But "converting" my free time to gas, it gets worse MPG than cars.
Nearly all the public transportation/cycling naysaying I read seems to be from people who didn't consider (or at least didn't prioritize) non-private automobile transportation into their housing decision, and typically, it's at great cost to them[1].
1. http://cityobservatory.org/transportation_housing_affordabil...
The relevant part is cited in this article[1]. Of course, the calculation might be off for your specific case, so YMMV (so apt).
[1]:https://www.notechmagazine.com/2010/04/the-industrialization...
Besides being fun, biking to work is good for your health and for the environment. Take a look at all the benefits of riding a bike!
Reduce air pollution: In the Bay Area, 43% of all car trips are two miles or shorter. For short trips, bicycling is an important tool to reduce air pollution: up to 70% of emissions from a 10-mile trip occur within the first mile.
Stay healthy and fit: Bicycling to work is a great way to get exercise every day. The well-documented obesity epidemic contributes to heart disease, cancer, stroke and type 2 diabetes, which together make up 40% of the leading causes of death in Oakland.
Save money: With gas prices unlikely to decline in the long-term, bicycling makes more financial sense than ever; a bike’s annual operating cost is estimated to be $120 (as opposed to. $5,000-12,000 for a car).
Ease street congestion: Twelve bicycles can fit in the space needed to park a single car.https://peopleforbikes.org/blog/bicycles-are-instantaneous-t...