It's Official: I'm a Bike Commuter

Well - it's official. I just got my new truck and they worked out a special deal for me (I lease) that is based on 10,500 miles a year (not standard on a truck lease) and my insurance company just listed my vehicle as a secondary vehicle not used for work with an 8,000 mile annual limit. I got a great lease deal on the truck and my insurance rates are now lower on my brand new vehicle than they were on my 3 yr old one. The mileage on the vehicle I just turned in was 21,092 after 3 yrs but I'm still sweating bullets that I'm gonna mess up on the mileage!
Talk about incentive to ride my bike now! LOL :D

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Originally Posted by CorsairMac

Well - it's official. I just got my new truck and they worked out a special deal for me (I lease) that is based on 10,500 miles a year (not standard on a truck lease) and my insurance company just listed my vehicle as a secondary vehicle not used for work with an 8,000 mile annual limit. I got a great lease deal on the truck and my insurance rates are now lower on my brand new vehicle than they were on my 3 yr old one. The mileage on the vehicle I just turned in was 21,092 after 3 yrs but I'm still sweating bullets that I'm gonna mess up on the mileage!
Talk about incentive to ride my bike now! LOL :D

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Wow Corsair thats fantastic. Yep you really are a hardcore bike commuter.
Im pretty sure the environment is smiling at you as well.:)

Well Done

It took Thom much time to convince our insurance company that I almost never drive to work. Our society seems to think cars are the only mode of transportation. :rolleyes:

V.

You're my role model... you've convinced me to try it, too - the insurance thing, not the commuting 'cause I do that (though I just paid up last month... but I suppose I should start the campaign *now* for changing it - I have put 260 miles on the car, 960 on the bike so far in 2006).
You rock!!!

I love it! Good for you. L.

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Originally Posted by Veronica

It took Thom much time to convince our insurance company that I almost never drive to work. Our society seems to think cars are the only mode of transportation. :rolleyes:

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Awesome! You could have just rolled up a pantleg and shown them your calves to convince them, right? :p

that is soooo cool! I hope to start commuting once or twice a week next week again... time change is a comin! Comeon Spring!!!! :D

Good for you. When younger daughter goes off to college, I think we'll try something similar with our insurance. DH bikes to work, I work at home or walk to my paycheck job so surely we could save on insurance too, right?

I'm liking this...

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Originally Posted by MomOnBike

Good for you. When younger daughter goes off to college, I think we'll try something similar with our insurance. DH bikes to work, I work at home or walk to my paycheck job so surely we could save on insurance too, right?

I'm liking this...

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I think you have to ask for "low mileage" discounts and make sure you have lots of maintenance records. My husband and I managed to get the discounts, but we had to supply copies of receipts that indicate mileage and they had to be spaced so many months apart. It was a bit of a hassle but worth it to be able to say "I told you so" to the insurance agents who refused to believe we don't drive everywhere.

The car my hubby uses to drive to his parking lot where he catches the company bus for commuting the hour to work is on the low mileage rate. The other car is not as we use it for getting the family around to various functions and trips. Our insurance agent asked a few questions and took an odometer reading, but that was all. I guess we also are to save the maintenence records, but that's no big deal. You do have to ask them for it and be persistent b/c they won't believe you drive that little. But it's out there.

/s

CorsairMac


You rule!!!!!!! Thanks for encouraging my bike commuting too. I love it. Now if I could convince my workplace to give financial incentives too.....

That's great, Corsair! I'd try for it too if I didn't have to drive the kids around so much (they're too big to fit in a trailer :p ). Maybe in a few years when they fly the coop!

And if my memory serves me often this commute includes one HECK of a climb- into headwinds??? right??
All I can say is YOU ROCK!!!! :D
Of course I don't work, so my commute is down the hall to the kitchen to do the dishes! ha ha! Easily handled on foot! Though I do have two hoursebroken bikes who are just waiting for me to ride them if I'm so inclined... ha ha ha:D :D

Congratulations on becoming a bike commuter. I've been commuting for over three years, and I really cannot fathom work without my bike ride! Driving makes me angry and the Metro can be slow AND very crowded.

My husband and I have avoided buying a second car because I commute by bike. In fact, we are able to hold on to our old car longer because we don't drive it much (it's a '92 Accord with 170k miles. It ain't pretty, but my bike sure are!) The hubby is a musician and needs a car to get to performances and rehearsals. I use the car for work maybe once a month.

My commute is 14 miles each way and actually takes me about the same time as driving, given traffic and searching for a parking spot (not to mention having to move my car every 2 hours or risk $$ tickets!). I'm healthier, happier, and more productive at work because I have more energy all day long! I also save a ton of $ and time by not having to belong to a gym. I still take pilates classes once per week and practice at home, however.

Good move!

Congratulations on your car deal!

Any tips on bike commuting? I biked my route this morning and tomorrow will be my first day commuting. I can no longer take the Metro DC traffic, which is funny because I have only lived here for a little less than a year! It is only 15 miles (30 round trip) so I just decided to dive in...