Car or bike?

[veloman]

I'm curious how us Mustachians get around. I know there are a lot of factors affecting our transportation mode. But I'd like to get a picture of how many are able to follow MMM's advice on this one.

For purposes of this poll, "bike" includes any human powered transportation (walk, kick scooter, etc), or combination such as an electric bicycle. Motorcycles are groups with autos.

Personally, I've been using my homebuilt converted ebikes for the past 4+ years as my main transportation. It is soo much easier than standard cycling, but still allows a great workout if you want, is faster, and I feel it's safer because I can flow with city traffic on most roads. I have about 18k miles racked up, replacing auto travel. Sold my car in the spring, after it mostly sitting for 3 years. I do have a wife who uses her car, and we use it when we go out together, such as with our dogs, or bad weather, or farther distances.

I am really hoping that bicycling infrastructure continues to grow and at a faster rate.

[GreenPen]

Is the poll asking what percentage of your trips are by bike? Or what percentage of your miles are by bike?

I would say that about 95% of my trips are by bike. But maybe only 70% of my miles (since I do a commute once per week that requires a segment on public transportation).

[veloman]

Trips would probably be more accurate. If you take a road trip somewhere, that could affect the miles a lot.

[GuitarStv]

I'm at around 40%

Just under 6,000 km by bike and just under 10,000 km by car this year.

[Grid]

I saw this question, didn't enter the thread, then thought, "I wonder how many Mustachians actually bike?  I should make a poll.".  I figured that this thread was veloman trying to make a decision about their transportation.  Anyway, I searched "poll bike car", and this popped up.

~70% bike to and from school.  30% car visiting family and grocery shopping.

[Le Barbu]

11% last year and aiming for 14% this year. I bike 2,500km/year every year but decrease the car use over time. 90% of errands less than 6km are with bike.

After retiring (in about 7 years) probably 50%

[BlueMR2]

I have to guess 5%.  I'm now biking for mailbox and city utility payment trips, as well as working the local races that I volunteer at.  I'm walking to the dentist and the grocery store now for small pickups of stuff as well.  However, work, church, and large shopping trips are all done by car (or motorcycle as weather permits).  I can see shifting more of the car trips over to the motorcycle for some small savings, but the big savings of eliminating motorized transport won't happen anytime soon.  The distances and times involved just don't permit that at this time.

[jordanread]

I've got my ups and downs, but average annually around 80%. Once I get a trailer, I hope to bump it above 96%. I suck, but the monthly challenge helps. Part of the issue is that I managed to work my ass off to get into a position where working from home is practically a right. My problem is that when I don't feel like biking, I just stay home, but mark it against my mileage as it compares to driving. In actuality, I'm probably closer to 86%, but still, stacking the numbers against me makes me try harder. If only I was a morning person.

[Guses]

I put in 40% but I figured it was a range between 40-70%.

We still drive when we go out to friends or family.

If I can eliminate my car commuting, I will be happy.

[Janie]

I use my bike for trips 5x more often than car (but I take the metro every workday too)

[OutBy40]

We have very little within walking distance, but there are a couple options.  Very little of our transportation is sans motor, unfortunately. 

[Knapptyme]

We bike to our jobs everyday and do most errands by bike. Our downfall is when it rains; we're not keen on getting purposefully wet while riding. Trips to the airport or trips back to family in another state really separates us from the 95%+ echelon. So, 70%.

[Nudelkopf]

I'm in the 95% category. I don't own a car, and no public transport in my town.

I ride in a car sometimes to church with my housemate, and a boy might pick me up for a date in his car. Once a friend gave me a lift some place because it was storming. And I've taken a taxi to work about 3 times this year because it was storming or I was sick. Oh, someone gave me a lift to band practice once, but normally I put my tenor sax in a bike trailer.

[xenon5]

I mostly take public transportation, walk, or carpool with driving family/friends.  I haven't felt confident enough on my bike to ride it on busy roads more than a handful of times.

[Mr. Frugalwoods]

I guess I fall in the 70% category.  I commute via bike every day (yes, even through the Boston winters) but we do own a car and I probably drive it somewhere at least once a week.

We used to just rely on Zipcar for the occasional vehicular need... but then we realized we weren't exploring the surrounding area as much as we'd prefer due to the hassle of renting a car.  Now we regularly go hiking on the weekends, which usually is a 250+ mile roundtrip.  Totally worth owning a car for, in our case!

[GreenPen]

I'm about to start holiday travel with a flight across the country today (and I didn't bike to the airport either). Maybe I should revise my biking stats...