrive with a decent appearance and don't have showers available at destination. Others I have too much distance and little time to cover it... I do what I can, but in no way it approximates a car free life, unfortunately.

Having a 3y/o at home makes riding difficult too...

I can dig this thread... I ride 365 in Spokane valley Washington. I am car free but mostly use my conveyance for work commute. Grocery getter stuff. I don't like the car light-car free who gives a car &$#@ stuff in the other category too much. But I ride... 365. Commuting amongst my community. Ok

I live 3.5 miles from work, in a town that's one of the most bike-friendly in the nation, situated in a great climate, and I don't have any other time in my day for going to a gym. It really is a no-brainer. I used to live further (5.5 miles) and the difference in the ride time, tiredness and home time with the kids was noticeable. If I lived twelve miles from work I'd do something else. Some of the guys on this forum doing 40 miles RT, 200 days a year, I can't imagine.

FWIW, I live in the neighborhood nearest east of my job. There are closer apartments, but 3-3.5 miles is about the distance for houses. There other neighborhoods similar distance west and north. But that wasn't why we chose this house. We moved because we wanted to change school districts, and the former house was in a suburb that's going to the dogs. If I had wound up with a 12 mile haul, I'd have accepted it... and done something other than bike commuting.

I did an experiment a couple of years ago, got rid of my vehicle and lived car-free for over 3 years and it became a hassle filled with inconvenience... I prefer to have a vehicle and live car-light. The weather has nothing to do with it as I've been an all year round commuter for the past 13 years. The problem with living without a car is that it puts serious limitations on your ability to go visit places, it can also limits your opportunities for employment. I am also a recreational ride who likes to go mountain biking and riding gravel on the weekends and I need a vehicle so I can get to those places which I enjoy riding.... There are also days when I come home from long hard day of work and I just don't feel like getting back on my bicycle ( after I just finished my bike commute from work), just to go to a store to get something.

I commute daily, if its bad weather 20F or real rainy i go 6 miles. Otherwise i go 24 mile route 4x a week. If i go anywhere with in 20 miles one way, its an automatic bike ride. My 6 year old can ride up to 20 miles right now but it takes awhile avg around 10mph. So if time is strained then i take the car. With that said, i just put gas in my car this past Friday, the last time i put gas in it? September 4th 2019. I have to keep a trickle charge on my car.

I keep the car around because well i have kids, and they are 6, and 7. But only use it when i have to or the need warrants it. (Wife had to go to ER once for serious asthma attack). The car does come handy. But going to dinner with in 8 miles ? Heck whole family saddles up and rides to dinner. If I’m paying, they have to work for it if they want the treat of eating out ;)

24 miles 4x/week! WOW! Great job!

I'm basically bike dependant. Every other way to get to work is slower and less convenient. My bike is a practical tool for slogging to work under all conditions, but my car is for fun and recreation. If the roads are salted, I never drive.

Commitment to commuter cycling

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Originally Posted by BobbyG (Post 21297773)

I think it's a valid question to ask in the Commuting Forum. Obviously the goal of folks in the Car Free forum is to become (or stay) car free. But what about bike commuters?...

I realize that some people are in situations that precludes car ownership, and I sympathize with them. Others have made a decision to live car-free and I admire that kind of commitment if it doesn't negatively impact their families.

Time, weather, distance local topography and cargo and passenger-carrying ability, funk and mess..for a truly car-free life these require the kind of committment I am not willing to make, and fortunately, I don't have to.

But I am willing, able and eager to bike to work and back. It is a great joy, and yields the level of fitness I desire to enjoy life and be healthy enough to be there for my family.

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Nice summary @BobbyG, and very similar to my preferences and situation.

However, Boston City Proper is quite amenable to a car-free, and detrimental to a car-intense lifestyle. Though I have a 14 mile one-way pleasant commute to the suburbs, I also have very convenient Commuter Rail at the start and finish ends, and can even take my bike on board, as a reverse commuter.

A final quirk that allows me to be car free, but paradoxically inhibits my cycle commuting:

Last year my job moved. Previously I lived <5 mi from work. Rode to work almost every day. Car free? No. Just enjoy riding. But it did keep my car mileage down.

Now I live ~25 mi from work. Tried combining the light rail with riding. The light rail takes more than an hour to get to the ride part. Then I had a 45-60 min ride to work. Reverse at the end of the day. Driving to a park and ride takes less than 30 min. Costs more but that extra hour a day is worth it to me.

Currently I drive ~20 mi, ride ~7 mi each way. 14-15 mi/day is about right for me. About ~75 min each way. Not even considering getting rid of the car.

Don't check out Living Car Free. It is acrimonious. The folks here are nicer.

I live 30km from work and what I'm doing is that I commute by bike twice a week. Would do it every day if I could, but it's not possible and also introduces a bit of a lost time chainging and showering...

I use my bicycle for commuting as well as exploring towns and cities near me. I've also used my bicycle to bring home large objects such as a Dehumidifier, a recliner/rocker chair, a couple of bar chairs and I used a Dahon trailer to move from my apartment years ago and put a bar-refrigerator on the top of that trailer.

I found that bicycle commuting in Toronto Canada was faster than public transit over distances of 15 miles and more. Plus, with the bicycle I could avoid any traffic jams due to accidents or take an alternative rout for more exercise.

Cheers

I was a city-living car-free bachelor for most of my 20s and early 30s.

Then I met the woman of my dreams, and she came bundled with a car.

Now we have two young children, and our car is ABSOLUTELY very useful at times, especially for frequent family trips up to Milwaukee to visit my wife's parents and sisters.

But my bike commuting, along with living in a walkable city neighborhood very close to multiple bus and train transit lines, helps keep us a one-car family.

I don't see us getting rid of our car, especially because our 3-flat unit came with a deeded off-street parking space, thus removing one of the biggest annoyances of owning a car in the city: where to park the damn thing. But it is my hope to continue the one-car family thing for as long as possible (ideally forever).

Seems like the only people that can live car free or hot young ladies. I belong to a lot of hiking/fitness groups. Every hike/event there was a lady asking for a car pool.

I was using a motorcycle for four years as my only transportation. I don't miss the hassele. Nice to have a car I can just pop in without putting all my motorcycle gear on to get groceries. Nice to have a car to go hiking and leave my house at 5/6am on sat without all my gear that I have not place to put it when I get to the trail. If living with just motorcycle is a PITA living with just bike would be 100x worse.

Living Car Free is difficult or ill-advised for many. But using your car less is an excellent thing. You can use it less than you think. And you should. There's too much driving going on.

In some places, "car free" is easy, in others, weather, traffic, time, take their toll on riding. I believe walking or riding requires a "gut level" commitment, I find it easy to hop in the car for errands, work etc, but I decided 50 years ago that I could easily "schedule" commuting into my work time.
I have been fortunate to wear a uniform all of my work life, so the inclement weather, dust, sweat has not been a factor unlike those who lives are in an office. I used my own mantra, " just do it", and knew when to leave to arrive timely and stuck to it. I am now reaping the $$ and the health benefits of a commuting life style. I have to agree with Tom, "difficult or ill-advised" is real, we just have to focus and ride when we can,
Rod

I'm looking into getting a small trailer to reduce my car use even further and use the bike and velo more for grocery shopping.

I can fit a 2 x 20 lb bags of cat food in the velo, but I need to put extra air in the rear shock before I do.

Why not get your groceries delivered? Most Markets have delivery service now a days.