Interesting Article re: Fuel Prices and Cycling

[Blueberry]

Fuel Prices Push Britons Towards Pedal Power
http://www.nytimes.com/reuters/world...=1&oref=slogin

LONDON (Reuters) - Natalie Steed knew it was time for a change when her aging car ground to a halt in a country lane while she was on holiday in southern England last month.

With fuel prices hitting record highs, adding to already painful costs of road taxes, maintenance, tolls and parking, a switch to pedal power was a natural response.

"Buying another car just seemed like such a ridiculous thing to do," Steed told Reuters.

"Even without the actual cost of buying it, I'd have to spend a 1,000 pounds year before I even went anywhere in it, and I can do almost everything I need to on a bike."

Steed, a mother of two who lives and works in London, instead bought what she calls a "bike with a boat on the front" -- a Danish-made Christiania three-wheeled transporter bike with a cargo box attached -- on which she can do the school run, the shopping and commute to work.

"It's the road equivalent of rowing," she said.

And compared to the average annual cost of running a family car in Britain -- currently 6,250 pounds ($12,300), according to the Automobile Association (AA) -- the 1,400 pound ($2,755) cost of the "boat bike" and accessories pales into insignificance.

According to the Cyclists' Touring Club (CTC), the UK's national cycling organization, many thousands more Britons are expected to abandon their cars in favor of bikes with fuel prices at record highs.

CTC is predicting that an extra 1.25 million journeys will be made by bike every day because petrol and diesel are now so expensive. Diesel costs around 1.30 pounds ($2.56) a liter in Britain, while petrol is around 1.17 pounds ($2.30) a liter.

PETROL PRICES

A survey in the United States last week showed that petrol prices of around $4 per gallon had prompted more than 40 percent of Americans to change the work arrangements or the way they commute to work.

Around a quarter of those who said they had changed their habits said they had asked for more pay, relied more on public transportation, or started walking and biking to work.

"The amount commuters pay for fuel has a direct correlation with people deciding to take up cycling," said CTC director Kevin Mayne.

"Going by bike to work is a cheap, quick, healthy and environmentally friendly way to commute and as people look to save money where they can, it's the obvious choice."

CTC also cites official statistics showing that in the three year period following the last major oil price spike in 1979, cycling in Britain increased by almost 40 percent.

This time round, anecdotal evidence from CTC's 70,000 members and affiliates across the country suggests bike shops are seeing increasing demand, not only for relatively low-cost commuter bikes, but for new accessories for bikes people may not have used for a few years but are about to be revived.

"With money tight, we're not seeing many people buying the top of the range models, but people are buying new lights or helmets and getting their old bikes serviced to use again," said CTC spokeswoman Victoria Hazael.

In the British capital, congestion charges introduced by then London Mayor Ken Livingstone in 2003, as well as improved cycle lanes and increased motoring costs, have already prompted a significant swing towards pedal power.

According to Transport for London, cycling in the capital has risen by more than 83 percent since 2000 and there are now around 480,000 journeys made by bike in London every day.

ECONOMIC DOWNTURN

Across the country, the economic downturn is starting to pinch consumers' pockets. With truckers and fishermen already protesting about fuel prices, commuters are starting to follow.

In the town of Aylesbury in southern England, the number of people cycling has increased by 300 percent since the start of a promotion of bike transport launched at the end of 2005.

"Cycling is now a main mode of transport for over 10 percent of Aylesbury residents," said Simon Glover, the town's cycling team leader, who says Aylesbury commuters can save over 600 pounds ($1,200) in two years by cycling to work instead of driving.

As a country where unsettled weather, hills and less bike-friendly roads have traditionally dampened enthusiasm for cycling, Britain is increasingly looking to more cycle-driven nations like the Netherlands for fresh ideas.

In the London suburb of Richmond, where local authorities have added to the fuel price pain by introducing punishing parking permit costs for so-called "gas guzzling" cars, parents at the Stepping Stones nursery have clubbed together to share a fleet of Dutch cargo bikes to taxi their children to and fro.

The Dutchbikes look a little like a bicycle with a wheelbarrow attached to the front. With an adult pedaling, they can carry up to four young children in the large box suspended between the handlebars and the front wheel.

"They are the ultimate eco-friendly people carrier," said Jessica Anderson, founder of a local Parents for Pedal Power campaign group. "I barely use the car at all now, whereas I used to use it at least three times a week. The last time I filled up at the petrol station I was shocked -- it was 65 pounds ($128)."

