Benefits of Biking to Work Keep Adding Up

A new IRS subsidy helps commuter cyclists offset costs of $20 a month.

By Louis Jones, Kiplinger's Personal Finance

June 2009

The federal government just made it easier for you to ride your bike to work.

No, the feds aren’t flattening that monster hill for you. But you’ll see more bicycling and pedestrian paths, thanks to the economic-stimulus package, which sets aside about $800 million for transportation enhancements. For instance, Everett, Wash., a suburb of Seattle, will spend almost $2 million on a project to enhance bicycle and pedestrian travel and safety. More than $3 million in stimulus money will fund a new bicycle and pedestrian path in downtown San Antonio. And Washington, D.C., will spend $3 million in stimulus money to expand its SmartBike program, which lets cyclists pay a $40 annual fee for unlimited use of public bicycles, located in kiosks throughout the city.

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What’s more, Congress has added bicycle commuters to groups of workers who can get a tax break to help cover the cost of getting to and from the office. Just as employers can provide tax-free reimbursement for the cost of parking or transit passes, they can also subsidize the cost of biking to work. At $20 a month, the cap on tax-free money for cycling is far less than what’s available for parking ($230 a month) and transit passes ($120 a month). But every little bit helps. Costs qualifying for the reimbursement include bike, lock, helmet and general maintenance. To qualify, you must ride your bicycle for a substantial portion of your commute at least three days per week. If your company doesn’t offer this benefit, you should raise the issue with the human resources department. The American League of Bicyclists, has helpful information about the new law and offers commuter pledge cards that can be used for implementing the benefit.

But the $20-per-month subsidy is chump change compared with what you’ll save just by leaving the car at home. Roger Crawford, 53, rides his bike part of the way to his job in Arlington, Va. He started biking three days each week in August 2008—and for only ten miles of his brutal commute of 75 miles each way. “Step into [cycling] gradually,” Crawford advises. “Be conservative in your goals, and stick to them.” Now, he drives 50 miles and bikes the remaining 25 miles, five days a week. Crawford says he saves $260 a month in highway tolls, $60 a month in parking fees and $81 a month in gas—a combined monthly savings of more than $400, not including vehicle-maintenance costs.

More important, Crawford says, he’s lost 30 pounds and kept his blood-sugar level under control. He was diagnosed with type 2 diabetes last summer.

Other commuter cyclists achieve additional cost savings by trading in a workout at the gym for a rush-hour bike ride. “I used to spend an hour at the gym and an hour driving. Now, I get my commuting and exercise in, and I save gas money,” says Mike Schechter, 32, who recently started cycling seven miles per day, each way, to his job at a law firm in Seattle. He also scaled back his gym membership from $300 a month to just $40 a month by foregoing benefits such as one-on-one time with a trainer.

Surviving the Commute

A bicycle commute to work surrounded by rush-hour traffic isn’t the same as a weekend ride through the countryside. First, be sure to get a helmet ($20 to $30). Head injuries cause 75% of annual bicycle deaths, and helmets can prevent 85% of head injuries from bicycle accidents, according to the Bicycle Helmet Safety Institute.

Other gear that might be useful for biking to and from work:

• Lights ($35) for early-morning or nighttime riding. Get a white LED front light to attach to your handlebars so you’ll stay visible when approaching intersections, and buy a red, blinking light to attach to your seat post or clip onto your back so approaching drivers will see you from behind.

• A rack or panniers ($40), either of which can attach to the back of your bike, to carry files, a change of clothes or other personal items. A small messenger bag or backpack might suffice but can strain your back. Most mountain bikes or hybrids easily accommodate a rack or panniers.

• Shoes with clips ($30 to $90), which will give you more control and power for the faster pace and tighter turns you’ll navigate during a rush-hour ride

• A fender ($15 to $25) to keep water from splashing onto you from your rear tire.

• A cycling computer ($10 to $50) to track your speed and trip length.

But don’t drop money on loads of gear until you take a few spins out on your bike. “I always tell people to start with the basics and then come up with their own formula for what works,” says Tony Leongini, manager of Bicycle Pro Shop in Washington, D.C.

To learn the rules of the road, consider taking a safety course, and read the Ride Better section of the League of American Bicyclists’ Web site.

Once You Get to Work

Ask local parking garages and your employer if there’s a good storage spot for your bike. Parking your bike on the street? Don’t settle for a coil or chain lock, which a thief can split with a pair of bolt cutters. No lock can guarantee 100% theft prevention, but a steel U-lock ($15 to $30) should keep your ride safe. For added piece peace of mind, park your bike in a high-traffic area where a thief won’t go unspotted, and don’t leave it out overnight if you can help it.

The real trick for commuter cyclists is looking—and smelling—professional after a long ride. If your office building has a shower, consider yourself lucky. If not, check with gyms near work. Some might be willing to partner with your employer to offer reduced shower-only memberships.

If showering isn’t an option for you but you’re still determined to get to work on two wheels, fret not. First, pitch the sweat-retaining cotton garb and spring for a moisture-wicking cycling jersey ($20 to $60) and shorts ($30 to $60). On sweltering days, hit the road early enough to avoid the worst of the heat, and give yourself time to pedal slowly and cool off during the last portion of your ride. Still feeling unkempt? Many cyclists keep a box of baby wipes handy so they can freshen up in the bathroom before changing into work attire.

Wendell Mangibin, 38, uses unscented baby wipes to clean himself after chugging through eight miles each way to his job at a credit union in Westbury, N.Y. By biking, he’s able to take shortcuts and shave two miles off of what turns out to be a ten-mile trip in his Subaru Impreza. He makes the commute three days per week and, with gas prices at $2.70 per gallon, slashes fuel expenses by about $32 per month.

His main impetus for riding, though, is the exercise regimen that is otherwise tough to schedule between working and spending time with his two young children.

“When I used to go running, I’d get an adrenaline rush,” he says. “It’s the same way with cycling. I come into work and everyone’s bleary-eyed, but I’m full of energy and ready for the day to start.”

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