If you are a millennial reading this article, you don’t need me to tell you that the cost of living is a difficult balance to strike. It’s hard to not look back at our parent’s generation with a touch of envy and see how a standard salary could afford a house, car, and the occasional holiday to somewhere in the UK. A lot has been written about wages struggling to keep up with the cost of living, and we’re not going to make any attempt to cover the nuances of that conversation here. One little area that does bear further examination is personal transport.
Going European
The government has made steps over the course of the last decade to encourage cycling in the UK. Taking their lead from continental Europe, a lot of infrastructure has appeared in city areas to get more people in the saddle. This includes the likes of cycle networks, the Cycle To Work Scheme, and city-owned bike rent stations. All of this comes from places like Holland and Germany were cycling is more widespread amongst the general population.
Easier in the City
Councils have struggled with problems relating to driving and congestion in Britain’s cities for quite some time. Our city centres were never designed for car traffic at the levels we see today. As car ownership steadily rose over the latter half of the last century, and something had to give. These days the likes of London have the congestion charges and driving in the city is best avoided for lots of places in the UK. With a bike, you’ll find it a lot easier to get around, avoid traffic queues and not have the never-ending frustration of trying to find a decent parking space!
Money Saving
Running a car can be a costly business. Even after you get past the cost of the vehicle itself, you need to factor in the price of road tax, insurance, petrol, servicing, and even paying to use a space in some cases! Once you have bought yourself a bike, a helmet, and a set of lights, you’re good to go! Even the cost of servicing a bike is cheap, but if you want to squeeze every penny, you can always look at learning how to service your bike yourself. The difference in price is a huge consideration when weighing up cycling over driving.
Keeping Fit as you Commute
If keeping the costs down weren’t enough, the other benefit you can enjoy as a cyclist is the fact that getting from A to B will make you healthier in the process! A lot has been written about the health benefits of regular cycling. Your cardiovascular health will improve along with your leg muscles. It’s just another great reason to jump in the saddle, especially if you are only travelling within the area of your hometown.
Public Transport is Always There Obviously, there are some aspects of car ownership that will always win out over the humble bicycle. For one, the British weather puts off a lot of people who would rather not be caught in a shower. And there’s the limited amount you can carry with you in your travels. Remember that a lot of money has been invested in improving the public transport connections around the country. Taking the bus, train, or even an occasional taxi can help you make ends meet and will still likely save you money in the long-term. It all comes down to your personal preferences and circumstances.
