Dave Walker

Car vs bike - what are the costs?

Diagram is from my book 'From A to B'. It's a nice book if you're interested in cycling as a form of transport.

Available on my website for reuse by members of my Diagram Club https://davewalker.com/diagram-club/

Diagram Club - Dave Walker

A brief introduction Hello! I’m Dave, a cartoonist who draws diagrams about sustainable transport, cycling, current events, and everyday life. I’ve drawn cartoons for a wide range of publications and organisations over the years, including The Guardian, Cycling UK, Greenpeace, Church Times, Christian Aid, and many more besides. Introducing… Diagram Club My Diagram Club is...

Dave Walker
Nov 17, 2022 at 10:52amWeb
Show threadBertyTrouserNov 17, 2022
@davewalker car does also need maintenance mind, and MOT etc.
Show threadDave WalkerNov 17, 2022
@BertyTrouser That's there!
Show threadBertyTrouserNov 17, 2022
@davewalker oh the picture goes bigger ... doh..
Show threadDave WalkerNov 17, 2022
@BertyTrouser 🙂 You (inadvertently, perhaps!) make a good point though - perhaps I need to make the preview such that it is obvious you need to click.
Show threadBertyTrouserNov 17, 2022
@davewalker totes inadvertent
Show threadTilman BeitterNov 17, 2022
@davewalker you missed the "paying for the cars" on the bike side :-)
Show threadRuth MottramNov 17, 2022
@davewalker I *love* this...
Show threadDave WalkerNov 17, 2022
@Ruth_Mottram Thank you! 🙂
Show threadSamNov 17, 2022
@davewalker I built my own cargo bike a few years ago and it has been incredibly useful. My car gets so little use now that I think it might actually be cheaper to sell it and just rent when I need to.
Show threadDave WalkerNov 17, 2022
@SamP20 Nice work! Would love a cargo bike - one day. Getting rid of car - great if you can, but I’ve found the price of car hire has doubled since the pandemic. I use Hiyacar too which can make it more reasonable.
Show threadnyorkNov 17, 2022

@davewalker for auto, might add license & registration fees; theft of valuables due to break-ins; RE-servicing by a competent but more expensive person this time; tolls & citations; and parking fees.

For biking you’re gonna have the occasional ER visit or medical bill, btw

Show threadMatt NieldNov 17, 2022
@davewalker I'd imagine some brakes for a car would be wise too 😁
Show threadRoman PokoraNov 17, 2022
@davewalker Unfortunately, I already had my fuel. I'm afraid I need more fuel 😅
Show threadDave WalkerNov 17, 2022
@ecological_fallacy 🙂🍰🍰
Show threadEyalLNov 17, 2022

@davewalker Something slightly ironic about a comparison of bikes and cars from a guy called "walker".

It's just divide&conquer, guys

Show threadDave WalkerNov 17, 2022
@EyalL I’m not sure what my name has got to do with anything.
Show threadEyalLNov 17, 2022
@davewalker it's just a silly (bad) joke
Show threadDave WalkerNov 17, 2022
@EyalL OK - sorry, just didn’t quite understand.
Show threadBart GielenNov 17, 2022
@davewalker if you own a Stromer speed bike the cost pro km for maintenance can be compared to a car. Its complicated and fragile
Show threadDave WalkerNov 17, 2022
@bartgielen Sorry to hear. Not a band I’d heard of.
Show threadJohn O’ConnellNov 17, 2022
@davewalker I have seen your work and it’s unique style in so many places on so many occasions, I am delighted to finally find the creator :-) I have your brilliant map of the Greenbelt Festival framed on my wall.
Show threadDave WalkerNov 17, 2022
@jdpoc Thank you - that’s kind of you, and much appreciated.
Show threadhicksy2Nov 17, 2022
@davewalker I saw a report recently that said cycling saved people circa £10k per year, if it avoids buying a car/second car. As a family, we have avoided a second car as I use a bike, previously including a child seat for nursery runs. I don't think the saving is as much as that, about £2,500 net per year seems right. Annual running cost of bike, including extra travel time and laundry (not mentioned there) about £250, in my estimate.
Show threadAlison MeeksNov 17, 2022
@davewalker it sounds ideal. Life isn’t always ideal. If a bike was my only option I’d be trapped inside. (More than already)
Show threadDave WalkerNov 17, 2022
@alison Hi Alison, My work isn't saying that everyone should cycle or that a bike should be the only option. It's about encouraging cycling (and walking too), which makes things better for those who have to drive, use public transport, etc. A snippet of a cartoon to illustrate...
Show threadBettina HartmannNov 17, 2022

@davewalker

Great topic, thanks for bringing it up!

