Part drive, part cycle

Pirahna

Does anybody drive part of their commute and cycle the rest?

The reason for asking is my commute is an 80 mile round trip. When the weather is decent I try to do it once or twice a week and use a motorcycle the rest of the time. Just mulling over an alternative way of doing it. Public transport isn't a realistic option, so the only other alternative is a car. Drive half way and cycle half. If the weather is rubbish just drive the whole way.

Not something I can experiment with as I don't currently own a car. So I'm looking for other peoples thoughts and experience.

roger_merriman

if you don't currently own or need a car if the car is just to get the bike in closer it's going to be pricey, at least if thats all it does. by time insurance tax and MOT and then fuel be a easy £1000.

and thats with out the cost of the car and any parts, if you buy a newer car you'll loose large amounts in the cars value (enought to buy a nice bike).

you can do it cheaply but that does mean being reasonbly handy, my wee car is worth not a lot but sails though it's MOT i keep a eye on it and thus it ends up being a cheap little runabout as you where. but most people don't seem to know the difference between the big and little ends say. so cars do end up naturally being more pricey.

short answer is i think it could end up being pricey,

Kenjaja1

I do not commute in this way but I do sometimes use the bike-car combination. By removing the front wheel I can (just about) get a bike in my Ford KA. The rear seats have to be folded forward and the front passenger seat is tilted forward - making it unusable.

I bike rack would, on the face of it, seem like a better option but you need to be careful about theft. Many racks are not secure and some may end up with damage to the car if a thief decides to nick your bike.

So get a car where you can get your bike in and out easily and quickly and ideally without it taking all the passenger space! Taking the front wheel out makes this fairly easy. Taking the rear wheel out will make it even easier as long as you do not have a rear mudguard. Alternatively pay a lot of attention to the security of your bike if you need to leave it on a rack while your car is parked.

Other than that I can see no reason why your drive-cycle commute should not work. If you are currently cycling a round trip of 80 miles per week then stick with your current bike (or similar). (The geometry of most folders is wildly different from the sort of road bike you are almost certainly using - so I would not follow that option if someone suggests it. If the geometry didn't get you the small wheels would!)

I am sure someone on here will be able to offer advice based on more direct experience.

Pirahna

I'm running the bike anyway. Around 18k a year on a 1000cc motorcycle isn't cheap, I suspect car ownership is a much cheaper option. The thought was to get rid of the bike and replace it with a car. Just don't fancy doing the London bit of the drive too often.

Just to put commuting costs into perspective. My wifes runs a car which she uses to and from the station every day (car sharing is not an option) season ticket is £3000 a year and car parking another £1000. My train ticket would be more expensive as I'd need to add a travel card for the tube onto that price. On the odd occasion I take the train it's £27 a day.

secretsam

Get a small van, they're cheaper and better for storing the bike

morgs478

I bought a second hand Vauxhall Zafira last year and my bike fits in perfectly without having to take off any wheels. I park the car half distance and cycle the rest. depending on my mood (& fitness) I may park it closer or further from work.

I probably wouldn't have chosen the Zafira in normal circumstances but I'm glad I did as apart being perfect for carrying my bike, its good for transporting all kinds of things, including the kids.

I think its a perfect way to commute as I haven't the time to cycle the full distance there and back.