Why I Don't Need a Car
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- เผยแพร่เมื่อ 30 พ.ค. 2024
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Bike videos every:
Tuesday, Thursday & Saturday
+Vlogs on the 1st Sunday each month
songs:
Kevin MacLeod: "Opportunity Walks"
Kevin MacLeod: "Shades of Spring"
Connect with me:
/ zachygallardo
/ zachygallardo
/ strava
Benefits of bike over car: 1. It's more fun 2. You dont have to pay for gasoline and insurance and the upkeep of a car 3. Good for the environment. 4. You get exercise. 5. You can travel on bicycle to places where you can't use a car, like trails. 6. With all the money saved up from not owning a car, you can easily maintain/upkeep your bicycle or even buy multiple high quality bicycles for different purposes.
My dad needs to see this
I’m one step away from getting rid of my car. It’s a Carvana car so idk how to like give it back. But my job is 10miles away… idk if I can ride there.
You'd be surprised how far you can go on a bicycle, you will ride the 10 miles before you even know it, give it a try if you can
AMEN.
I lost my car due to repossession (life happens) and I've been on two wheels exclusively for 8 months now. What started as a shitty time turned into me rediscovering my time and how i choose to use it. I dont live close to work at all, but I've since been getting to work via Bike-> metro link-> bike to office. I love the charge i get every morning from riding my bike to and from the station. I no longer stumble in half asleep to work! I now ride for fun, commute, errands, everything! i love to see how much i can push myself. I even took my bike with me to japan earlier this year! I love my bike :)
Your letting the secret out. Biking is amazing for phisical and mental health.
yes as long as kept in physical strength limit so you don't start losing muscles.
Next thing you know , will be bike everywhere, giving our secret out
And grammar
I bike all year long, even through Minnesota winters (I took the bus on 5 separate days this past winter because there was too much snow for me to push through, but once it was plowed I was right back on the bike). Most of what I need is within a 6 mile radius, and it's pretty flat here. I've got front and rear racks that can hold panniers when I need to carry a lot, and when I need to carry even more I've got a burly trailer (for hauling things like big bags of wood chips for gardening, or taking a bunch of stuff to the thrift store) or a really big flat-bed trailer (for hauling big loads, like furniture). I ride wider-than-regular-road-tires (2 inches, or 50cm), which makes riding comfy, and I can fix a flat, so I never have to worry about getting stuck. People think I'm hard core for biking all year long... but it's like, really easy. I always tell them I bike because I'm lazy -- I'd have to put in more hours at work to be able to afford a car+upkeep, you see.
because of a traumatic brain injury 5 years ago,i no longer have the legal right to drive in my state,even though my left arm is paralyzed i use a bike for 90% of my transportation now,my only big issue is the brutal winters i face 4 months out of the year
PNW pretty much
i use a bike as my primary form of transportation. For many reasons, one being it made me feel free like a kid who can go where he wants, also it keeps me healthy and very fit. Im 42 and Ive been cycling for a couple of years, i haven't been so fit since i was a teenager. No aches no pains, i feel like a fool for not having started this earlier :)
I've been getting groceries by bike for a couple months now. I'm selling my car tomorrow, so after that I'll be car free!
No way bro I totally get you. I sold my car 5 years ago and ride my bike everywhere. Last summer I rode my bike from Vancouver Canada to Mexico. I live in Phoenix Az and yes the 120 degrees sucks but you can get anywhere on a bike. I have gone on dates with women and still get all my shopping done. People do think that you are crazy but I always go to work with a smile on my face after my 8 mile commute.
I did around 100 mile days some more some less. Bro its so easy one you get going
+Steve LaChappelle what city did you visited at Mexico? And why you didn't told me so we could get some beers haha
Also I got curious about the dating stuff. How do you do it? Tell me more. My gf always get crazy when I tell her that I want to sell my car, you know "how are you going to take me places?" "I won't be using public transport" and a lot of complaints haha
I live in the city so i can uber around or my g/f and i will ride around. yes in the AZ summers it does hot.
i have a 6 mile commute and it is great
i love two wheels
Sold my vehicle last year and have been using my bike since then. I am a little on the older side so I went with a Rad power wagon, electric assist, to help me get up the local WV hills. People think I'm nuts but I have been loving it.
iam thinking of getting one does it easily handle the hills in wv?
