Business In Vancouver‘s Melanie Jackson writes about a Surrey company, Urban Racks, who are thriving in the business of providing bicycle parking infrastructure. The company has plugged in to the savings builders can make by eliminating some car parking and replacing each parking stall with parking for 10 to 24 bikes. Greener, they say, more economical, and it works well where a new building is near transit, and people can multi-mode.
Apparently, they run a course for property developers called “Bike Parking 101”.
As I commented on the article:
While this is a useful article on a major trend, I really question the maintenance cost figures in the lead paragraph. Even if the figures are total costs, where $9,000 per year is a reasonable estimate for a car (according to the CAA), a bike is more likely to average $50-100 per year in total costs including amortization.
It really depends on how much you bike and the complexity of your bike. I have spend easily over $200 per year on my pedal assist electric bike replacing worn components. I have replaced almost everything on the bike that can wear and have even replaced the front fork.
I ride over 5000 kilometers per year commuting from Surrey to Burnaby (20 km each way)
In the last 4 years:
Brakes & Cables – Pads 2x x $25 ea, brake kits 2 ea x $40 each
Puncture proof Tires – $70 x 2 every 5-10,000 km
Electric components maintenance & repair $200
Wheel replacement 2x $100
Fork $50
Drive Train 2x X $90
Front Ring $40
Pedals 2x x $50
Replace worn water proof jacket $200 (lasts 4 years)
Lubes $40
$1320 / 4 years = $330 per year
Eventually I will have to replace the battery as well at $600+ any I suppose I may eventually replace the bike itself and start over with a new one and depreciation is on top of my $330 per year.
I would estimate $300 – $400 per year for each of two bikes myself, not including amortization. About 3500 km/yr per bike.
I wonder what I’m doing wrong, paying less than $100 per year for the last 8 years. ;>}
No maintenance costs here yet. Yeah, OK, I’ve only been bike commuting for 4.5 months. I’ll get back to you in a few years.