Biking vs. Driving: Which is better?

Hey, for those of you who already have a car or a motorcycle parked in the driveway—I’d love to hear your take on how you feel about cycling now...

Jesse Williams2 said:For those of you who own a car or a motorcycle, tell me—how can you even think about riding a bike when you have a vehicle?...

How could I not ride two wheels when I’m faster than a car and can park wherever the hell I want? I just tie my bike right in front of the corner store, in a parking lot, or wherever makes sense. Honestly, nothing beats cruising past the local high school football field while everyone else is stuck in gridlock, dealing with people trying to strip parts off Mubarak's car and others...
I used to have a motorcycle, too. What a nightmare. You end up freezing even in the middle of summer, stepping off the bike feeling stiff as a board. On a bicycle, you actually move around and stay warm. Plus, commuting to and from work is basically built-in exercise, so there's no need to waste time at some boring gym...

well, looking at a place like Chicago, where finding a parking spot feels like winning the lottery—but then you look at smaller towns out in the Midwest... I honestly think the car still comes out on top here.

These are just some fundamental human needs—staying connected to nature, moving under your own power... Sure, sometimes you get freezing cold, you get soaked to the bone, you trip, or you just plain struggle. But that’s how it’s been for millions of years, and you aren't going to change human biology overnight. If you ignore those instincts, you end up frustrated and dealing with health issues...
Of course, having a car has its perks, especially when you're commuting between cities or hauling gear around, but a bike? That's irreplaceable. Once I'm no longer able to pedal, I might as well be dead.

In San Francisco, I only pull out the car when I absolutely have to—usually for the kids or if I've got a heavy load. If it's just me and my wife needing to run errands, I'll hop on my Vespa. But if the weather is nice and I’ve just got a light backpack, I’ll grab my bike just for the fun of it. It keeps me fit and clears my head; honestly, I feel great after a long ride 🙂.
Man, drivers around here have zero respect for bikers; they look at someone on a bicycle like they’re seeing an alien from outer space 😲.
And don't even get me started on parking—finding a spot for a motorcycle is a total nightmare 👎.

Jesse Williams2 said:Hey, anyone who’s got a car or a motorcycle parked in the garage—how do you actually find the motivation to get out on a bike instead?

What a weird question to drop... on a cycling forum where everyone here is riding because they love it, want to stay fit, or just can't help themselves... you're asking how people feel about riding a bike?🤷 🙄That's like walking up to a woman and asking her how she feels about being a woman. Makes zero sense.

I mean, it’s that specific feeling you get when you step out of your backyard into that crisp morning air—instead of being dragged out by a massive traffic jam and freezing temperatures.

At work, I can actually tell how my day is going to go based on whether I arrived on foot or by car. If I walk through Central Park instead of being forced to take the long way around in a vehicle... man, that connection to nature is just irreplaceable.
Today, though, I drove in, and honestly? I don't even have the energy for a coffee or a quick lunch—it’s a total drain, truly!
From where I'm standing, this whole thread really ought to have a reversed title 🙂

I don't really ride a traditional bicycle since I actually built myself an e-bike from scratch, though there are plenty of other reasons why I went the DIY route instead of just picking up a scooter, which I've already laid out...
The only times I bother pulling the car out of the garage is when it’s pouring rain or if we're expecting snow, or maybe if I'm heading out on a date at night, or if I've got a massive haul of groceries to lug home...
Like I mentioned before, the perks are pretty obvious; I don't have to circle the block forever because I can park basically anywhere, and honestly, I'm usually moving way faster than cars would be, even when traffic isn't backed up...
I'm talking about life here in Chicago...

I hold a driver's license, but I will always choose my bike over a car because nothing else compares to the sheer rush of riding, and I genuinely relish being on two wheels even when I'm just grinding through the daily grind across the city.😁

Jesse Williams2 said:For those of you who already have a car or a motorcycle parked in the driveway, I’d love to hear your take on how you feel about cycling...

