A field guide to getting there without the gas.
Spend less on gas without giving up your car
Choose the drives you can skip, budget for the whole setup and see how long the savings take to catch up.
Read the guideSPEND LESS ON GAS
Keep the car.
Skip a few
fill-ups.
You get to the pump, watch the total climb and wonder how much of this driving you really need to do.
An e-bike or scooter can take over some of those trips. Start with one you already make, see what it costs in gas, then find out whether riding it fits your day.
Check my commute costs Just want the gas number?ONE LESS REASON TO START THE CAR
Which trip
could you change?
It doesn't have to be every day. Try a familiar trip in daylight first. Use a comfortable route, even if it's longer than the drive.
| The trip | A place to start | Check before buying |
|---|---|---|
| A few miles to work | An e-bike for a seat and bags; a scooter for a compact ride. | The busiest crossing, secure parking and what you'll carry. |
| Groceries and nearby errands | An e-bike with suitable racks or baskets. | Cargo limits, loaded handling and somewhere to lock up. |
| The trip to a train or bus | A manageable folding ride, if the operator allows it. | Battery rules, stairs, carry weight and the last service home. |
| A route you already love to ride | A Onewheel for an experienced board rider. | Local access, practice, protective gear and a manageable bag. |
| A long, fast road with no comfortable alternative | Keep driving that part. Look at errands, transit or a carpool. | A short distance on a map doesn't make a road suitable. |
MAKE THE MATH YOURS
Count the bills
that actually change.
Start with the miles you won't drive, your car's actual MPG and what you paid at your last fill-up. Add parking and tolls only if you can stop paying them. A monthly parking pass you keep isn't a daily saving.
Then subtract charging, upkeep and any extra bus or backup rides. Add the purchase and gear before deciding whether the ride pays for itself. If you keep your car, don't count its payment, registration or insurance as money you've saved.
Fuel prices vary by place and week; EIA's fuel-price tables are a reference if you need one. AAA's ownership study includes much more than gasoline. Its whole-car figure isn't the saving from leaving your car home twice a week.
Put my numbers inBEFORE YOU ORDER
A ride you can
live with.
Can you bring it inside? Charge it where you live? Get repairs nearby? Carry your work bag? Check where you’re allowed to ride and ask for certification covering both the ride and its battery. A bad fit won't get used much.
Leave room in the budget for a helmet, lock and tire care. Our flat guide covers pressure checks, a pump and choosing an Armor-Dilloz formula for your tires. It also covers the damage that calls for a repair or a lift home.
A LITTLE MORE BEFORE YOU DECIDE
Worth a read.
E-bike, scooter or Onewheel for getting to work?
Compare how each ride handles bags, stairs, rough pavement and the trip to work.
Read the comparison
Look over your commute before buying the ride
Find a drive you can stop making, check the route in person and sort out parking before choosing a ride.
Read the guide