I live in Denmark, maybe bicycle country no. 1 (sharing it generously with the Netherlands 🙂 ).

I have biked, walked and used public transport all of my life, and I would add a) health and b) road condition. a) You get exercise from biking (=good for health), but if you have a poor health, eg. balance issues, etc. health can be bad for biking. b) slippery roads, cobble stones, darkness, very fast cars and no bike lanes = bad for biking

Show threadDave WalkerNov 17, 2022
@bettina Thank you - I'm glad you like it. I agree with all of your point, but this particular cartoon was only about the financial aspects. However I have done many more that do cover other benefits of cycling... (https://davewalker.com/category/diagrams/cycling-diagrams/)
Cycling Diagrams Archives - Dave Walker

Dave Walker
Show threadBettina HartmannNov 17, 2022

@davewalker

Cool, thanks for sharing! didn't realise it was part of a big series 🙂

Fun fact: (already) in 2010, 30 % of the traffic in CPH was bicycles. As we have a lot of bridges, this also means that even the bikes has to wait in line, and it can take two-three red lights waiting in line until you can pass the most busy places. This feels xtra stressful, because the upside of biking is avoiding traffic! So now we get more and more bike bridges... (video unrelated) https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tdc4WBOxlDo

Copenhagen Morning Bicycle Rush Hour: Nørrebro to Ørestad North

YouTube
Show threadBettina HartmannNov 17, 2022

@davewalker

Newest transportation figures for CPH - walking has risen to 35 % of the total due to corona! Biking reduced a bit.

Show threadFelipe AguileraNov 17, 2022

@davewalker a couple Years ago. My car was stolen, so I was kinda forced to move around to work in my bike. It happen to be a great upgrade in my daily routine.

Now I rent my parking space, my costs are drastically low and if needed I move in public transportation, taxi or just walk.
A great switch. :)

Good infographic!

Show threadDave WalkerNov 17, 2022
@felipeaguilera Thank you, and it sounds like a great switch indeed.
Show threadGemma SarraceniaNov 17, 2022
@davewalker I would like to point out that if you get never inflate tires, bike tires are a one time purchase. Worth it if you ride through gutters of broken glass and whatnot on your way to work.
Show threadDave WalkerNov 17, 2022
@tippitiwichet Never tried them, but sound like a good idea in those circumstances. Do they not give a very rough ride?
Show threadGemma SarraceniaNov 17, 2022
@davewalker Didn't seem so to me, but I was always more used to all terrain frames rather than street frames, had shock absorbing gloves and seat. I could notice a difference, but it was slight and worth it. I fixed all of two flats on my way to work before I caved and bought them, never looked back.
Show threadDave WalkerNov 17, 2022
@tippitiwichet Interesting - thank you. I've not really needed such a thing where I live, but can imagine in places with lots of glass it's a great idea.
Show threadMartin BatemanNov 17, 2022
@davewalker Under bike I think you missed porridge instead of fuel. Maybe that was just me 😃
Show threadneuroboxNov 17, 2022
@davewalker Nice. Around here, bike essential include helmet, full body spandex, comfy bike seat, head and tail lights, spare battery packs because of course it's an e-bike...
Show threadRyan FNov 17, 2022

@davewalker as a car enthusiast, and I'm up to over 25 now, I fully agree with this, I recently built an ebike and I've put a few hundred miles on it already. If my area wasn't so environmentally hostile to walking and biking for half the year it would be a very popular choice. I've been seeing a whole lot of ebikes here in the summer though so it's getting better!

I like cars but I also don't like *needing* a car.

Show threadBuchan Milne 🇿🇦Nov 17, 2022
@davewalker After having a few bikes stolen, and knowing friends who have had bikes damaged in accidents (collisions?), I have insurance on my bikes. Of course, the premiums are much lower than a car (buy higher as percentage of insured value I think).