Nice to see a positive, can do article Also interesting that 40% in the US have changed habits. I haven't seen it - yet. It gives me hope

CA

[Becky]

Nice to see a positive, can do article Also interesting that 40% in the US have changed habits. I haven't seen it - yet. It gives me hope

CA

Interesting article- thanks for sharing! I can echo the observation of the guy from CTC: at the shop where I work PT, we're seeing a lot of older bikes coming in for service, and folks saying that they want to try bike commuting now. I've answered a lot of questions recently about how DH and I ride to work or to the shop.

You're absolutely right- articles like this, and the conversations that I've had with people at the shop or on the commute give me hope that we'll become a bit less petrol-centric in coming years

[mimitabby]

i like this part:

In the town of Aylesbury in southern England, the number of people cycling has increased by 300 percent since the start of a promotion of bike transport launched at the end of 2005.

"Cycling is now a main mode of transport for over 10 percent of Aylesbury residents," said Simon Glover, the town's cycling team leader, who says Aylesbury commuters can save over 600 pounds ($1,200) in two years by cycling to work instead of driving

[michelem]

I sure wish this was an option for me, but no, I must be available at any given moment to jump in my car and drive . . . to the post office, to the office supply store, to wherever the attorneys don't want to go (yes, being a paralegal AND the only support staff in an office of 4 attorneys is not all it's cracked up to be). And to think, our office building even has a shower facility! Sigh . . .

[Irulan]

I sure wish this was an option for me, but no, I must be available at any given moment to jump in my car and drive . . . to the post office, to the office supply store, to wherever the attorneys don't want to go (yes, being a paralegal AND the only support staff in an office of 4 attorneys is not all it's cracked up to be). And to think, our office building even has a shower facility! Sigh . . .

I can't think of why you couldn't do this on a bike. I routinely go to the post office, drug store, printers,deliver packages to UPS with my trailer, etc. If you want to make it happen you probably could. Cars are just a few minutes faster is all.

I like the sign in my local LBS = for six tanks of gas you could have bought a bike...

[mimitabby]

I can't think of why you couldn't do this on a bike. I routinely go to the post office, drug store, printers,deliver packages to UPS with my trailer, etc. If you want to make it happen you probably could. Cars are just a few minutes faster is all.

I like the sign in my local LBS = for six tanks of gas you could have bought a bike...

+++++

[Blueberry]

I sure wish this was an option for me, but no, I must be available at any given moment to jump in my car and drive . . . to the post office, to the office supply store, to wherever the attorneys don't want to go (yes, being a paralegal AND the only support staff in an office of 4 attorneys is not all it's cracked up to be). And to think, our office building even has a shower facility! Sigh . . .

That sucks Does your office reimburse you for mileage? It really bugs me that our messengers have to drive as they do (300+ person firm). Could you argue that you should be able to bike and be reimbursed less? Also, lots of places like the supply store will deliver. Of course, some of the attorney expect lunch brought to them - that's a whole 'nother kettle of fish (and no - other than mediations and depositions, I've never asked someone to do that...and wouldn't).

CA

[michelem]

Thanks for the suggestions, but I am talking last-minute stuff. I had typed out a typical example, but realized posting details that could be figured out by someone I work with is probably not a smart idea! Suffice it to say, everything is always last minute in my office, and always a crisis. In the past two weeks I've had to do some last-minute close to 50-mile round-trip jaunts that just wouldn't be feasible by bike.

Not the same as the great outdoors, but I've been getting on the trainer in the evenings for some good ol' stress relief! Yoga works wonders as well . . .

And, yes, I'm reimbursed for mileage for the long trips, but not the ones 5 miles or under -- my boss says those should be considered a "donation," but they add up, you know? So, I'm starting to think I might put in expense reports for them and see what happens . . .

[lph]

I could never have your job, if there's one thing I HATE it's running errands in a hurry, in the city, by car. In fact, within the inner city travelling by bike is faster here. Not to mention more flexible as you can use walkways and paths if you need to, and a lot less stressful. (But that may have something to with that I'm about 100 times better at riding a bike than driving a car )
But bike messengers do vastly outnumber car messengers here.

Cool article, btw!