I think the rise in home deliveries was a game changer for me. There just isnt the need for a car.Add to that uber and the fact that all my friends of a similar age are like orca fat and drive says it all really
A little late on this thread, but I’m 43, never owned a car. Been riding my bike for the last twenty years. It’s amazing the distances that can be covered on a bike. It’s more of a mental block for most people who don’t ride. Example: yesterday I set out on a ride at 9:30am and finished at 9pm, some 250km later. That’s not something that I often do, but... Also, i’d say, when it comes to convenience, the bike wins, hands down over a car, (in the city). No issues with traffic or parking 👍🤸♂️
at these ranges, I would suggest to ride a train together with your bike, it is just more effective, even if you calculate with minimum wage. Furthermore, after 250km, you are toast even for the next day. And 250km bike ride in the winter is really hard. But if you like it (I see why), go for it.
11.5 hours.
I agreed
Dude? Your bike is your primary transportation and you don't cary a couple spare tubes?
He probably has it somewhere idk you don't need to take it with you all the time lol
BeboSaab lolol
@@KandiKlover He's not doing that any time soon.
This is a good review
Getting a flat doesn't happen too often and it's also just in line with chill bike life attitude ... if it happens, it happens, and you figure something out.
There’s a blessing in these high gas prices today. It opened up the world of cycling to me. I had two great bikes in my garage for 4 years and now my wife and I are getting great use outta them!
Appreciate the video. Rare to find someone who understands why commuting by bike or just riding a bike over a car is preferred. I commuted by bike so much when in the US. I did have access to a car, but I chose to rode my bike instead. Coworkers were surprised when they saw me pull up in a car the first time. They thought I didn't have one. But I must say, having a car was convenient when there came those times that I needed to get somewhere faster than usual.
Mid 40’s. Never had a license or car. Full time biker for 20+ plus years. Ride to live, Live to ride.
Very sobering, yet refreshing perspective.
lol
living in a city where bikes are the most used way of transportation (at least in summer) this is the most normal thing to me.
Late 40’s father of two young boys, been a car-lite family since 2014. My car kept breaking down and the town finished the greenway near my house so we decided to try one summer without a second vehicle. Been 4 years now and I love it. I pedal my 3 year old to his preschool 2 or 3x weekly in a trailer on my way in to work and we talk about the birds we see, the deer, rabbits etc.
Have front and rear lights, don’t be afraid to wear reflective gear, know how to change a flat tire, and ride like your invisible not invincible to surrounding traffic.
You pretty much described my situation exactly.
Everybody around me thinks I'm crazy too.
They look at me with sympathy when they hear how far I ride like it's toture and I supose it might be if I wasn't genuinely enjoying the ride. With my bluetooth speaker strapped to my handlebars cranking the jams I love every minute of it.
Im 36...I guess Im crazy too riding a bmx bike jumping my ramp! Lol
I had my car break down in college. Used bike for a few years as car say I repaired. I discovered a cool way to get around through a river parkway trail. It was such an adventure. Finding new things. Got in great shape. At 45 I’m so tied to my truck because of my career. Wish I could go back
you've done a great job covering the subject. I live in NZ where it rains a lot it can rain 2-3 weeks almost nonstop which doesn't prevent you from riding you just wear appropriate clothing and of course plan differently.
2-3 weeks almost nonstop. Do you live on the West Coast? Move to Hawkes Bay, flat and primo weather. 😃
well you should own a puncture repair kit , and carry a second inner tube and pump ?.
Last summer I relied almost completely on my bike for transportation. It was great, I felt more alive than I ever had before. I ended up buying a car for winter, then moving significantly further away from my work/school than before, so I unfortunately had to give up the bike as my only form of transportation. I miss riding every day so much.
I'm afraid when I buy my car that I'll lose time behind the bars. It really is super fun using the bike as transportation. Best part is not worrying about parking at my college :D watching people argue for a parking space is fun.
1.9 mile commute to work but it’s still a rare bike ride because of prior commitments to my wife and kids. It seems like everyday there is someone to pick up or an errand to run after work.
Don't want to sound smug but... I'm from the Netherlands
ik ook pikk, wel beet je laat dit maarja idc
@@joasburgers4676 ik ook lmao
American here. I think that the Dutch have earned the right to be smug about bicycle culture.
Best combination is to have a car and a bike. Use the bike for close in travel and the car for everything the bike is less suitable for. They don’t have to replace each other but rather can complement each other.
I've been using my bike as my primary transportation for the last 3 years or so. Most people do think I'm crazy. They say, you ride in the winter, rain , hot days, etc?... I say , sure , why not? Sure, it's not as comfortable as a heated or air conditioned car, but why do I always need to be in comfort or luxury? Sweating a little or getting wet from rain can actually be enjoyable. It's just a matter of dressing for the weather. Others think I will get hit by a car on the roads. I feel with the limited speed of bikes and therefore more control and stopping power, it's safer than a car or motorcycle(I've owned both in the past and had accidents on both). There is a challenge with dating though. The options are bus, train, taxi or Uber. Some women only want to date a guy with a car. That's fine, I wish them luck with that guy. I've learned not to try to do things for others approval, it never works out that way anyway. I could rent one if needed , there are always options for extreme situations.
