Ride a Bike - the old standby

Let's ride a bike for exercise, fun, and as a way to save money. The older you get, the less likely that "2" describes the number of wheels that you think are required for travel. Nevertheless, some of us think that "2" is just the right number.

The relative difficulty or cost of this tip is rated 1 to 10. A rating of 10 suggests that this tip is the most difficult or most costly. Expected savings are also rated 1 to 10. A rating of 10 suggests that this tip will provide substantial savings in fuel, money or both.

Ride a bike. This is the old standard of gas saving tips. When we were all too young to drive, this is how we got around. Many people still see this alternative transportation as a good approach to saving money on gas.

The bicycle works reasonably well year round, and can be outfitted with baskets to carry groceries. A bike is one of the cheapest forms of transportation, and it provides exercise as well.

Although the price of bicycles can vary with quality, there are many to be had for next to nothing. I have seen three-speed bicycles with baskets at garage sales for $5. They are also available at the junk yard for the cost of scrap metal.

In addition to being a way to save money on gas, a bicycle is easy to work on. Almost anyone can change a tire or make adjustments as necessary. The entire machine is mechanical, so there are no computers or injectors to fail. A small tool kit is all you need.

When I was much younger, my best friend and I used to ride a bike from the outskirts of Detroit to Toledo to visit with family and friends. It was a good 60 mile ride, and we really enjoyed the challenge. Dealing with traffic was sometimes a bit of a problem, but we lived to tell about it.

Another plus for those who ride a bike is that you can carry them aboard, or mount them to, various forms of public transportation. BART allows them inside of trains, and I have seen buses equipped with carriers on the front so you can pedal to and from the bus stop. This enhances the appeal of bicycles as a way to save money on gas.

This alternative transportation is mostly a fair weather machine, but in certain climates and terrains it can serve you very well most of the year. Fuel costs are zero, and there usually isn’t much else you need except a license and a helmet in certain localities.

Cost or difficulty: 3
Savings: 10

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