So, here's my deal. I grew up on a bike—basically since I could walk. Back then, the bike was just an extension of me; I was so used to it that I’d eventually outgrow the frame itself. We were pretty skilled riders, too. Then came the mopeds and all sorts of stunts, which made the bike feel kind of primitive and slow. After that, it was bigger motorcycles, then cars, and eventually moving up to some pretty heavy machinery.
Nowadays, I still ride. I actually have a rack on my car specifically so I can haul my bike to farther destinations, where I can just focus on competing against myself. It’s about proving what I can do with my own strength and skill, rather than letting a machine do all the heavy lifting for me.
There's just something about feeling your fitness improve and pushing your own limits. I ride my bike with a lot of intensity, and honestly, I'm starting to get a bit tired of messing with a car clutch. I only drive when I absolutely have to. I guess I still feel the pull toward motorcycles—that's a whole different experience—but I'm holding back. For now, I think I've found a better way to channel that energy through cycling.

Richard Lewis16 said:I don't bother with standard bikes because I've got an electric motor built right into my ride. As for why I opted for this DIY setup instead of just picking up a scooter, I've already laid out those perks above.
I only break out the car when it’s raining or snowing (plus whenever I'm heading out on a date at night, or if I've got a massive haul of groceries to lug home).
The advantages are clear: I don't have to drive all over the place, parking is a breeze everywhere, and honestly, I'm way faster than a car can ever be—even when traffic isn't a nightmare.
I'm talking about life in Chicago here.

So, how’s the e-bike treating you? What kind of top speeds are we talking about, and what’s your typical range on a single charge? Also, what did the whole build actually run you? (I know the specs are all over the internet, but I'd much rather hear the real story from someone who actually lived it!).

And are you maybe from somewhere near Columbus? Because I keep seeing this one guy from the Columbus area constantly cruising around on an electric bike.🙂 He even wears a full motorcycle helmet!

I’m a driver through and through. I drive everything, everywhere, any time, any direction. You could wake me up in the dead of night and tell me to head to Romania—as long as you’re footing the bill for gas—and I’m out the door before you finish the sentence.
BUT: nothing beats the rush of getting on a bike when time starts feeling subjective. Try doing what I do in a car, a streetcar, or a bus (or a motorcycle, assuming you don't break every traffic law in the book)—trying to get from one end of the city to the other in 30 or 40 minutes? Forget it. Not to mention when there's a miles-long traffic jam and I’m just flying past them. They’re cursing while I’m grinning; they’re staring at red lights while I’m rolling through them, or they’ve got a green light and they're stuck, while I’m moving again. It’s an exponential high. And that’s not even mentioning the descent down the old trail by Arlington National Cemetery. People think I’m a lunatic—probably my bike thinks so too—but whatever.😂
I tried riding slow once. Managed about 100 yards before the momentum just took over.🤷
Even on wet pavement, I love it. On a bike, I feel almost as free as a bird; there have even been times where I felt exactly like one. Then there's the acceleration, or bouncing over gravel, or a slow climb up Mount Rainier via the road or through the woods, only to hammer it down the asphalt and weave through cars. Or you hit the dirt path and your kidneys take a beating. It’s madness, I’m telling you.

I always have a backpack on me. I cram everything and anything into it. If I need to pick something up in town and it fits in the bag, and it isn't negative 800 degrees out, I'm taking the bike. I’ve ridden through snow. I always get some miles in right after New Year's while everyone else is still passed out. Besides, Patrick King7, bike rider just look at the signature.

Look, I get it—cycling around Washington, D.C. is probably a blast... but down here in Savannah, riding a bike is a total nightmare... the terrain is just all over the place—you've got your flat stretches, then sudden drops, and then these random climbs out of nowhere... and don't even get me started on the bike paths... THERE ARE NONE!!!

loneviper15 said:How's the e-bike treating you? What kind of top speed are we talking about, and what's the range like? Also, what did the whole setup run you... I know you can just Google all this stuff, but I figured I'd ask someone actually doing it...

