Last week while my car was in the shop, I borrowed a co-worker’s bike to commute to/from the office.  Literally 10 minutes into the first ride home, I knew that I needed to purchase my own bike and kick the daily driving habit to the curb.

Today was my first official day of biking to work and I couldn’t be happier with my new setup:  a brand-new bike purchased on sale, 20% discount on the necessary helmet, blinking lights, and water bottle holder accessories, and a shower at work to clean up before the workday.

Here are 10 finance-related reasons why I’ll continue to bike to work as long as possible: 

Gas

I have spent about $125/month on gas in the past 6 months.  I’m hoping to cut that to $50 or less despite the horrendous pump prices (I will still need my car for grocery shopping and trips out of the city). 

Car maintenance

I just spent $292 on a repair that had nothing to do with how I drive or an accident and everything to do with the massive pot-holes Boston city officials can’t seem to find the $$ to fix.  The only reason I was even on said road was because of my commute to work.  Also, I imagine less driving = less wear & tear = more time before required maintenance trips = longer life of car, you get the point here. 

Parking

Parking in Boston is expensive!  While I do have free parking where I work, I will now use my bike for all small-scale errands that I may run during lunch breaks.  In fact, the only errand I plan to use my car for is grocery shopping, which I do in the ‘burbs anyway.

Water

My office has a separate shower suite where I now shower every weekday morning.  This is definitely going to decrease my water bill.  It may even impact my electric given the reduced use of my hot water heater, but I doubt the savings will be that noticeable.

Toiletries

I’m not partial to a certain shampoo/conditioner, although I do tend to pay just a bit more (ie. Pantene vs. Suave).  My consultant boyfriend spends a lot of time in nice hotels during the work week and will be saving the (expensive!) mini bottles of shampoo, etc. for me.  Easier to carry on my back + free to me = huge win.

Doctor co-pays

With built-in, automatic exercise almost daily, I run a lower risk for infection, virtually eliminating doctor’s visits for common colds, sinus infections, etc.  I’m the type of person who stays healthiest when exercising frequently.  Aren’t we all??

Long-term healthcare

Besides the co-pay/Rx savings, I should also see a longevity bonus in terms of overall health by biking daily M-F (at the very least).

Increased job performance

My biking commute leaves me much less stressed than gridlock traffic and sets me up for productive, successful days.  This in turns boosts my job performance which will be useful when performance review time (and subsequent raise) comes around.

Reduced carbon footprint

Not only am I helping the environment by not driving my car solo, but I am setting a good example for those around me, and I hope they begin to bike to work as well!

Meeting Personal Finance goals

I’ve blogged quite a bit about how I’m in the process of eradicating my student loan debt.  The savings found in my new commuting lifestyle once I break even on my purchase (should be in a mere 3.5 months) will help me achieve this most epic goal I have set for myself.

 

Please note that despite living in an urban area, I am still biking 10+ miles each way to work.  While that may seem like peanuts compared to those of you who live in more remote or rural areas, I encourage everyone to find a way to add alternate commuting methods into your daily “to-work” formula!

 

Photo credit: Moyan Brenn