Is cycling an expensive activity?

Listening to ABC radio Melbourne in the morning today, they were talking about Australian Federal politics, but I had no idea what was the news on discussion. So I have visited some news websites. But no successful.

However I found an interesting article in Melbourne's newspaper the Age's website.

Riding a bike to work was what the newspaper presents. Even they urge us that cycling to work is an activity for rich people.

More than 100,000 people ride a bike to work in Australia, 8.8 per cent increasing between 2011 and 2016.

Melbourne is the capital of cycling to work and most riders live in four to eight kilometres from the CBD. Suburbs such as North Fitzroy, Brunswick East have been built rich houses that people who earn more than median income resident, and are in the category of the riding to work.

Riding a bike can be another version of playing golf, the newspaper says.

However people whose places are not well served by public transport are likely to ride a bike to work as well. Although they tend to leave a bike at the nearest train station.

After reading the article, my thoughts came up with the prices of bikes could make such a trend (riding a bike to work is mainly for rich people). Good road bikes and mountain bikes could cost AUD 1,000 or more. 

Such bikes are expensive here in Japan as well, but we can buy cheap city ride bikes and some bike retailers in the national chain as well as home tool retailers offer cheaper their private branded mountain bikes that I have bought a few times. 

Then bikes are cheap and easy transport for us.

When I was in Melbourne in October, I saw some cyclists, but not as many as here, I reckon. High prices and not many bike parking could be the reasons.

However the Melbourne newspaper makes a good point that people ride a bike more as a healthy and environmental option. And some people choose to ride a bike to avoid overcrowded public transport.

It's a good move and applies to me. I am not riding a bike to work normally, but I do when I have to work in other premises rather than the usual one. Reasons are to get fit and to avoid overcrowded public transport (and too much and annoying announcements).

I would ride a bike to work for ten kilometres each way. Riding a bike is a good exercise and should not be just for rich people.