THANKS FOR THE PERSPECTIVE. MANY ARE BLIND!
I I am 74 years old I don't have a car and I'm not allowed to drive anyway but thank you Google very much
Late 40's no car and have more fun! I feel the exact same way! Thanks for this, great to know I'm not alone in the world with this FGL! (Fixed gear life!)
I ride a bike to work, the library, the laundromat , and to get groceries! Sometimes I get down on myself because Im 25 w/o a car but then I get bummed out when people give me rides because I genuinely Love riding!!! Rain or shine, wind and heat, I feel great when I get off my bike!! I feel powerful, strong, capable, self sufficient, and Happy! People always tell me I’m glowing or that my skin looks great or that I look as though I’ve lost weight! I just tell em it’s the bike!! I really do love to ride!! If I could just adjust my mind set and see riding as a privilege instead of a consequence to living in poverty!! Then I’d be GOLDEN
Watching this made me feel guilty for getting a car. My work is just under 8 miles away. I used to take the bus using a 30-day bus pass before I decided to get a car. One (of the?) reason I hesitated or felt discouraged to use my fixie to go to and from work was the thought of arriving at work all sweaty and the smell that comes with it.
starts off video with "got a flat, needed to get my buddy to pick me up in his car"
Late, but Damn true
Could have had another guy on a bike come with a toolkit and spare tire.
If you get bike tires with kevlar people can go thousands of miles without a flat.
That’s why he should have a tire kit in a small saddle bag and then he could have still gone.
Cars break down too. But i suppose they dont need bikes to come get them...
I have an appointment to sell my car in a few days. I can't wait to be car-free! People think cars give you freedom but it's the opposite.
I have been a cyclist on and off my whole life. I am 52 years of age. I lost my license,now I don't drive.
Everything I need is within a five Mile radius ,so ,why get a car?
I totally understand !
But everyone thinks I am crazy.
Sorry, don't mean to sound like a troll. I like your videos. I find it funny that you start out saying that you got a flat and had to call a friend to come get you and in the next breath, I don't need a car. In San Diego, you probably don't need a car, but you do need to know how to fix a flat.
I wish I could bike everywhere... where I live my neighbor is probably a mile away or smth, let alone a grocery store lol
I am car free, economically makes no sense for me to own one right now, I use a Diamondback Calico with a Schwinn seat, Cateye lights, otherwise stock. Getting to work Monday thru Friday is a breeze, but I just ordered a helmet with a facesheild because that cold rain ruins my makeup.
Vera Black real lady right here
Two guys, one has a car, one doesn't. Which one do you answer when they call you arranging a date? I know how this one goes...
I’m new to your channel, and new to cycling in general. I got my first bike a little over 3 weeks ago and I love it more than anything. To add to the discussion, I think I’ve got the best of both worlds. I dont have a car, but my wife does. So, I can get anywhere I need to around town no problem, but if I want to visit my family who live 300 miles away, my wife can drive us no problem. Two cars for two people is completely unnecessary!
2 things to add in my opinion:1: Most people associate "bikes" to the Walmart cheap MTBs, which are difficult to pedal. So when they look at omg 20 mile trip they don't know that it is actually not that terrible of an effort on a decent bike.2: U get fit, gets even easier to overcome that distance, u get healthy, much lesser health problems and hospital bills later in your life. Win!
Interesting.
Currently starting to bike. Right now about 7 miles feels okay for me to bike. Plan to get it bigger tho. (Note the reason I can’t do more is because of lack of infrastructure, not because lack of desire)
One thing funny is that with my bicycle when people are in traffic with their car, I will get much faster to my destination on my bicycle.
One friggin' underrated bike blog channel! Awesome content. Kudos to you bruh, greetings from Cebu, Philippines :)
I recently purchased a bike for my work commute. It’s a great experience for me. I’m able to release stress and relax my mind
I don't have a car but I do switch between my bicycle and motorcycle. Bicycle is more useful for short trips during the day (under 20 kilometers) and in good weather. In every other occasion I prefer my motorcycle which is equipped with two 22L panniers, a 65L hardcase tail bag and a 10L hardcase bag that goes in front of me + it can charge my phone and carry another passenger (no problem with dating ..women have a thing for bikes mostly :D ). The fairing also gives me good weather protection.
I will also be adding panniers to my bicycle shortly to make it unnecessary to gear up and start my motorcycle for getting groceries from a nearby market.
