Public Transport Savings from Cycle Commuting

[Rhubarb]

I live in Brisbane where public transport went up 15% yesterday. It doesn't effect me directly as I'm an all weather cycle commuter and I only use the info to make me feel better about how much I'm saving.

So I went on to the website to check the current price for me, Zone 4 from home to CBD, now $4.77 one way, ie $47.70 per week. But as much as that is, I also noticed the pricing for 2013 and 2014 is also listed there, with further 15% increases each year. In 2013 and 2014 my bus trip will cost $5.49 and $6.32 each way respectively. Wow !!!

Assuming you would make 470 trips per year (48 weeks work minus 5 public holidays), thats $2242, $2580 and $2970 each year for the next 3 years.

I paid $1700 for a very nice Malvern Star Oppy C5 (CF Road bike, 105 groupset) over 2 years ago and use this for my daily commuting, so I'm way ahead and don't need to upgrade as its still running very nicely after about 12000 kms.

But you could buy a new bike every year and still be ahead based on these public transport prices.

Or buy a new bike every 3 to 5 years and just pocket the savings !!!!

[Rhubarb]

I should add here that I would cycle even if the bus was free. The other benefits (including enjoyment) are simply overwhelming.

[gururug]

Reckon most people stick with cycle commuting in the city for the time/health benefits.

Commuting every day, you'd have to add at least $500/$1000 in bike maintenance to your figure.

[gdt]

More like $1000. Consider that if work is only 15Km away then that is two sets of tyres per year assuming you aren't unlucky with punctures (and I had ten in a matter of days last year). After a few years the expensive parts get a fair bit of wear and tear (eg, I'm up for new wheels this year, and when commuting you want reliability, so some low end wheel isn't going to cut it). Then after a decade you need to replace some really weird stuff (eg, the straps of my helmet were wearing through).

And then there's clothes. Summer and winter jacket, jersey, undershirt, knicks, leg warmers, summer and winter gloves, shoe covers, clear- and sun-glasses. I'm not saying you need it all, or all at once, but good clothes do get you on the bike to work on that -5C morning or that 45C afternoon.

I really wouldn't make an argument about running costs versus the bike. The real saving is in the reduced depreciation of your car or in time (you can just go, no waiting for the bus).

[wombatK]

It looks like your commute is around 15 km each way (12000/400 work days per year = 30 km per day). Let's say the train journey
for that time takes maybe around 40 minutes. That's an average travel speed on the train of 22.5 kph. Very beatable on a
bicycle.

Even more beatable if you include the time it takes to walk to/from the station, buy tickets etc.,. And we haven't even
factored in the health benefits and reduction in gym fees etc.,. due to your healthier transport mode.

Now you know why so many people in China commute by bicycle.

[lethoso]

More like $1000. Consider that if work is only 15Km away then that is two sets of tyres per year assuming you aren't unlucky with punctures (and I had ten in a matter of days last year). After a few years the expensive parts get a fair bit of wear and tear (eg, I'm up for new wheels this year, and when commuting you want reliability, so some low end wheel isn't going to cut it). Then after a decade you need to replace some really weird stuff (eg, the straps of my helmet were wearing through).

Last year, riding ~15k each way every day I wore out one marathon and halfway wore out the other ($50 bucks on tyres), went through two chains ($40 bucks), a cluster ($50), set of brake pads ($30). A few other small sundries I've probably forgotten and that's about $200 in essentials. Could probably have improved the chain/cluster life significantly if I'd cleaned my bike once in a while.

Clothes/helmets/shoes/etc. - shoes are looking a bit rough after 15,000k (two years worth of commuting) - (130 bucks, so $65/yr), helmet is getting a bit funky after a few years (hundred buck hat, so $50/yr), knicks - two sets have gotten pretty ratty over a few years, rest are holding up ok (probably spent about 70 bucks a pair, a pessimistic estimate is probably 1.5 pairs worth of wear a year, so another $100), jerseys - I have a whole bunch, probably spent about 40 bucks each, all are holding up ok, but we'll say a jersey a year in wear ($40). I ride to work in work socks, and probably trash 10 pairs a year ($30). So $275 on clothes - I'm really not very frugal in this regard.

Wear life on other components is probably harder to estimate as nothing's actually died yet, but I'd guess definitely no more than a couple of hundred bucks worth of wear a year based on how much they cost me.

There's also the cost of superfluous cycling crap I don't need but buy anyway, but that's not directly attributable to commuting, so I'll just conveniently ignore it

[Oxford]

I really enjoyed cycle commuting for all the benefits and low cost. Running an SS was even cheaper again than Rhubarb's costs. Even when I was paying for the Cycle Centre at $4.50 a day, the running costs of a bike were nothing. I'm also a Zone 4 and to spend nearly $50 a week on public transport is crazy. I now ride a motor bike to commute and find its not that much more expensive than riding a bike (assuming I include the Cycle Centre cost).

