Charlotte commuter Ryan Rutledge bikes to work to make end meet.
CHARLOTTE -- With gas prices taking a bigger chunk out of families' pockets, more and more commuters are turning to bicycles as a cheap way to make ends meet.
But for Charlotte commuter Ryan Rutledge, the benefit is twofold.
"It saves on gas and it's a decent workout every day," Rutledge said.
He's been biking for more than a week, trading time for money.
"It is about 20 miles that I do," he said. "It's about a gallon of gas. That fluctuates with the price of gas."
At the moment, Rutledge said he is saving almost $4 a day.
News 14 Carolina's David Kernodle has more on how cyclists hope to save money by pedaling to work.
And that falls in line with most bike riders. The average person's work commute is about 16 miles. The average car gets 18 miles a gallon. That means a person who rides a bike to work only three days a week can save $506 a year – not including the additional insurance and upkeep costs of a car.
But safety is a deterrent, according to biking advocates like Martin Zimmerman. He has no car and has made it his lifestyle and mission to fight for cycle-friendly streets. He said having more people pedaling is both good and bad.
"Less than 1 percent of the people on the roads are biking," Zimmerman said.
That means cyclists are outnumbered by cars.
But at least three North Carolina towns are spearheading a movement for safe cycling. Carrboro, Cary and Charlotte have been nationally recognized as cycling-friendly communities.
Even if potential cyclists don't live in those cities, a safe route is just a point and a click away. Google offers safe directions for walkers that could also help bikers like Rutledge.