With this combination I don't really see a need for a car.
I dont need a car cause I'm broke.
Plus my Trek 3500 is a monster .
I have a car but It literally just sits there I bike everywhere for any reason :)
Eco-friendly ;)
What about dating? Ever pick your date up in your car? I've lived carlessly for most of my life, and still, I find dating via bike a little awkward, if not occasionally bit of a struggle. I like that he brings that up at the end of the video.
Yeah, that is what I do. You need a bike and a car.
With Uber and Lyft, no one really needs a car for a date.
@Simon WoodburyForget
To move faster you actually have to spend more power. If you are not fit, even 10 km/h on bike is impossible. I know that because I was that person 4 years ago.
Never had a car and recently taking my bike to work daily. I do not see a problem at all
My dad says im crazy to be on a bike lol
Great channel! I would love to see a video about how you can get involved in making your city more bike-friendly. Many of us live in towns that are designed only for cars and you have to have a lot of good local knowledge before you can feel safe on a route. What are some ways to get bikes lanes put up, create awareness about cyclists, and spread the word about safe routes to others in your town?
Nice video mate. I used to live in Carlsbad and had to commute to Mission Valley for school. I didn't have a bike or a driver license, but fortunately the public transport in SD is on point. Now I'm living in Clearwater, FL, and the public transportation is minimal. I'm looking into just traveling by bike, so thanks for this video, pal! Send San Diego my love.
just got an electric bike. Sondor ebike because I have work 24 miles away. I had just paid 260 or more for something on my car and was like, I just wish there was a way to avoid all this. And the freaking amazing thought hit me!!! I'm going to buy a bike and never drive again. I was up till 11am and slept till 2pm, so 3 hour nap, then went back on my computer and kept on looking for infor on biking! I am loving riding it, still need to buy lights before I can start commuting just by bike because I get out of work at 11pm usually, but man!! it would save me money, and I also missed the days when I had no car, I would plan a lot more and feel better and make the most of my time :O)
If you are wearing a backpack, add reflective material to your backpack. When riding in winter and its dark, wear bright coloured gloves so traffic is able to pick up your hand signals. Buy warm gloves and socks for winter, its worth it, also a bacalava to protect your lung from cold air. Invest in good bright lights, perhaps use redundant backlights, you won´t notice if the battery of your backlight fails. Put your head on a swivel, be aware of the traffic around you, not everybody follows the rules.
Stay hydrated. Winter pro tip: overdress your body core, therefore your body tries to get rid of the heat via your extremeties which means your extremeties keep warm. Know your roads, know your potholes.
In traffic, be visible, be predictable, be nice and follow the rules of streed code. Stay in the road next to parking cars, getting doored is partially your fault and not fun.
Keep an extra lightweight bag in your packpack in case you overpack. You can clip it to your backpack with a carabiner. For rain, keep 2 garbage bags in your backpack as an extra protective layer. Always carry tools, spare tube and money with you.. A rain radar app on your smartphone can show you when it is smart to ride home without getting caught in the rain. Get a map with all the bikelanes from your city. Always be aware of pedestrians, they don´t hear you. When kids are nearby, be always prepared to brake hard. Kids always have the right of way. Never ride bike lanes in the wrong direction, this so dangerous that it is statistically the No.1 cause for bike accidents. When overtaking other bikes, announce it either by bell or by voice.
When changing clothes, you can get rid of sweat with babywipes. When you don´t want to sweat, ride slower than 12 Mph/19km/h in the flat. That is the speed, the dutch ride in everyday clothes. No sweat, still 4 times faster than by foot.
Back in 2014 I started re-getting interested in cycling. Back in 2011 I purchased a bike specifically geared towards commuting. This purchase introduced this idea to me which up to then did not exist in my head so when 2014 came around I started thinking about commuting.
As time past I became more familiar with the trails around my town and before long I had found a way to ride from my house to downtown. I remember the day, the first time when I hopped on my bike and left the back door of my house and road to downtown Nashville. I had a sense of shock that I could travel so far on a bike. That trip really made me realize that a bicycle was a viable form of transportation. To this day I still am amazed just how well a bicycle can move your ass from point A to point B.
I noticed that you don't have finders. Do you not ride in the rain? Or do you not have rain in CA?
lornaz1975 It almost never rains in SoCal
I used to have a "10-speed" bike a long time ago. I tried commuting with it to my job which was only a 15 minute ride from home. I lived out in the burbs and, next to a four lane highway, there was a long sidewalk that I felt safer on. But I regularly got flat tires, usually from slivers of broken glass. The relatively high pressure tires were at fault. I now have a touring bike with low pressure Big Apple tires. I never get flats. But my fear that I will get a flat keeps me from making long distance rides too far from home.