[uk elephant]

...In fact, within the inner city travelling by bike is faster here. Not to mention more flexible as you can use walkways and paths if you need to, and a lot less stressful...

It's the same in most cities I think. They did a fun test on Top Gear last year (a car show about cars for car people), getting across London in different ways. The cyclist won, then taking a boat down the river, then public transit. The car was by far the slowest way of getting across town. They've done similar "tests" before where the guy running even gets across town before the guy driving. Hence more people in London are now cycling, and the latest policy change is to allow cyclists to cut through one-way streets the wrong way rather than have to go all the way around on busy roads.

[Blueberry]

Thanks for the suggestions, but I am talking last-minute stuff. I had typed out a typical example, but realized posting details that could be figured out by someone I work with is probably not a smart idea! Suffice it to say, everything is always last minute in my office, and always a crisis. In the past two weeks I've had to do some last-minute close to 50-mile round-trip jaunts that just wouldn't be feasible by bike.

Not the same as the great outdoors, but I've been getting on the trainer in the evenings for some good ol' stress relief! Yoga works wonders as well . . .

And, yes, I'm reimbursed for mileage for the long trips, but not the ones 5 miles or under -- my boss says those should be considered a "donation," but they add up, you know? So, I'm starting to think I might put in expense reports for them and see what happens . . .

Well...I can guess based on the behavior of some of my colleagues (our messengers have had to walk dogs, pick up dry cleaning and drive 90 miles an hour to get a filing done in time that could have been ready yesterday).

You might want to talk to your CPA re the miles, if you can't get them reimbursed. You may be able to deduct it. If you can't expense it, that is. Our receptionist at my old firm did all the court house runs, and she submitted 1 expense report a week.

CA

[bmccasland]

And, yes, I'm reimbursed for mileage for the long trips, but not the ones 5 miles or under -- my boss says those should be considered a "donation," but they add up, you know? So, I'm starting to think I might put in expense reports for them and see what happens . . .

If you bosses want you do "donate" the short distances, let them donate use of their vehicle too. So if you donate 10 five mile trips, that still equals 50 miles. I'd either be submitting an expense report, or tracking all my mileage and writing it off on my taxes. Even if they're paying you a very handsome salary, you're "donating" a lot to the firm. Frankly I think you're being exploited.

[Tuckervill]

I think there's probably something illegal about a boss requiring a "donation" to the company. But, I'm no lawyer.

eta: Just read Beth's, post, and I see I'm not the only one who is getting all self-righteous with indignation up in here.

Karen

Thanks for the suggestions, but I am talking last-minute stuff. I had typed out a typical example, but realized posting details that could be figured out by someone I work with is probably not a smart idea! Suffice it to say, everything is always last minute in my office, and always a crisis. In the past two weeks I've had to do some last-minute close to 50-mile round-trip jaunts that just wouldn't be feasible by bike.

Not the same as the great outdoors, but I've been getting on the trainer in the evenings for some good ol' stress relief! Yoga works wonders as well . . .

And, yes, I'm reimbursed for mileage for the long trips, but not the ones 5 miles or under -- my boss says those should be considered a "donation," but they add up, you know? So, I'm starting to think I might put in expense reports for them and see what happens . . .

[pll]

If you bosses want you do "donate" the short distances, let them donate use of their vehicle too. So if you donate 10 five mile trips, that still equals 50 miles. I'd either be submitting an expense report, or tracking all my mileage and writing it off on my taxes. Even if they're paying you a very handsome salary, you're "donating" a lot to the firm. Frankly I think you're being exploited.

+1

Donation!? Maybe you can ask them to have a company car available to you (that lives in the office and only fuel for office errands) and commute to work by bike. The university where I work reimburses at a rate of 50.5 cents per mile, which is the same rate set by the US General Services Administration.

[michelem]

Well, I work for a non-profit that runs on donations, thus the "donation" comment.

Believe me, I'm keeping my eyes peeled for other job opportunities. It's tough because I am the benefits provider for our family and we couldn't even make our house payment on hubby's income. However, he loves his job and I figure at least one of us should have job fulfillment!

Anyway, I really apologize for hijacking this thread.

I have to say I am all for commuting by bike/foot/public transit. I never even owned a car until very late 20's and loved being able to get everywhere without a car. Especially now that gas is over $4.50 a gallon here (although I never pay that much . . . I wait until my hubby can go with me to Costco and get the $4.29 gas there).