This week’s Tuesday Tip is bicycling as an inexpensive mode of transport. Have I mentioned that I love my green, Raleigh Comfort bike? Probably, right?
Tip # 3: Bicycle your way to the grocery store, save money and lose inches!
Why Cycling is Frugal
- When gas prices were hovering around $5.00 per gallon here in sunny Los Angeles, I bought myself a bicycle. My trips to Starbucks, the grocery store, and even the bank were all under 2 miles. I saved money on filling up my Honda with gas less often -and smiled to myself as I rode past the gas stations. (I love my Honda, but it’s not very fuel efficient š ).
- Pedaling my way around town, I realized I didn’t have to spend the extra time working out. I was never a gym-goer, I like being outside more often than not. However, I saved time in the evenings by getting in my exercise while completing an errand. Save time, save money – bike!
- Fit people cost our health care system less money. Cycling not only strengthens your legs, but your heart as well. And, heart disease is the number one killer among humans.
- You don’t have to pay for parking. Biking to school saves me over $300 on parking permits. Whoo-hoo!
Cycling is Good for the Environment
- When you pedal, there’s no petroleum based byproduct to worry about. You are conserving petroleum, reducing your emissions, and getting fit all at the same time.
- If you worry about the amount of energy that went into making your bike, you can always purchase a used one. That’s one of the great things about bicycles, their simple, but effective, design. A good tune-up and some new tires on a used bike and you’re ready to go.
Do you ride your bike? Does your city make it easy for you to do so? Do you ride offensively or defensively? How many of you ride weekly?
4 Comments
@Simple in France – Have you tried the Velo bike rentals? I’m curious as to how those are working out. I think they are mainly in Paris, though. A used bike is a great idea, especially if you don’t want to bother locking it up everytime you run into a shop!
A bike sounds tempting, as the store (and Starbucks) is about 1 1/2 miles away. I’m really worried about biking with all the traffic. Is it busy in your neighborhood?
.-= BucksomeĀ“s last blog ..Iām up to the Alexa Challengeā¦The Yakezie Way =-.
@Bucksome – The traffic is something I’m always aware of. I ride my bike on the streets, when I feel it’s safe, and sometimes on the sidewalks, when I feel the streets are too busy. There aren’t many people walking on the sidewalks around my neighborhood (:() so there isn’t a problem with me running down pedestrians. I wish there were more separated bike lanes, that would be great!
@Simple in France – Thanks for responding back on that. I was just curious. I can see where it might be more difficult riding in a large city. I was in NY a couple of years ago and noticed there were more bicyclists. However, the traffic scared me to death! And there were way to many pedestrians on the sidewalks to safely ride on them. Hopefully more separated bike lanes will pop up in Paris soon!