For anyone seriously considering ditching their car for a bike, my story should serve as a warning.
It’s April of 2008: Republicans hope the devolving Democratic Primary fight will put them back in the White House, no one knows what a credit default swap or a Sarah Palin is yet, a whole bunch of 401K and IRA money still exists on paper, and gas is getting alarmingly close to $4 a gallon.
It’s at this point that I decided it’s time to stop driving to work and start biking. The reasons were many. Like most men in their late 30s, I could stand to lose a bit of weight and get in shape. Riding a bike produces less pollution than driving a car. The whole primary fight was very stressful and I needed something to take my mind off of it. And, best of all, think of all the money I’d save on gas!
I biked May through October before it got too cold (I live in Chicago). This past week, I dusted off the bike again since it’s warmed up a bit, and decided to crunch the numbers from my 6 months of riding last season to see how much I’d saved. Unfortunately, it turns out I’m in the hole about $1,000, probably more if I’m honest with myself.
The breakdown after the jump.
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