Shift to Bike
Shifting trips from the most expensive way to travel (driving) to the least expensive way (bicycling and walking) could save households up to 20% of their expenses each year. For some, this savings could mean the difference between life and death. For most, this savings will allow them to spend that money on local goods that will do far more for their local economies than burning this money as gasoline.
Unfortunately, in many developed countries, transportation infrastructure has focused almost entirely on providing for single occupant vehicle (SOV) transportation, creating a street environment that is not only unwelcoming to walking and bicycling, but is often deadly to those who choose these modes of travel. In developing countries, this issue is often combined with a lack of access to bicycles as well as dependable bike shops. So, while shifting trips from driving to bicycling or walking seems like a logical way to save money, many people do not have this option yet.
One Street is helping advocacy organizations around the world change their community’s infrastructure through our Campaign Planning expertise and workshops. We're also bringing affordable transportation bicycles to distressed areas of the world through our Social Bike Business program.
The overall value that non-motorized transportation provides for communities is often underestimated. The Victoria Transport Policy Institute published a study on this issue. Here are their findings and a link to their website:
For more great info, read the full report on Quantifying the Benefits.
Now, compare this value to the cost of driving. The United States, as most people know, is the worst example of overemphasis on single occupant vehicle (SOV) provisions. According to a report by the Surface Transportation Policy Partners (STPP) called Driven to Spend, Americans spend an average of $7,781 per year on transportation in 2003. That is nearly one of every five dollars spent by American households each year! For more details on these findings, please look through both versions of this report:
Source: www.OneStreet.org