No not how much your car cost to purchase, I am talking about the much much much higher cost of how much it costs to own and use your car every month, how much you pay for maintenance, parking, insurance, gas, loans etc…
I think it is worth comparing how much having and using a car costs you per month so that it puts the fear of having your commuter bike stolen into monetary context. It might suck if your commuter bike gets stolen for a variety of reasons but it might not actually be the financial hit it seems like given how much we unconsciously invisibilize the constant reoccurring major costs we pay out for using a car.
I point this out because at least in the US where I live there is a stupendously big blindspot around realizing cars cost an arm and leg to own and use.
Yes yes it is because there is a major cost to using your car, AAA estimates it costs upwards of $0.60 a mile (up to $1.10 a mile for a large pickup truck) to use your car. Those costs add up SUPER quick with gas, parking, and a million other costs that are incurred when you drive.
I agree with the additional costs but even with them I’m still not getting rid of my car. My gut says that most bike commuters are not living car free though that may not be a valid assumption in Boston.
Food for thought, how often would people have to steal a used commuter bike from you for it to exceed the wholistic costs of owning and using a car?
Once every two months?
My commuter bike is ~5k my car was ~30k so my bike would need to be stolen six times. I don’t know why were comparing the costs of the two though.
No not how much your car cost to purchase, I am talking about the much much much higher cost of how much it costs to own and use your car every month, how much you pay for maintenance, parking, insurance, gas, loans etc…
I think it is worth comparing how much having and using a car costs you per month so that it puts the fear of having your commuter bike stolen into monetary context. It might suck if your commuter bike gets stolen for a variety of reasons but it might not actually be the financial hit it seems like given how much we unconsciously invisibilize the constant reoccurring major costs we pay out for using a car.
I point this out because at least in the US where I live there is a stupendously big blindspot around realizing cars cost an arm and leg to own and use.
I think for most adults in the US this isn’t an either or thing, I may commute by bike but I still need/want my car so a cost comparison isn’t valid.
Yes yes it is because there is a major cost to using your car, AAA estimates it costs upwards of $0.60 a mile (up to $1.10 a mile for a large pickup truck) to use your car. Those costs add up SUPER quick with gas, parking, and a million other costs that are incurred when you drive.
I agree with the additional costs but even with them I’m still not getting rid of my car. My gut says that most bike commuters are not living car free though that may not be a valid assumption in Boston.
Can I see your bike? Carbon road bike or cargo ebike? :)
I have never been able to upload photos to lemmy but if you look for GermanyChris on bike forums you’ll find multiple pictures of all my bikes.
None of my bikes are carbon or cargo they’re Surlys built with boutique parts. (https://ibb.co/sLfHbwg)
Looks like I’m not smart enough to do this via link in the desktop app either
Ooooh, nice bike!
Thanks!