Stepping on the gas: A plan that saves $8 a day

I think I’ve found a (partial) solution to squandering my salary on gas, but I’m going to need some help. The good part is if you help me, you’ll automatically get in on the solution, too. Interested? Read on.

Today was Bike to Work Day, which featured Detroit Synergy's annual organized ride from Royal Oak to downtown Detroit. The route conveniently started just blocks from my apartment, so I hopped on my bike at 6:30 a.m. and met up with the group (about 8-10 people) in the Farmers Market parking lot.

The ride couldn’t have been better. We took a pretty direct route, riding mostly on Woodward and Third Street, and had hardly any problems with traffic. This morning as I rolled into work on two wheels, I found myself wishing I could do this more often.

I previously had considered biking to work, but quickly had concluded it would be a logistical nightmare. Woodward was dangerous enough in a car, and I wasn’t about to go searching for low-traffic side streets in some seedy part of Detroit. But what made today’s ride such a success was the mini peloton (OK, so maybe it looked more like a bicycle funeral procession) we formed. No one messes with an 18-wheeler.  

So here’s my plan: Let’s start a group that bikes to work every Friday. We could stick to the Detroit Synergy route, meeting in Royal Oak, picking up people in Ferndale and getting to Detroit in a little over an hour. It’s easier than you might think.

- If possible, arrange to work 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. on Fridays, to avoid traffic.

- Leave a change of clothes at work on Thursday, so you don’t have to carry a heavy load.

- Invest in a heavy-duty bike lock.

I saved $8 on gas today. Are you in? Shoot me an e-mail: nadamson@dnps.com.