We all know owning a car is expensive, but are you aware just how expensive it really is? According to the Canadian Automobile Associate (CAA), the average motorist spends over $10K a year on their car – ouch! In fact, for most families owning a car is your second most costly household expense behind putting a roof over your head.

I’m proud to say I’m car-free. While there are times when a car would come in handy, I make do. Owning a car just doesn’t make sense for me. Parking downtown would cost a small fortune. I’m fortunate to live within cycling distance to work. Not only does cycling keep me in good shape, I’m able to use the money towards my goal of mortgage freedom at age 31.

I’m not saying you should sell your car tomorrow, but what I’m suggesting is to look at how much you’re spending on transportation and see where you could cut back. Here are some important factors to make your commute on two wheels more enjoyable.

Choose a Cycling Route

To make your commute to work as pleasant as possible, it’s a good idea to map out your cycle route. I look for a cycle route that’s ideally flat without any big hills to climb. I try to avoid roads with streetcars; not only is it a pain to be stuck behind them, you can be sent for a tumble if your wheel gets caught in their tracks. A major concern with cycling is safety, especially in the suburbs. I try to avoid busy streets with speed limits 60 km/h. It’s much safe to travel on secondary streets with speed limits of 50km/h; if you can take bikes lanes to work that’s even better! Bike lanes make cycling to work a lot safer. Your city may have a cycling map you can use to plan your route to work.

Proper Attire

Buying proper cycling gear is money well spent. While you don’t have to dress in spandex from head to toe, there is some basic gear you should have. Cycling gloves and a waterproof cycling jackets are must-haves. Weather is a major concern for cyclists. You’ll want to decide whether you’re willing to ride in the rain and the snow. If you’ll be riding in the rain, you’ll want to pick up a waterproof coat and pants (preferably Gortex); shoe covers also come in handy. Riding during the winter time can really take its toll on your bike. I take public transit during the winter; it’s not worth ruining at $500 bike just to save $125 a month on transit.

Keeping Your Bike Safe

A lot of people are guilty of being penny wise, pound foolish when it comes to their bike lock. Although no bike lock is invincible, using a cheap lock on an expensive bike is like asking your bike to be stolen. Make sure you’re locking your bike to a secure location like a post and ring, not a tree or fence. You should invest in two types of locks: a U-lock and wheel lock; when securing your bike put the U-lock around the frame of your bike (not your wheel!), and the wheel lock around your front wheel. Most front bike wheels have a quick release; you don’t want to come out and have your front wheel stolen.

Parking Your Bike in a Secure Location

Keeping your bike safe and sound is a major concern. I live in Toronto, the bike-theft capital of North America. I recommend investing in a “beater bike,” a cheap and ugly bike for your commute to work. It’s best to save your expensive bike for weekend commuting. If your workplace has a garage, it’s worth speaking with building security to see if there’s a secure place to lock your bike. I’m fortunate to have an underground parking garage at my work monitored by video surveillance. Not only does it keep my bike safe from theft, it protects it from the elements. I don’t have to worry about rain and snow damaging my bike. If you’re not able to lock your bike indoors, you should lock your bike in a well-traveled location. Bike thieves will be less likely to use a hacksaw on your bike lock if there are dozens of witnesses on the street.

I know everyone’s circumstances are different; it’s just not practical for some people to ditch their car and cycle to work instead. But if you’re willing to look at your transportation expense, maybe you can find ways to cut back. Perhaps you can carpool to work or downsize to a more fuel-efficient vehicle. Small changes can lead to big savings over the long-run.

Do you cycle to work? Would you consider cycling if there were more bike lanes?

Sean Cooper is the bestselling author of the book, Burn Your Mortgage: The Simple, Powerful Path to Financial Freedom for Canadians, available now on Amazon and at Chapters, Indigo and major bookstores, and as an Audiobook on Amazon, Audible and iTunes.