Re: [ST] FYI Gas prices

[Thomas Emberson <thomas@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx>]

Andrew F. Kay, Jr. wrote:

> FUN!  It still burns gas, if not as much as a 4 wheel vehicle, so how do
> you justify running it in times of shortage or high prices?  Anyone want
> to defend bikes as transport in the US as an alternative to cars and

According to my math, if you are riding a modern motorcycle, designed 
for extended service (ie. Not a Ducati) there is no way a Motorcycle is 
more expensive to commute on. If so, how come motorcycles/scooters are 
much more common in other countries???

For me
truck 23k, over 100k == $0.23/mile + $0.13 (17mpg) = $0.36/mile
FJR   13k, over 100k == $0.13/mile + $0.06 (40mpg) = $0.18/mile

ding, ding, ding I've been ridign the FJR to work every single day lately.

BTW, oil changes every 4k miles, difference is about $10 more for the 
FJR, and 4x$150 ever 30k miles for the truck or 2x110 ever 8k for the 
FJR, so for every 30k miles, the truck needs $600 in tires, and the 
$880. Add in valves mybe $500 for valves and a couple of TBS every 30k 
as well, and you will bump it up by about 1.5 cents per mile.

So, I am saving about $0.16 per mile riding the bike. If you exclude the 
extra for the tires and extra maintenance, the bike costs half as much 
to ride to work.

Now, imagine if my commute vehicle of choice was a Ruckus 250, with much 
cheaper rubber, cheap maintenance and 70mpg ...... Ohhhhhh.

Ruckus ~6k, over 100k == $0.06/mile + $0.04 (70mpg) = $0.09/mile

So, that would reduce travel expenses to 1/4 of that of my Truck. With 
my 8 mile on way commute that would save me over $777 per year over 
commuting with my truck.

And yes, I assume that any given vehicle is going to be ready for the 
wrecker at 100k miles.

> The average American isn't afraid of mass transit and car pools, they
> simply dislike them, and the attendant loss of freedom.  Let's stop
> spending money on government boondoggles that no one shows up to ride
> in/on.

Interesting thought, the company my wife works at has three offices, 
London, New York, and here in Allen, TX. Very few of her co-workers who 
live in London or NY have cars. Many ask why bother, between the Metro 
and occasional cab ride they spend less per month, and can get most 
places quicker.

'Tis true that many on this list prefer to ride/drive, but again, I 
don't think you can paint most people with that brush. I know many 
people who think of owning a car as necessary evil because the public 
transportation where they live sucks to badly.

What you do not discuss is

a) Back in the 60's are cities and states where designed around the car, 
not public transportation

b) Chicken/egg, can't get great PT until you have the ridership, and 
can't get the ridership until you have great PT ......

I can guarantee you, that if we see a per longed $3.00+/gal fuel price, 
PT would would start to get more attractive!


- -- 
Thomas Emberson



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