Quote Originally Posted by Mr. Bloom View Post
A DOT study indicates that 50% of trips are three miles or less

My car normally gets 25-30mpg, but on a three mile trip, it averages 10mpg because it never warms up. So, if my math is right, I break-even on the cost of a commuter if I eliminate about 300 short trips... That sounds like a lot until I realize that I have two grocery stores, 4 drug stores, 1 Target, 1 K-Mart, 1 post office, 1 mall, at least 16 fast foods, 3 bookstores, 3 Starbucks, and 1 COLDSTONE within an easy three mile radius of my house...so it's less than 1/day for a year.
I like the way you think, Mr.!
Since most of our trips are short- that's the best way to eliminate your dependence on the car. You can use the car for work and still save buckets worth of cash AND be doing something healthy for you and the planet.
It may take longer to get my bike ready than to just grab the keys, but I've never once regretted riding my bike instead of driving. Bikes are great- but we all know that here.
Now if I could just get my city to put bike racks out so I could stop locking my bike to signposts...