Even the higher-price mid-range bikes are way cheaper than the cheapest cars, and there’s a lot on the bike that you can just do yourself instead of relying on a mechanic, most parts are cheaper as well, lots of bikes allow more personalization…
Bikes are the paragon of freedom Anericans think cars are.
In cities bikes are often faster than cars. They don’t get stuck in traffic and you don’t have to worry about parking. On longer distances this goes away, but short urban trips are no brainers.
Depends on the city. And the definition of city.
My city used to be a “bicycle city” before it was cool, but nowadays cars have taken over the roads and the bike infrastructure that’s been created sucks, when I worked just 6km from home, car was faster even in rush hour traffic. Now work is outside the city and the bike is simply too impractical, it takes too much time and it’s dangerous.
I have fond memories of working and living in the country side and going to work on my MTB through tree plantations, but alas, that’s in the past.
In NY, nothing beats an illegally de-limited electric bicycle. Often a regular one beats cars, especially if you are willing to run a red light here and there.
Buses, cops and ambulances get stuck in traffic too because New Yorkers don’t leave a Rettungsgasse. Look in all directions before running a red light or abusing right turn priority with a U-turn in the adjacent street.
How does this have so many upvotes? As long as it’s actually possible to ride your bike in your city, the cost of buying and then maintaining a bicycle is WAY, WAY, cheaper than a car
Bicycles have less mass than a car and therefore need less fossil fuel for their tires.
Bicycles are objectively cheaper to buy, maintain, and run than a car, even if you go for the average expensive bicycle and the average cheap car. There just is no way to make the car come out on top when it’s about costs.
You actually can get bikes for free pretty often, especially if you’ve got the ability to turn a wrench.
And while modern tires probably do incorporate some fossil ‘fuels’ (technically not fossil fuel if you’re not burning it, by the way), they don’t have to. Old school tires are made from vulcanized rubber, which can be made by reacting natural rubber from a rubber tree with sulfuric acid and heat. No fossil ‘fuels’ involved.
Car tires usually weigh more than 7kg and you need 4 instead of two.
The only slightest bit of an argument here could be for trains.
I also need maybe 5 specialised tools to service my bike (which is veeeery easy to do compared to doing it on a car) and those tools together cost less than 200€. Then I spend around 200€ a year or less on parts to service my bike, and I use it to go to work every day.
My car is sooooo much more expensive than that, even though I do most stuff myself.
Bikes are incredibly cheaper than cars, cars need new tires more often, car tires are way more expensive, you can make tires without fossil oil. I’m not sure I get your point. What was your point?
A car runs on money and makes you fat.
A bike runs on fat and saves you money.
The saving money part might be not completely true
It’s definitely possible to spend a lot on your bicycle but it is almost certainly cheaper than using and maintaining a car
Even the higher-price mid-range bikes are way cheaper than the cheapest cars, and there’s a lot on the bike that you can just do yourself instead of relying on a mechanic, most parts are cheaper as well, lots of bikes allow more personalization…
Bikes are the paragon of freedom Anericans think cars are.
Time is money tho
In cities bikes are often faster than cars. They don’t get stuck in traffic and you don’t have to worry about parking. On longer distances this goes away, but short urban trips are no brainers.
Depends on the city. And the definition of city.
My city used to be a “bicycle city” before it was cool, but nowadays cars have taken over the roads and the bike infrastructure that’s been created sucks, when I worked just 6km from home, car was faster even in rush hour traffic. Now work is outside the city and the bike is simply too impractical, it takes too much time and it’s dangerous.
I have fond memories of working and living in the country side and going to work on my MTB through tree plantations, but alas, that’s in the past.
In NY, nothing beats an illegally de-limited electric bicycle. Often a regular one beats cars, especially if you are willing to run a red light here and there.
And what if you are not a criminal that wages their own life?
Tourists take the bus, I guess.
Buses, cops and ambulances get stuck in traffic too because New Yorkers don’t leave a Rettungsgasse. Look in all directions before running a red light or abusing right turn priority with a U-turn in the adjacent street.
How does this have so many upvotes? As long as it’s actually possible to ride your bike in your city, the cost of buying and then maintaining a bicycle is WAY, WAY, cheaper than a car
It’s rare to replace a car with a bike though. You replace journeys instead, so end up with a lot of the fixed(ish) costs anyway.
Saves me loads on my commute though.
Wtf are you on about? A good bike costs less than a few months insurance and gas.
Good thing they are free! Wait…they aren’t? And they run on fossil fuel tires?? Oops.
Bicycles have less mass than a car and therefore need less fossil fuel for their tires. Bicycles are objectively cheaper to buy, maintain, and run than a car, even if you go for the average expensive bicycle and the average cheap car. There just is no way to make the car come out on top when it’s about costs.
Yeah, similarly, one could make the mistake of walking. But even sneaker treads use rubber. Same poison!
You actually can get bikes for free pretty often, especially if you’ve got the ability to turn a wrench.
And while modern tires probably do incorporate some fossil ‘fuels’ (technically not fossil fuel if you’re not burning it, by the way), they don’t have to. Old school tires are made from vulcanized rubber, which can be made by reacting natural rubber from a rubber tree with sulfuric acid and heat. No fossil ‘fuels’ involved.
Dumbest internet comment today. Well done!
Bike tires don’t usually weigh more than 300g.
Car tires usually weigh more than 7kg and you need 4 instead of two.
The only slightest bit of an argument here could be for trains.
I also need maybe 5 specialised tools to service my bike (which is veeeery easy to do compared to doing it on a car) and those tools together cost less than 200€. Then I spend around 200€ a year or less on parts to service my bike, and I use it to go to work every day.
My car is sooooo much more expensive than that, even though I do most stuff myself.
Bikes are incredibly cheaper than cars, cars need new tires more often, car tires are way more expensive, you can make tires without fossil oil. I’m not sure I get your point. What was your point?