Man I wish I don't need a car. Unfortunately, a car is essential to every Canadian. The winter in my area is very harsh and long. Sure, I could buy a fat bike but it wouldn't do me good. Freezing rain and snowstorms are a thing here.
Get a jacket too!
Jk
I like how you talk about your "Biking way of life", anyway the need of having a car depends mostly from the place where you live. I have been living in different cities and of course, is not always possible to move just with a bicycle, but I think the main point still to love cycling, If you really love it then you can make it!
Not on my own yet, but whenever I can, I insist on biking myself, on my usual bike i love do much. It's an upright bike with a low frame and handlebars that come out towards you.
I've also got a rear basket which is something i don't see very often, but makes carrying things insanely easy, just set your backpack, water, locks, keys, snacks (which you can eat while biking), and phone if your pockets aren't trustworthy.
I love cycling places, because not only is it independent mobility and allows me more flexibility, but it's also a light exercise that sets me up for a healthy life in the future. The only downside is that I see stroads and i get depressed.
You're posting again! Great to see you. :)
I have a car.
Quite tired of maintenance, paying taxes, going to the gas station, cleaning it etc.
Cycling full time depends on the city you live, the weather etc. but I want to give this a try.
Totally get you dude! In Miami, everyone thinks that you need a car to get around. People think I'm crazy too lol. Me personally, I don't bicycle commute outside of a 3 mile radius. 3 miles is my practicality threshold. Anything beyond that I use public transit. Besides that if I don't feel like biking or feel tires on some particular day, I'll just take public transit. As far as flats, I use the toughest tire on the market, continental gator-skin hardshell with a Mr. Tuffy ultralite tire liner so I never get flats except for EXTREEME road debris.
Same here
I don't own a car and definitely use my bicycle as my main mode of transportation. I'm 25 and I don't even have a license. Also money is tight so driving just isn't feasible right now at all.
I'm Paul, I'm 29 yo. I've been cycling with 2-3 year pauses since I was 5. That's close to 20 years, and I'm sure that I'm not alone. I love the freedom of cycling and most days, I'm more comfortable on two wheels than on my own feet. I'm not a health nut, I smoke and drink alcohol and lots of coffee. I just enjoy cycling so much that it's a part of who I am. I get fun looks from people when I smoke a cigarette on my bike during my commute.
I don't have a driving licence(though I really like cars, my friends have cars), but I've never really had a need for one since I've always lived close to a city center. I'm thinking of getting a motorcycle, because I've gotten lazier - but I'm sure I'll still be riding my mountain bike(at least) till I drop dead.
I also like to work on my bikes, which is why my room sometimes looks like a bike mechanics workshop. I don't spend much on my bikes, but I do upgrade them with good parts when I need to. I've never spent more than 350 dollars on a bike, but I've spent the same amount of money on a new fork; or almost 200 on new brakes, cables and housings.
I had a project with some friends at college and we were there till midnight, we were really tired and we all wanted to go to our homes. They had to stay there till 4:30 am, because that's when the bus system starts working. But I was able to go back immediately, so that was a big benefit. That's not an usual thing, but still... Plus, riding on a saturday at midnight, with no cars is one of the best experiences I've ever had
Anyone who lives in a city and thinks they need a car to get around are brainwashed or lazy. Bikes all the way!
Brainwashed to be lazy maybe?
Raze R. AMEN!
Haven't owned a car since 2010, been on the bicycle ever since! I have a 2015 Jamis Aurora touring bike, go camping with it and daily commute.
I live in Inner Atlanta, and most of the places I go to do not require car ownership, I do think that if people are driving less than 20 miles a day for work and errands, they are just being lazy at that point and got too comfortable with their bedroom on wheels.
Lately though I've been hit with realization that I will do better in carpentry fields, but for those you MUST own a car or nobody will talk to you. So for first time in several years I'm looking at vehicles again, but something like a van that can haul lots of tools and extra supplies AND my bicycle.
It does suck that many people, including the environmental hippies, still hold onto the stigma that not owning a car means you are unreliable.
What if you want to look nice not sweaty good hair
Why not consider:
th-cam.com/video/1Sl3qzjGjZI/w-d-xo.html
(long range electrically supported bicycle. Super quality, heavy duty, low maintenance, durable, stable, proved Flevobike quality)
You will be unique. And it it wll be great advertisement.
To buy it is as expansive as a car. To maintain and keep it costs hardly anything (no fuel, no Insurance, low maintenance, longlivity, etc.).
Interested? Contact:
www.flevobike.nl/
By the way, I have no commercial interest in this company. I do own a bicycle from this company.
