Replacing car with a bike

[XeF4]

Has anybody here done this? How did it go?

 

[Frodo]

I tried for a while, but the geography of living in the suburbs makes it just not workable unless you're a true zealot. I do ride to work with some regularity, although the 1 hour ride makes it a logistical challenge. Luckily I have lockers and a shower when I get there, otherwise it would be unworkable. I try to dress well at work which often means drive the car the day before with extra changes of clothes and shoes for several days, then car it all back home at the end of the week. It is not a carefree decision.

If I lived in a condo in the city and was a few blocks in any direction from everything I need, then I would be on the bike 95% of the time. I adore biking.

Having young kids makes it very hard. Much of the current urban biking hipster meme, and it's attendant zealotry, is centered on young childless professionals who live downtown, which is fine, but it doesn't speak to the mass of people who need to get some place 20 miles away, in the rain, with their kids, then meet the wife, then drop off the cleaning, etc. etc. I see these well dressed urbanites on the blogs, in tweed and corduroy, biking in their longwings and newsboy caps, and I drool over their (imagined) lifestyle, but it ain't me babe.

One thing for sure - get a real bicycle that can take the work load. Steel frame, decent sized tires (30's or so) with racks and good lights (not cheap0's). Fenders. Leave the carbon frame noodle tire job for the weekend. (I'm speaking to everyone in general, not you specifically...no implication is meant!)

 

[dtmt]

Outside of NYC/SF/Chicago it will suck hard. Also, access to zipcar is a must.

 

[JayJay]

Years ago I thought I'd see how long I could go with riding my bike everywhere. I made it through three weeks. Never tried it again after that.

 

[Texasmade]

Hell no. In Houston, you'd get run over by a pickup truck if you did that. Plus you aren't allowed onto freeways with a bike which makes it pretty impractical to do if you ever want to go anywhere.

 

[JayJay]

Originally Posted by Texasmade

Hell no. In Houston, you'd get run over by a pickup truck if you did that. Plus you aren't allowed onto freeways with a bike which makes it pretty impractical to do if you ever want to go anywhere.
I lived in a small city when I experimented with this, but my current lifestyle and locale are not suited for cycling as my principle mode of transportation.

 

[globetrotter]

I actually did it for a few years. I had a company car, and then stoped having a company car, and decided not to buy a car. used a bike, cabs, rent a cars, walked. liked in cities. worked ok.

 

[acidboy]

sucks when it rains.

 

[Sherlock]

It would probably affect your dating life too. Chicks like to be driven everywhere.

 

[Harold falcon]

Originally Posted by Sherlock

It would probably affect your dating life too. Chicks like to be driven everywhere.

 

[sabvinnie]

What about a compromise - buy a scooter?

 

[XeF4]

Originally Posted by Sherlock

It would probably affect your dating life too. Chicks like to be driven everywhere.
I heard they only like luxury sports cars worth over $65k built within the last 3 years and with less than 30k mikes on them. And this is very important information since our existance as men was meant to make sure than we do all that we can to bend over backwards to please every woman on the face of this earth.

 

[DNW]

I use my bike almost every day, and on some days to go to work (but definitely not in the summer weather since I don't have access to a locker or shower). That said, despite living in one of the best cities in America for bikers (DC), I wouldn't be able to live without a car. Case in point: try carrying a case of beer along with some groceries home on a bike. (Although a quick run for a 6-pack is quite a breeze.)

 

[kwilkinson]

Originally Posted by bkstone

You didn't use a bike 100% of the time though.

Why the **** would someone do that? That is stupid.

 

[darkdream]

I actually prefer to bike places if time is not of the essence (I have biked about 70 miles around trip in a day before to get somewhere) and this is coming from a young fellow with a relatively new luxury car.