parkersdad

I thought this would be a fun thread to see what motivates everyone to commute every day? I will start. Mostly what motivates me is the money savings factor. I usually end up putting $100 worth of fuel in my truck every week. For the last 2 1/2 months I've spent $30 on fuel. The other motivating factor for me is fitness, I've got myself in a lot better shape.

Riz98

I also like not spending the money on fuel for my car but just getting outside and having some piece and quite is great( 4 and 3 year olds are crazy). My early morning commute home, usually starting around 2:30am-3:30am, is a very pleasant ride. Today I had about 8 cars pass by me in 17 miles which is great. Since commuting now for a couple months I have also been able to quit smoking. That is probably the greatest thing so far.

TransitBiker

Living with as much sustainability and personal independence as i can come up with in a car obsessed country. Living car free is like coming up for air every time i think about it.

Also, with my upcoming solo charity ride, i've been really pushing myself as hard as i can as often as i can, asking friends and family to give me errands to do or looking for extra work that takes me longer around town. If i raise enough money or awareness to save just one life.... that is what motivates me more specifically recently.

- Andy

mgw4jc

My motivation is simply that I have to get to work. My wife and I have one car between us, and I don't like to leave her at home without a car. She usually has to go somewhere anyway for one of the kids' activities. If the weather is bad enough, she can usually bring me in and/or pick me up after, so it works out okay for us.

duckbill

Food!

If I don't work, I don't eat and I like to eat.

chriskmurray

I simply enjoy it more than driving. It also gives me a little more freedom to eat what I want. With how expensive my bikes are I am guessing it is actually more expensive than if I were to drive.

tsl

There's no one reason for me. In fact, it took several together to get me started.

I was already car-free when I took up cycling. I'd been car-free for seven years already. So the usual car-oriented reasons were already many years in my past.

• The transit system eliminated transfers, thereby effectively doubling my fare.
• A friend only five years older had just dropped dead of a heart attack.
• I wanted to reclaim some transportation independence WRT routing and scheduling.
• I needed something fun in my life, and remembered cycling had been fun in my youth.

There were others I can't remember now, eight years later.

What keeps me cycling now is primarily the joy. I still have tranportation alternatives, but none quite so enjoyable as cycling.

The improved physical health is nice, so is the improved mental health. I'd struggled for decades against depression and anxiety disorders. Within a year of beginning cycling, all that disappeared.

Economics remains a motivator for being car-free. It's what enables me to be essentially semi-retired.

There are still dozens of others, but those are the main ones.

mgw4jc

I should add that I've bike commuted for a long time - except for a couple of years where I worked from home - regardless of having a car or not. I just prefer being outside. Riding to work is a great way to take a normally stressful time of day (commuting) and turning it into something fun.

1nterceptor

Not just one reason; but a few. Health(both physical and mental), environmental, financial
and most important - it's just FUN. Riding the bus or train just makes me miserable.

RANDALL'S ISLAND, NYC by 1nterceptor, on Flickr

NYC office parking by 1nterceptor, on Flickr

bbeasley

I've cycled my way back to fitness. Using my bike for transportation allows me to utilize my fitness for something productive. I find this very satisfying.

Then there's this, before and after cycling:

locolobo13 

Because I can.
Enjoyable
Improves fitness
Saves money

ill.clyde

Improved fitness and weight loss for sure ... and I do save a bit of money overall. There's definitely a joy factor as well. I've always loved cycling, and commuting allows me to cycle virtually everyday without taking a lot of time from my home and family.

Plus it makes dealing with work more bearable. I know at the end of the day I have a nice bike ride waiting for me. And that helps a great deal.

RISKDR1

I do enjoy the social aspects of riding. My primary motivation though is staying fit. I am now 70 and a very active guy. I want to be able to continue to be active. I love hiking as well. I also love fly fishing and I am a competitive shooter. Fitness enhances all aspects of life and extends the time that I can enjoy these things. Cycling provides a low impact way to stay fit for life.

I retired last August. I have seen others who retire and become couch potatoes and watch their health and the enjoyment of life slip away. I don't want to be one of those people.

Steely Dan

strong work!

i had a similar transformation brought about by daily bike commuting:






my motivations for bike commuting are:
- it's fun!
- improved physical & mental health
- we're a one car family and it belongs to my wife
- it's faster than taking the el or walking
- i enjoy being the change i wish to see in the world

linnefaulk

Fitness and overall good feeling I get while riding.

linnefaulk

And Iam hoping to post my own before/after shots some day.

one_beatnik

30 pound weight loss
resting heart rate of 47
FUN!
Ego......most are shocked that I ride "that far" (it's only 12 miles one way.)
gas savings (I've literally spent less in 12 years with my bike INCLUDING the cost of the bike and the maintenance and repairs than my wife spent in gas last year!)
I look damn good in spandex!

parkersdad

No pictures please!��

one_beatnik

devianb

I cycle more since my hours were cut at work. Have to save every dollar I can for awhile.

PaulH

Because of congestion, driving my car in rush hour traffic is always frustrating and often difficult. Sheer laziness was what got me cycling.

Booger1

It's fun.

SJX426 

I really enjoy (love) riding a bike. Although my commuter is not the most fun, riding is. Losing weight, saving money and feeling more healthy helps too! It is therapeutic!

caloso

I enjoy riding. Commuting just provides an opportunity to ride twice a day, five days a week.

parkersdad

Okay what did you do and what jail are you in? Ha