Oh my God! I've FINALLY found like-minded bicycle people! :))) I owned a couple of cars over the last 15 years and I"m happy that a severe weather storm totally destroyed my last. A tree fell on the car and flattened it like a pancake. LOL I didn't mind, because I just took the vehicle insurance money and put it in the bank -- and then went back to riding my bike, which I hadn't done in years. Also, I live in a city where the public transportation system is very good. So, if I need to go some place farther, I just hop on the bus and go. I love having saved a lot money on gas, maintenance and insurance. All of that money stays right in my wallet! :) I'm going to be checking out that bike/car-free living forum! I love your videos! :)
I was car free for more than four years. At this point I live outside of the suburban circle and have twins. When I lived in the city, and went out as a family, we walked and used public transport. I would do the grocery shopping on my bike. Public transit is barely a thing out here and the schedules/routes don’t work for us. I have a car to cart the family and buy bulk at Costco lol
My finacial situation left me without a car. I live with and am caregiver to my 89 year old father. I have a family member who takes us to see all of my father's different doctors a few times a month. I was walking everywhere i had to go. To get groceries and to the gym, which is pretty much my daily commute. All within a few miles of our home. My cousin bought a big box store comfort hybrid as a presentfor my birthday. I will never.....EVER walk anywhere again as long as this bike is in working order. I cannot believe how much of my life i have wasted walking back and forth everyday to get groceries and lift. Brother, i love your videos and am very grateful for the knowledge you share. Thanks again
In most busy metropolitan areas in other countries commuting by bike is a normal way of life. For example in Holland,Sweden,China,India,Philippines everyone from doctors,teachers,engineers and to the average worker and student commute by bicycle. Commuting by bicycle Is not a big deal. It's economical, healthy and st times therapeutical.
Something Id add his point about using a bike. I also enjoy cycling but also that I don't have to waste time going to the gym or running to do cardio. My bike does my cardio for me so its a time saver in that sense.
This video helped me a lot. Because everyone is telling me that I need to start driving but I tell them I don't like it. I'm not interested in cars or driving at all. I've loved biking ever since I started 6 years ago and it helps me to know that a bike is so much cheaper to own than a car. Yeah a car looks better than a bike but with a car you need to worry about gas, insurance, oil changes etc.
Man i love watching your vids but it really makes me miss SD, grew up just outside the city
I never got into driving basically because I was an irresponsible free spirit type teen too interested in playing computer games to really do anything else and getting my drivers license seemed like a huge time and money investment.
Riding a bike was a natural evolution from me walking everywhere which is the situation I was left in after I got tired of relying on people driving me everywhere to get places. Walking is okay but it gets very dull after a wile. It's not very stimulating. And takes so long to get anywhere (when you live 5km to the nearest train station, and 3km from the nearest shops)
It's generally seen as a recreational activity or something for kids, which it is, but it also makes so much sense as a method of transport. So why more people don't do it is curious to me. And I think a lot of it has to do with social perceptions. China has been moving more and more towards a car dominated society following the west. Or at least a 1960s idea that existed in the west that wasn't even correct in the instances it existed then. It used to be a land of bicycles with more cyclists than anywhere else on the planet, that culture has very much gone in decline, although the usefulness of cycling has not changed, social perceptions have. The bicycle once being seen as a symbol of wealth from the 50s through to the 70s, now is considered a symbol of poverty, backwardness, and old china. People want cars as a status symbol more than anything else. At least in the west, in the beginnings of car culture it was very much to do with being pragmatic. The car was the symbol of wealth and you would have one to a household, full with the big families they use to have back then.
In a culture where most people can afford cars, the sports car becomes the symbol of wealth. There is nothing pragmatic about owning a car worth half a million dollars that never leaves city traffic and spends most of its time stuck in traffic or on roads with 40kph speed limits. It's purely peacock feather shit. Yet this is the situation with some rich inner city men into that scene.
Where I'm from, not owning a car isn't considered as socially egregious as not having a drivers license. Having a drivers license here is like a right of passage for some people, part of becoming a man or an adult, growing a beard, taking responsibility for your own life and gaining freedom and independence and so on. There are so many positive social connotations to getting that government stamp on your right to drive a car. And that's what really shocks people. Most people can understand that you don't own a car, maybe you just sold your car, maybe you're about to buy a car or you share a car with someone else, or you just rent a car when you need it, but the concept that you don't even have a drivers license, or the desire to ever even get one? Blasphemy.
