🚴♀️ Bike commuting: used bike, city bike or PT
I'm so excited to find out if a bicycle is cost-effective for working in an office 2–3 days a week! I can't wait to find out how much it costs to own a second-hand bike compared to city bike sharing and public transport! I'm excited to share the comprehensive breakdown of cost components below. It includes interactive inserts with monthly calculations and a payback vs. used price chart. There are also cases for distances of 5/10/15 km, and a section on seasonality/weather. And don't worry if you need any more help, there's a CTA and an extended FAQ at the end.
🧩 Cost components
What is included in the TCO of a bicycle (per month):
● Depreciation: (purchase price − expected proceeds from sale)/ownership horizon.
● Maintenance and consumables: inner tubes/tyres, cables, brake pads, lubricants, minor servicing.
● Accessories/safety: lock, lights, mudguards, rain kit (can be "amortised" on a monthly basis).
● Parking/storage: bike box/storage room (if paid).
● Insurance (optional).
What we are comparing:
● Bicycle (used) — add up depreciation and regular payments.
● City bike — subscription + possible additional payments.
● PT — either pay per trip (trips/week × 4.33 × price per trip) or monthly pass — we take the minimum of the two.
| Option | Formula | Monthly cost | Comment |
|---|
Values are DEMO. Replace with your city’s and profile’s actual data in production.
📉 Payback period chart: how many months it will take to recoup the cost of a used bicycle
Below is a graph showing "how many months until payback" depending on the price of a used bicycle with the current PT settings and regular bicycle expenses. If the monthly PT expenses are lower than the bicycle expenses, there will be no payback (the line goes up).
If the green line spikes upward or breaks — under given inputs the bike will not pay off compared to PT.
🗺️ Cases: 5 / 10 / 15 km one way
● 5 km × 2–3 days/week. A used bike or city bike often wins out: low maintenance costs and quick commutes. If there is covered parking, wear and tear and weather uncertainty will be reduced.
● 10 km × 2–3 days/week. Balance. With good infrastructure (bike paths/showers at work), a used bike is still a plus, but it is important to keep an eye on consumables and have a "dry" set of clothes. A city bike may lose out in terms of time if there are limits on the duration of the trip.
● 15 km × 2–3 days/week. Scenario for the prepared: the payback remains, but the costs of wear and tear and equipment are increasing. Many people find a combined model convenient: bike to the PT hub → short trip on PT.
🌦️ Seasonality and weather
● Winter and autumn may shift some trips to PT. Maintain a "seasonal" strategy: cycle in warm weather and pay for tickets per trip in cold months.
● Rain and wind increase wear and tear on consumables and the need for equipment (mudguards, raincoat, gloves). Include this as "accessories/year".
● Light and safety: a high-quality lock and light are essential. They add to the TCO, but protect against major losses.
● Storage: a bike box/storage room reduces wear and tear and the risk of theft; if there is a fee, include it in "parking/month".
All calculations are approximate and depend on your circumstances. Prices for travel, subscriptions and services are subject to change. This material is not financial advice. For an accurate comparison, use your current data and the calculator on the website.
FAQ
Estimate your monthly PT expenses (minimum of "per trip" and travel card) and compare them with your monthly "bike basket" (depreciation + maintenance + parking + accessories). Divide the "one-time" cost of the bike (price minus expected sale price) by the difference between PT and bike expenses to get the number of months until payback.
For urban commuting, basic service and consumables several times a year are usually sufficient. It is convenient to calculate the "annual" amount and divide it by 12 — this way, the TCO is easier to compare with monthly alternatives, even if you do not ride for part of the year.
If the area is risky or street storage is an issue, a bike box/storage room reduces wear and tear and the risk of theft. This increases the TCO by a fixed amount per month, but saves on repairs and time lost; it is often beneficial for expensive or "beloved" bicycles.
If you usually fit within the time "window" of your ticket, one trip remains one — transfers do not increase the counter. When calculating PAYG, multiply the actual number of trips (without transfers) by 4.33 weeks per month.
During the rainy and winter months, some trips are taken by PT, and the payback period shifts to the right. This is normal: use a "seasonal" combination — cycle in warm weather and use PAYG in cold weather. The overall economy is still often in the black.
It depends on the value of the bicycle and the conditions in the area. Include the cost of insurance in your monthly "bicycle basket" and compare it with the alternatives — this will give you a realistic picture.
The inputs are critical to the results: the price of the bike, the ownership horizon and expected sale, the number of office days, the cost of PT/subscription. Substitute your actual data into the inserts — they are designed specifically for this purpose.
