Just as I finished kicking the kick stand down on my bike, she started talking. “Hey! I see you all around town riding your bike – at night, in the morning, after work. I could never do that.”
Yes you could I thought. You’re just too lazy but you’ll drive your car over here 2 miles each way to come and workout and pay over 100 bucks a month for a CrossFit coach to lead your workout. Instead I said, “Well you could too . . .” she smiled awkwardly and entered the door.
You probably did not know this, but May is
National Bike Month. My soap box is short and small. I ride to work most days about 3 miles each way. Not very much you must admit. But those little 3 miles add up.
Let’s do some math! S = MT x 0.5 x D
Savings = 3 x 2 x 0.5 x 200 = $600
If you want to gloss over the details, I save an estimated $600 annually just by riding my bike to work most days.
This assumes, miles (M) = 3 miles, trips (T) = 2 trips (one each way), $0.5 cost per mile, D = days worked. Given that driving a car is
reimbursed at about $0.50 per mile and I work about 200 days per year, I get 3 miles x 2 trips x $0.5 x 200 days = $600.
We can continue the conversation by discussing the finding that the
cost to operate a car is about $8,000 annually and about the
added benefits of bicycling and about the
benefits to the environment.
It’s too difficult.
I cannot do it every day.
I don’t want to wear spandex.
Yada yada, blah blah blah.
I could never do that.
Yes you could. Start by walking part way. Start with 1 or 2 trips a week. Carpool? Think creatively. Ok so maybe it’s not about saving your planet, really. It’s about taking care of yourself and helping out a little bit. Just as you do when you work at eating healthier and by investing in that gym or CrossFit membership each month.