[csy75]

obvious health benefits aside, a co-worker swears he picks up a cold every time he gets the bus in winter....so avoiding that means less sick days and all the issues of the flu.... ( I had my first ear infection ever this year and never want to go through that again )

[jasonc]

Rhubarb - I saved $1091.88 last year.

BUT if I take away everything I bought, them I'm miles behind (look for my name in the money pits thread)
Definitely more incentive to ride.

When I do catch PT (at $9.54 per day - sheesh), I catch 2 buses. I beat the bus home easily. A workmate lived around the corner and I've beaten him home.

In terms of maintenance costs, at lot of my money pits costs is due to one-off purchases. e.g. bike tool kits, second set of wheels, work stand. If I can get back in the black, or close to this year, I'll be laughing. Though I will need another set of tyres, and tubes...and my shorts aren't looking too good.

[wombatK]

Last year, riding ~15k each way every day I wore out one marathon and halfway wore out the other ($50 bucks on tyres), went through two chains ($40 bucks), a cluster ($50), set of brake pads ($30). A few other small sundries I've probably forgotten and that's about $200 in essentials. Could probably have improved the chain/cluster life significantly if I'd cleaned my bike once in a while.

Clothes/helmets/shoes/etc. - shoes are looking a bit rough after 15,000k (two years worth of commuting) - (130 bucks, so $65/yr), helmet is getting a bit funky after a few years (hundred buck hat, so $50/yr), knicks - two sets have gotten pretty ratty over a few years, rest are holding up ok (probably spent about 70 bucks a pair, a pessimistic estimate is probably 1.5 pairs worth of wear a year, so another $100), jerseys - I have a whole bunch, probably spent about 40 bucks each, all are holding up ok, but we'll say a jersey a year in wear ($40). I ride to work in work socks, and probably trash 10 pairs a year ($30). So $275 on clothes - I'm really not very frugal in this regard.

Wear life on other components is probably harder to estimate as nothing's actually died yet, but I'd guess definitely no more than a couple of hundred bucks worth of wear a year based on how much they cost me.

There's also the cost of superfluous cycling crap I don't need but buy anyway, but that's not directly attributable to commuting, so I'll just conveniently ignore it

Getting 15000K out of two chains and one cassette is doing pretty well. All your expenses look reasonable over that distance, but they also look like DIY prices rather than what an LBS would charge. That's the thing about a bike simplicity: if you're not a
mechanical clutz you can take care of these common items yourself. Otherwise, you might have to double the prices you've quoted.

You haven't made any allowance for maintenance on the Bottom Bracket, Headset or Hubs, nor depreciation (10 to 15%) on the bike. Depending on the quality of bike you are using, it wouldn't be hard to get to $1000 even if you DIY on these items.

Nevertheless, you'd still be well ahead in comparison with the PT option, and even better off compared to car commuters.

Cheers

[lethoso]

Getting 15000K out of two chains and one cassette is doing pretty well. All your expenses look reasonable over that distance, but they also look like DIY prices rather than what an LBS would charge. That's the thing about a bike simplicity: if you're not a
mechanical clutz you can take care of these common items yourself. Otherwise, you might have to double the prices you've quoted.

You haven't made any allowance for maintenance on the Bottom Bracket, Headset or Hubs, nor depreciation (10 to 15%) on the bike. Depending on the quality of bike you are using, it wouldn't be hard to get to $1000 even if you DIY on these items.

Nevertheless, you'd still be well ahead in comparison with the PT option, and even better off compared to car commuters.

Cheers

ah - I only got about 7,000k out of the chains (mixing different numbers around in the post so it was a little unclear, sorry), cassette was closer to 10,000k. You're right about doubling the cost if you're not DIYing though - which would make it much less of a bargain.

Maintenance on other parts i hadn't quantified as nothing has worn out yet, but to give an indication - I spent about 500 bucks on everything that bolts onto the frame, the front wheel cost me another 20 bucks second hand, the rear was pinched from another of my bikes but would be ~100 bucks used. Even if everything else wears out after a few years (I really think most of it should last at least 3-5) it's still only a couple of hundred a year.

Depreciation is a fair point, probably a few hundred in the first year, decreasing thereafter.

[Comedian]

I only missed 21 days last year so roughly 1470 saved for me. Problem is I "invested" way more than that on bikes.

[high_tea]

That's Brisbane public transport for you - premium price, budget service. Between the completely unwarranted abuse I got from a bus driver one day, the total unreliability and the ridiculous price, I've decided that they can go to the Devil. The fact that bus drivers, as a group, are less than cyclist-friendly helped my decision along too.

[Mulger bill]

I only missed 21 days last year so roughly 1470 saved for me. Problem is I "invested" way more than that on bikes.

How do you value your bike induced fitness?

[Comedian]

I only missed 21 days last year so roughly 1470 saved for me. Problem is I "invested" way more than that on bikes.

How do you value your bike induced fitness?

Absolutely... totally change my life - which is now divided into before and after cycling.

[Rhubarb]

Absolutely... totally change my life - which is now divided into before and after cycling.

The Brisbane cyclist formally known as "Big Steve" ?????