sign of poverty is true I get a lot of compliments on my motorized bike but you could see in their eyes like "I'll never ride one for transportation, he probably couldn't afford a car"
zach... I have been watching as many of your videos as I can find. You have that humerous kind of goofy sentence structure that really entertains. I ignore the fixie specific stuff as I prefer geared bikes. One thing I know you have said and has been also espoused by other fixie riders: fixies have less things to go wrong so less maintenance. My response would be that I like to do maintenance on my bikes as I find it to be relaxing. I think I remember you saying you were starting to like to work on your bike as well so that does bring up the question of why a fixie but we all have our preferences.
i started in uber rush as bike messenger..now i love biking and i use my bike as my main transportation , visiting friends, and deliveries too
I think the average American commutes around 10 miles to work, and spends a large percentage of their annual income on a car. Then that same person will turn around and pay for a gym membership and wake up an hour early to go work out. So if you just buy a bike and leave for work an hour early you could theoretically save yourself the cost of a car and a gym membership. All while attaining a good level of health and physical fitness. In short, bikes make a lot of sense if you have a short commute.
I feel it is a very great concept if it works out for you logistically through all four seasons. I've biked to work before, but it is a 50 mile round trip and because I live in Wisconsin the window isn't open year round. I do think it is something that can be done to reduce use of the car; in my case and also at least one day a week fits into my cross training for running.
Works fine, faster to to park a bike, no parking fee, and you can usually park by the entrace. You can usally bring your bike with you on the train and the buss if you are traveling from one city to another, or bring something with you that you dont want in you backpack or one the bike. You can have a bike trailer that can take moste things your trunk can.
I commuted 34 km (12km+22km)(21 miles) every weekday on my e-bike from May to October (in Norway), so its doable, and didnt use much more time than I would on public transport since there is no direct route. So with the rigth gear and the rigth bike you can get it to work if you want.
I have no vehicle. I go everywhere on a bike. I grocery shop on a bike. (Having insulated bags) comes in very handy for cold items. I use a 26" Nel Lusso bike. Love the bike. I take Greyhound when I need to travel more than 50 miles one way.
Also, can you do a video on riding in the rain? What things might you want to bring etc. etc. Love the videos dude!
Started cycle commuting in Chicago in 1989. Have been a cycle commuter ever since. I never have considered a bike as recreational since then. Spent 5 years car free. Best time of my life. I have a fixed-gear, road bike, utility hybrid commuter, off road mtb, on road mtb and a tourer. My on road mtb I use to pull a trailer for grocery runs. One time my car sat for so long the battery went dead. lol
Love your All City bike and as you already may know is out of Minneapolis Minnesota where I am at right now in the middle of a snow storm with they are saying we will be getting 8-12 inches of snow when all is said and done. What else is interesting for me to find out that Park Tools is also from Minnesota as well. It is so cold here and I hate it. I have thought about San Diego as a potential place to live in the future. I wonder what you think? I try to ride in the winter and have many times tried to commute but the snow can make it so very miserable. Living in a place where you can ride every single day must be amazing and I only dream of the day when I can do that. Thanks for you videos!! Woot woot!!
great video as always mate!
I'm personally in my mid 20s, always cycled/skateboarded as my main forms of transport otherwise I use public transport. My situation is slightly different in being that my wife and I have a young daughter and for obvious convenience reasons, we own a car. I don't consider it mine and rarely drive but I do to share load of being a parent/supportive partner. Always stoked seeing you use your fixed gear for a to b stuff too. I sometimes debate switching to a geared bike for convenience and being able to tackle different routes that are sometime too impractical on a fixed gear but the truth is that riding a fixed gear everywhere is the most fun I've ever had on a bicycle!
just curious, do you own any other bicycles? would love to see a quiver video if so :D
I have never had a flat or flats stop me. I carry a spare tube and a patch kit since there are goat head thorns on the back country roads in No. Co. SD. It takes about 3-5 minutes to change a tube, and 10 to patch one.
I got a motorcyle 4 years ago. I rode it dor my daily commute in Switzerland for 2.5 years but I moved closer to my university and basically don't need it anymore. Only time I do is when I have firefighters duty (1 week out of 6) to be kinda fast at the firestation and not just see the firetrucks back all the time leaving right when I arrive. All that brings me to thinking that my motorcycle costs me way to much for those few weeks of service a year. I've been thinking to sell it (even though I love it like my baby) and buy a bike. Would make me slower in the nights but during daytime, I could just pass all those stopped cars in traffic. So yeah, I've almost set my mind to that change but I'll see this autumn if I really haven't used my motorcycle as much as I should/want to these next months.
I mostly bike including my 7.5 mile commute but I regularly defer to public transit since I live in Chicago where the system is not complete garbage. I also have a 150cc scooter that extends my range and allows for a passenger. I would say that it increases my speed but biking wins when there's traffic. My fiancee and I are both from suburbs so there are a lot of obligatory family visits which her compact car is useful for. I hope someday I can persuade her to sell it and defer to commuter & regional rail and occasional car rental.
