Some Sacramento Residents Trade Cars For Cargo Bikes To Get Around; Save Money
CBS 13
June 13, 2013 12:51 PM Reporting Kristin Marshall SACRAMENTO (CBS13) – Forget carpooling! When it comes to really saving some money, a few Sacramentans have turned to bikes for getting around. One family has traded in their four-wheeled vehicles for two to get to work, get some exercise and still get all their errands done. “We were spending a lot of money on our car and I don’t like driving. It makes me stressed,” said Elle Bustamantes.
So to help relieve the stress, the mother of two replaced her car with a cargo bike, saving lots of money. “AAA says about $9000 a year,” Bustamantes said of the savings. |
She can carry up to 400 pounds in the front section alone, but opts to push around her two 40-pound sons instead.
Averaging between 10 to 30 miles a day, the mother uses it for everything from running errands, trips to daycare, exercise and just good old fashioned family fun. Newbie rider Jarrod Fischer, who joined the two-wheel craze about a year ago, decided this greener, fitness-friendly and less expensive way of travel was the life for him too. “It’s a bit of a workout,” he said. “I usually have my two daughters in the back and little guy up front.” Like any car enthusiast, Fischer is a bit of a tinkerer as well. However, he can do much more for less without the expensive power tools, and usually all by himself. “I put baskets on, I take them off, shades, umbrellas, for whatever the season,” Fischer said. If you’re looking for a little less pedal and a lot more power, electric cargo bikes are also available. “For 10 cents of electricity, I can go 30 miles,” cargo biker Tim Castleman said. The bikes can start as low as $800 and go to upwards of $3,000 to $4,000 for the electric versions, which average about 20 miles per hour. Currently, there are about 20 cargo bikers in Sacramento. The craze started overseas about three decades ago. |
Faces and Places
by Monica Stark
Riding through Elmhurst
on bikes decked out with lights.
On the bike lanes they went, safely all the way.
Bells on handlebars rang, making spirits bright.
What fun it was to ride and see some Christmas lights that night.
Oh! Kidical Mass! Kidical Mass! Kidical Mass was a blast!
Kids of all ages came out to ride on Dec. 28.
They ate pumpkin bread, peppermint bark and played at Coloma Park.
They did all that
before riding off
together into the dark.
Up T Street, down T Street,
two miles in total,
they saw many lights neighbors put up
to make the darkness bright.
Oh! Kidical Mass! Kidical Mass! Kidical Mass is a blast.
Kids of all ages come out to ride every fourth Saturday of the month.
Three years or so ago
the story you must like
Elle Bustamante,
she really loves to bike.
Her sons are growing up
with bikes a part of their lives.
Biking from their home to school,
they’re learning that bikes rule!
Their mom, hence started a group
and has a following too!
She hopes you join their joyous rides
as most the people do!
Oh! Kidical Mass! Kidical Mass! Kidical Mass is a blast.
Kids of all ages come out to ride every fourth Saturday of the month.
by Monica Stark
Riding through Elmhurst
on bikes decked out with lights.
On the bike lanes they went, safely all the way.
Bells on handlebars rang, making spirits bright.
What fun it was to ride and see some Christmas lights that night.
Oh! Kidical Mass! Kidical Mass! Kidical Mass was a blast!
Kids of all ages came out to ride on Dec. 28.
They ate pumpkin bread, peppermint bark and played at Coloma Park.
They did all that
before riding off
together into the dark.
Up T Street, down T Street,
two miles in total,
they saw many lights neighbors put up
to make the darkness bright.
Oh! Kidical Mass! Kidical Mass! Kidical Mass is a blast.
Kids of all ages come out to ride every fourth Saturday of the month.
Three years or so ago
the story you must like
Elle Bustamante,
she really loves to bike.
Her sons are growing up
with bikes a part of their lives.
Biking from their home to school,
they’re learning that bikes rule!
Their mom, hence started a group
and has a following too!
She hopes you join their joyous rides
as most the people do!
Oh! Kidical Mass! Kidical Mass! Kidical Mass is a blast.
Kids of all ages come out to ride every fourth Saturday of the month.