Ever think about trying a different commute mode, but feel unsure about whether it's worth the time - and sometimes the investment - to make a change? Lee Nichols, an Austinite who works for the City of Austin, shares some details here on his ebike commute. Here's Lee in his own words, shared with his permission:

"It's been a full year since I purchased the ebike. I've posted about how good it makes me feel, and how it gets me to ride more often. But here are some fun numbers that I also feel good about.

I paid $2,300 for my Gazelle Medeo. But it actually cost me less, because Austin Energy offers its customers rebates for purchasing electric vehicles. So I got $600 back from them. And then [my wife] Margaret had $250 in "active lifestyle" bonus from Austin ISD, so we applied that as well, bringing the actual cost down to $1,450.

I've pretty much stopped driving my car. In that year, I only filled up my gas tank eight times. Add in an oil change and I only spent $391.58 on the car.

I've put 2,340 miles on the bike, most of which was commuting to work. That commute is 23 to 27 miles round-trip, depending on the route I take. I track my commutes on the CarbonCred app, which estimates I saved $719.17 by taking the bike rather than the car. (I assume that's a combination of fuel, tolls, and wear and tear on the car.) I don't know how much the electricity to charge my bike costs, but I assure you it's nowhere near that.

The app also says I've avoided adding 534.73 kilograms of carbon dioxide to the atmosphere.

CarbonCred rewards me for this with carbon credits which I can sell back to them, which companies can then buy to make sure they offset regulatory carbon caps...I can sell the credits for $50.65.

And finally, my employer (City of Austin Government) just started a program where employees who consistently get to work in ways other than driving alone in a car can earn four hours of leave per quarter. Once you add in avoided health care costs, I'm gonna say the bike has paid for itself.

Go get yourself a bike, electric or normal! You'll be glad you did, and it doesn't require you to give up your car. If everyone traveled around town in a non-drive-alone way just once a week, it would make a big difference in Austin's congestion and air pollution and your health."

Whether you're an individual looking for ways to take time back from traffic or an employer thinking about commute policies, Movability offers custom commute chats and other services. Contact us to learn more about how we can help!