In May 2006, my wife gave me a bicycle for my 49th birthday. I took the hint, stopped driving and started pedaling 9.3 miles from Reading to Wyeth in Andover daily, about 35 minutes each way. Now it is my default way to commute to work. In 2006, I bike commuted 59 times.
By mid-August this year, I've already biked 57 times, lost more than 30 pounds hope to lose another 30. A website estimates it takes 1,000 calories (about 0.3 pounds of fat) for me to ride to and from work and that seems to be true. I now feel cheated when I don't get to ride my bike because I feel so much better when I do it.
Biking is not free. Maintenance and bike depreciation probably run about 10 cents per mile. However, the cost to run my car is probably 35 cents per mile so the savings are $4.67 each time I ride the bike. I feel better and save money, all for an extra 20 to 25 minutes per day of commuting time.
I also look at my riding as my contribution to reduce our dependence on foreign oil, which has brought us so much grief. It is very expensive cheap energy. If everyone saved energy or used local sources of energy such as natural gas, coal, wind, etc., we would not be so worried about foreign oil and all that has inflicted upon us.
My next car will be powered by natural gas, which I can fill up at my house! 98 percent of our natural gas comes from the US and Canada.
Phillip
Wyeth Biopharma
Andover
