On Cars and bikes and cool or not...
Having spent a fair few hours of late driving around South London I've also spent a fair few hours sitting in traffic, sometimes near to cars much more expensive than mine.
But while expensive cars are historically status symbols, I can't help but think they're also mug symbols... I mean why spend £40K or more on a car just sit in traffic?
Compared to motorbikes, or even pedal bikes or scooters, which zip through said traffic and will typically do a journey faster than a car.
Honestly, unless you're transporting something heavy or too bulky for a bike, and you're physically capable and the weather is OK (at least 50% of days in the UK) then a bike is a much smarter move around here.
Cars: Symbols of Status but also of Stasis!
(Nice line, huh!?)
In 2024, the average UK driver lost 62 hours sitting in traffic. In London, it was worse — 101 hours a year wasted, costing the city nearly £3.9 billion in lost productivity and wasted fuel. That works out to about £942 per driver.
And it's not just the cost to the individual... Congestion costs the UK economy an estimated £7.7 billion every year, yowser!
So while I'm not guilt free sitting in traffic, at least I'm not spending a huge amount of money on an expensive car to indicate my idiocy and sociopathology.
But Bikes offer freedom at increased risk...
You may well be more free on a bike, but there is an increased risk!
UK Department for Transport figures show that per billion passenger miles:
- For cars there are about 1.9 fatalities
- For Motorcycles: about 117 fatalities
That’s 61 times higher for motorcyclists.
Even for non-fatal injuries, motorcyclists and cyclists are far more vulnerable than car drivers. The coolness of dodging traffic comes with higher exposure to danger.
Final thoughts....
Hmmm - I cannot justify spending a fortune on an expensive car, that's just SILLY unless I come into stupid money, I'd rather spend £5K on a decent electric bike I think and use that on the 50% of days the weather is OK for cycling...
Even with the increased risk!
It's hard to believe that spending a ton of money on a car just to be stuck in traffic makes any sense.
I don't think it does make any sense, none at all!
I came to the same conclusion. Though drivers here in Ecuador are really, really bad (in comparison to what I'm used to from Germany), meaning very reckless, my small town is very bike friendly. It's easy to get anywhere, and fast. The mountains are perfect for some good stamina training. Also, I always have bad luck with cars, they break all the time if they're mine. Expensive breaks. I don't have that problem with my bike. Replacing the entire bike is maximum $500, maybe $600 now with inflation since I bought it.
And whenever I really need to transport something - I have friends with cars and truck taxis all around. A bike is definitely the better choice.
It sounds like you've got it sorted with the bike only decision!
Absolutely! And it's working perfectly for years now. For the business, we hire trucks twice a week to get to the city, and transport-bikes to get stuff around within our town. I did the math, and it's still a lot cheaper that way than owning a car to do all that.
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Cities ought to be made more cycle friendly. I was just reading about how Copenhagen has 'green waves' so cyclists can keep going through green lights. I know taxi drivers and others fought against extra cycle paths in London. I just avoid driving in the city, but where we live you need a car really. At least I can commute a few miles by train these days. I had many years of driving into London and spent so much time not moving. I did it by motorbike for a while, but had a few close calls.
I am defo a cycle fan, more cycle friendly infrastructure I say! I did not know you had a motorbike once upon a time!
I had a good few years of motorbikes. Some fun times, but it can be scary. I would rather cycle these days.
I still prefer sitting in cars.. even in traffic. I luv me a nice air conditioned car with a nice sound system blasting.