And are you maybe from Naperville? I feel like I see someone from the Naperville area popping up on the electric bike threads all the time...🙂 They even wear a motorcycle helmet...

It’s going great, honestly... my current top speed—verified by my Garmin GPS—hits about 27 miles/h on flat ground, though it really depends on how hard you push... if you're cruising at an average of 19 miles/h and give it some extra juice on the hills, it handles them without any trouble, easily clearing 50 miles (I don't have a battery gauge on this thing, but I rode out to my cabin in the mountains last weekend and still had plenty of juice left when I got back 😉)...

The whole new bike setup ended up costing me roughly $2667... it's nothing too fancy, just a starter rig, so I'll probably upgrade to something more serious next season...
I'm not from Naperville and I don't wear a helmet, but you might spot me riding between Arlington National Cemetery, downtown, and over toward the suburbs... I've got a red and white bike 😉

Patrick King7 said:Look, I am an absolute driving fanatic! I drive everything, everywhere, at any hour, in any direction, all the time! If you were to wake me up in the dead of night and tell me to drive to Romania—making sure to emphasize that you're footing the bill for gas—I’d be out the door and on the road before you could finish your sentence!
BUT: nothing compares to the pure, unadulterated rush of hopping on my bike when time ceases to be a measurable concept! Just try getting from one end of the city to the other in thirty or forty minutes using a car, a streetcar, or even a bus (or a motorcycle without breaking a single traffic law)! It’s impossible, and don't even get me started on those moments when I’m flying past miles of gridlocked traffic while they sit there stuck. They’re cursing their luck while I’m grinning; they’re staring at a red light, while I’m rolling right through it; they see green and stay stationary, while I see green and keep moving! I’m telling you, the thrill is exponential! And that's not even mentioning the feeling of descending that old trail near Arlington National Cemetery! People think I’ve lost my mind—and honestly, my bike probably thinks so too—but what can I say?😂
I tried riding slowly once, but I barely managed about a hundred yards before the momentum just takes over and sweeps me away.🤷
Even on wet pavement, I simply thrive on my bike; I feel as free as a bird, and there have actually been times where I felt practically airborne! Then there are the sprints, or rattling along the gravel paths, or the slow climb up toward Mount Rainier via the forest trails, only to tear down the asphalt on the way back and weave through the cars—or take the dirt path and deal with the kidney-rattling bumps; it’s absolute madness, I swear!!

I always have my backpack on me; I cram everything and anything into it, plus a little extra, and if I need to pick something up in town and it fits in the bag, provided it isn't negative 800 degrees out, I'm going by bike! I’ve ridden through snow, and I always make sure to get some miles in right after New Year's Day while everyone else is still sleeping off the celebrations. Besides: Patrick King7 is a bike rider just look at the signature.

To me, it sounds like you're running away from something :frojd: 😬

Jesse Williams2 said:Look, I get that riding a bike through Washington, D.C. is a blast... but here in Savannah, biking through town is a total nightmare... the terrain is just... it's flat, then there's a slope, then more climbing... and don't even get me started on bike lanes... THERE ARE NONE!!!

What hills are you even talking about in Savannah? Every single day when I ride to work, that last mile and a half feels like a massive climb, a legit hill. And let's be real, bike lanes in Washington, D.C. are pretty rare too, so I spend basically my whole ride stuck on the road dodging arrogant drivers. It’s definitely not perfect, but it's a rush.

What kind of hills are we even talking about here??? Hmm

I don't know about you all, but reading through these older posts actually brought a little tear to my eye.🙂

casualharbor9 said:I don't know about you guys, but reading through these older posts... I actually felt a little tear well up in my eye🙂.

Why's that?

driftingcanyon16 said:Why?

Maybe I’m just being too sentimental, searching for some kind of kindred spirit...
Anyway, people mostly looked at me like I had lost my mind whenever I tried explaining why I ride in the summer and the winter, during the day or in the middle of the night, through the rain, the snow, or over bumps...