The Economics of Bike Commuting [MicroBusiness]

A few years ago, some of my colleagues started commuting to work on their bicycles. Eventually, I realized that some of them were riding longer distances than my commute would be, and I decided to give it a try. The first ride was difficult and took quite a bit of time. But I kept at it and came to enjoy it. I've been commuting by bike two or three days a week for the past four years. These long rides give me plenty of time to ponder things, and one of the things I've pondered is if it makes economic sense to commute by bicycle. On the surface, it seems like a straightforward question. But the more you think about it, the more complicated it becomes.