I've thought a lot about transportation options. Electric bikes seem useful but for now I've decided to try an electric longboard. It hasn't been delivered yet but it will get 7 or 14 miles on a charge. It will be much easier to board a train with a 15lb longboard than a bike when needed. I'm also excited to use it when travelling since the smaller battery is allowed on planes.
in the past year I have been using my bicycle for everything, so when my car died last month it was no problem. I love riding my bike and I don't see myself getting a car in the foreseeable future. also the extra cash I'm saving from gas and insurance(mostly insurance) is nice
I’m with you I’ll take a bike over a vehicle 🚴🏻♂️🚴🏻♂️🚴🏻♂️🚴🏻♂️🚴🏻♂️
I use a sturdy trekking bike for my daily commute to work (11 mls / 18 km round trip). In contrast to San Diego here in Berlin biking is also the fastest way transportation. On the downside, the increasing car density makes biking more and more dangerous. I never owned a car and hopefully never will. I like to show off my drivers license photo at parties though.
I have a car but use it as a secondary form of transportation. For example (I live near Chicago) sudden storms, driving family around, and mostly work (carrying heavy equipment). Also I make 68 miles trips once a week to see a special someone which would be had by bike.
My bicycle is my form of transportation here in Toronto,Ontario Canada 🇨🇦 car sucks
I bike to my business (three blocks), and go shopping three-four times a week (20 kg. worth of goods each time), 15 km. each trip. One or two times a week I visit my son by bike (40 km. round trip).
The only thing I have found a little awkward in a bike is dating.
very interesting! i like your videos! keep it up!!!!!!!
In London bikes are absolutely comparable to cars, namely because average traffic speeds are about 8mph - in pretty much every case the bicycle is the fastest mode of transport in the city (apart from maybe the tube). Also it’s more convenient because A) it’s rare that you’ll ever have to go more than about 3-4 miles for anything and B) parking isn’t nearly as prevalent as I get the impression it is in American cities,
Amen brother! I do own a car BUT I probably use my bike as a means of transportation maybe 85% of the time and I'm happy to let my wife use the car, besides, living in socal we have almost perfect weather for cycling. It's just so fulfilling. It's so much fun but in LA they need to improve the cycling infrastructure still. All the money you save from not having a car you can get a quality bike and a quality bike will let you do 20+miles easily. Cheers!
Count me in. Lately, it's been 16 months since I owned one. Amazon Prime and General Aviation have been taking care of the gaps for me. Plus my wonderful location here in Warroad, MN.
YES...more people who like bikes
I use my bike for all (and I do mean all) of my transportation needs. My work is two miles away, the nearest Walmart is a mile away so it's a really easy choice. No car payments, gas money or auto insurance needed and earned the legs of a Clydesdale horse as a byproduct and to top it off, counting just my essential rides amount to nearly 30 miles of riding (though I know that's not much). If I count recreational rides and other incidental trips (y'know, life), that number grows much higher. Yeah, if you can swing it, this is the way.
I cycle to work and get my groceries delivered (£6 a month subscription), can usually cycle to town in 15 minutes which is quicker than driving in rush hour here!
I gave my vehicle away 7 tears ago and let my DL expire in 2013. I don't miss either one. I will be 48 this summer and it feels great having the freedom, no worries about gas prices, increases in registration, license fees, insurance, tires, oil and any major expenses that automobiles have. 40 miles one way is nothing for me (reminds me when I was in my early teens when I biked 120 one way to visit my cousins in Milwaukee or when I cycled the perimeter of WI). I had my fill of driving (cars, trucks, vans and long-haul OTR), never going back.
What about shopping, picking up friends, dates, family? Car allows you much more access to places. Bike is good if everything is close to you and you live alone.
Also winter time in Canada, good luck biking everywhere....
You have the home delivery services for your groceries and shopping.
@@cindylong624 I would not spend my money in delivery
I started using only bike for a year. Clocked in around 8000 km. My health improved significantly - I used to have heart problems, but now even after 12 day (300km per day) touring I feel fresh and strong. I was blown away when I used only 1-2 Eur per day for traveling in expensive western EU countries. Body is so efficient - just need very calorie rich food. Cheap oat cookies/peanutbutter/cookies in general as long as they are close to 500 kcal per 100g. And water is cheap anywhere, or just be frugal and refill at random gas stations.
You save the cost+time for cardio in the gym as well compared to the gym goers who run on treadmill
thanks for sharing your felling for cycling
nice vid :)