Increasing petrol prices and cycling inspiration can create new cyclists.

[Sobrique]

Problem is, cars are incredibly hard to live without, simply because your range for finding employment increases dramatically.

Incidentally - on commute ranges (and on the offchance it's useful to others, too: http://cartoo.dyndns.org/)

 

[fossyant]

My cycling took a dip from 1999 to 2007 as I was working over 30 miles from home, and travelling. The petrol cost was huge, nearly £300 per month when I left the last job. Main move was to get back to a reasonable commute by bike distance (had done 20 miles each way) earlier in the 90's by bike). I took a big pay drop, but I am as fit or fitter than I was in my mid 20's, now 42. The car has gone from 15k a year to 3-4k which is leisure, even no commute cover on my insurance now, I don't use it.

 

[fossyant]

I have a 44 mile round trip on the motorway, no idea how many more by B roads. Even if I was up to it daily, the 6 or 7 start and 7 or 8 finish would make it impractical, if I wanted to see my family.

This is what was tricky with my last job, two young kids, started the 60 mile return commute once or twice a week, but was out of the home from 6am till 7pm

 

[col]

This is what was tricky with my last job, two young kids, started the 60 mile return commute once or twice a week, but was out of the home from 6am till 7pm

Setting off at half four in the morning and getting home for about nine or later at night isnt a way to enjoy a commute. Just as well im looking for another job, but could take a long time Im thinking.

 

[Jdratcliffe]

I have a 44 mile round trip on the motorway, no idea how many more by B roads. Even if I was up to it daily, the 6 or 7 start and 7 or 8 finish would make it impractical, if I wanted to see my family.

My commute is 44miles round trip admittedly no motorways but it is A roads and I leave at 6or 7 depending on shift time and get home at either 6:20 or 7:20 depending on the shift not total impossible.

 

[Maz]

...no commute cover on my insurance now, I don't use it.

Interesting. Did that bring the premium down?

 

[fossyant]

Interesting. Did that bring the premium down?

Yes. Did a few searches, two main market ones, didn't actually say no commuting, but car location was drive at night, drive in the day. My renewal went from £400 to £600 recently, redone a new search and it's £260 with M&S, back to rates I paid a couple of years ago. Ok the car is getting on now, 9 years old but the premium was going up and up, and I have full no claims.

Happy with that rate.

 

[fossyant]

Setting off at half four in the morning and getting home for about nine or later at night isnt a way to enjoy a commute. Just as well im looking for another job, but could take a long time Im thinking.

Quite. I agree.

 

[fossyant]

My commute is 44miles round trip admittedly no motorways but it is A roads and I leave at 6or 7 depending on shift time and get home at either 6:20 or 7:20 depending on the shift not total impossible.

Ah, but how is that worked into family life, with changing and bike servicing, and as kids get bigger, dads taxi to all the after school stuff and other things like scouts etc... Ok when younger or single.

 

[benb]

For me the cost of fuel was only a small part of the reason - my car mileage was low anyway.
I really needed a way of building exercise into my daily routine, and gyms just don't work for me. I was playing squash once or twice a week, but that stopped when my son was born.

What I've found, and is the reason I won't take a job that I can't cycle to unless I have no choice, is that cycling is simply a million times more enjoyable than driving. People often say that they enjoy driving, but they can't mean it - I find driving a grim experience.

I now arrive at work in a good mood, have more energy, and am much happier and fitter. I wouldn't swap it.

 

[sabian92]

For me the cost of fuel was only a small part of the reason - my car mileage was low anyway.
I really needed a way of building exercise into my daily routine, and gyms just don't work for me. I was playing squash once or twice a week, but that stopped when my son was born.

What I've found, and is the reason I won't take a job that I can't cycle to unless I have no choice, is that cycling is simply a million times more enjoyable than driving. People often say that they enjoy driving, but they can't mean it - I find driving a grim experience.

I now arrive at work in a good mood, have more energy, and am much happier and fitter. I wouldn't swap it.

I actually do enjoy driving - as long as there's no traffic, the weather is nice and I've got the radio on. Being sat in a traffic jam is nobody's idea of fun, but then I don't filter on the bike either so being in a car or bike in a traffic jam doesn't bother me really.

 

[BSRU]

When I returned to driving after five years or so of being on a motorbike I realised how incredibly boring car driving is.
Since I was not allowed to have another motorbike I decided to try human powered two wheels instead and what a great idea that turned out to be .

 

[Brandane]

I am fast approaching the stage of dumping the car. Got made redundant last year and a (worthwhile) new job has failed to materialise. Luckily I have a small pension from a previous job which is enough to get me by (only just). I was doing agency work, driving HGVs, but the agency seemed to think it was alright to ask me to commute 50 miles each way, thereby using about 2.5 gallons of petrol (£16) out of a take home pay of £43 for an 8 hour shift. Cycle commuting was not an option for several reasons (distance; short notice of start time; weather; carrying heavy equipment; no fixed workplace; busy trunk roads to negotiate).

So...... Having thought about it, I was working just to keep a car on the road, and I only really need a car for work! If I get rid of it then I don't have to pay VED to the extorter that masquerades as the Chancellor, and of course insurance. Not to mention petrol and occasional servicing (which I do myself in the main).

It hasn't gone yet, and if I do sell it I know I will miss it after having been a keen driver for about 30 years. Truth is, I don't really enjoy driving any more. Far too much traffic, roads that don't get maintained any more, arrogant aggressive fellow road users, the list is endless.

Congratulations then successive Government policies, years ago you did say that you wanted to reduce car use to save the planet, so now it is starting to take effect. Of course we all know you didn't really give a monkeys about the planet; you knew you had us by the short and curlies and you wanted to bleed us all dry.

 

[Col5632]

I used to enjoy driving but tbh there is just too many cars on the road these days and it takes forever to get places, it takes me atleast 15 mins to get to work by car in the morning, it only takes me 8-15 mins more by bike I think once i get a place again and possibly go down to 1 shared car (that i barely use) i will be alot better off

 

[potnoodle]

i am 39 and have only been driving for 4 years now as i never bothered to learn before that as it bored me silly.

Now i do drive i wont be giving it up as im now a right car nut.

I have always liked cars but never was one for driving them.

I currently drive a V6 powered sports car and my next car is likely to be another V6 but with a twin turbo.
I have no intention to stop driving now as it has opened up a whole new world of things for me to do. as well as driving i really enjoy tinckering around with the car.

I also enjoy cycling to and from work which is about 30 miles in total for me. The reasoon i do this is that the trains are pants and its great for keeping the weight down. Plus it also saves me a few £££sss in train fairs.

Petrol has gone up by about 30pence since i passed my test which i personnely think is discusting. If it goes up a lot more so will EVERYTHING else that we buy... Thats including our bike that have to get to the shops one way or the other for us to buy.