Should I save for an eBike or driving lessons?

[Sorcerer]

So this is something I've not been quite sure about and have only started thinking about it recently, but after applying for the trainee train driver talent pool for Avanti West Coast I have been wondering on which means I would have to use to get to work outside of the unsociable hours in which public transport isn't operating. I have narrowed it down to two options; I can either save up for an EAPC electric bike which is the advice I have received so far from family, or for driving lessons so I could hopefully pass and eventually invest in an actual car itself. However, I wanted to see what some posters thought here because even though both situations would benefit me outside of the railway, and it wouldn't be of any detriment to save anyway even if I don't get the job, I feel like those who work on the railway or have more knowledge of it will be able to give me more informed advice on the matter seeing as a career on the railway is very much the reason I have begun to consider these options.

The commutable 1-hour distance from my home to the Liverpool depot is doable on an electric bike over several routes, and it comes with a few advantages, those being:

• For the short term it would mean that I would always have a way to get to work because it would allow me to travel from my home to the depot.
• It wouldn't require a license and therefore it would be cheaper in the short-term for me to buy one rather than invest in driving lessons immediately.
• Because of that reason, I wouldn't have the uncertainty as to when I would pass a driving test, especially with any backlogs brought on by the pandemic.

However, upon doing further research, including the facilities at Liverpool Lime Street (the depot I would be working at if ever I got a job offer), I found a few disadvantages that made me reconsider:

• Parking facilities from what I have observed don't seem to be as prevalent as those for cars which could cause problems if turning up for a shift to full parking facilities.
• Since the bikes aren't cheap, they would be valuable targets for thieves without additional expensive locking equipment that even then may not prevent it fully.
• This is a pure guess on my part, but I imagine recruitment would probably prefer a candidate with a car since it's a faster means of travelling to the depot.

I should be clear that an electric bike would not be a permanent means of transport; let's say I got the job, then I would use part of my earnings to invest in driving lessons to eventually buy a car, so sooner or later I would end up buying a car anyway, but for now I cannot do so, and any driving lessons would be done under a time pressure since I would only have so long to obtain my own means of transport for work. But with the disadvantages of an electric bike I am starting to wonder whether or not it would be better to start driving now and hopefully get it done as soon as possible or if it might still be worth going for a bike anyway and sticking with leaving the car as a long-term plan. Ideally I wouldn't be in this situation since it wouldn't be much of a question if I already had a driving license, but I simply never got around to it before, and given the rarity of the job opportunity I couldn't really afford to wait and decided that I would deal with the situation when it came around if I had to.

I hope my post wasn't too confusing, but with all that in mind I wanted to know whether or not it was worth saving and investing in an electric bike or if I should just go straight to the driving lessons and hoping to finish them in time for any job offers should I pass the assessments and interviews for the talent pool. Any further advice beyond would be greatly appreciated, especially since on here many will have a better understanding of it being in the context of the railway. Thanks in advance!

 

[DarloRich]

Driving lessons. No choice for anyone sensible. You dont need a test to ride a bike!

( you dont have to buy a car bit many jobs will require you to drive a vehicle. You can buy an electric bike later when they are more mainstream and priced realistically)

 

[Gloster]

How much clobber will you have to carry and how many hills are their on the way?

Have you considered the smallest size of moped? As I understand it, once you have passed the theory test, you have two years to pass the full test. This gives you a bit of time to consider your options. You can then go over to a car entirely, or keep the moped as a reserve and for nice days.

 

[Sorcerer]

How much clobber will you have to carry and how many hills are their on the way?

Can't speak for how much I'll need to carry just yet, but with regards to hills it depends on the route taken. Some inclines are worse than others, but I believe that on one of them I should be reasonably able to peddle with the assist from the motor.

Have you considered the smallest size of moped? As I understand it, once you have passed the theory test, you have two years to pass the full test. This gives you a bit of time to consider your options. You can then go over to a car entirely, or keep the moped as a reserve and for nice days.

I would consider it perhaps. What else can you tell about it? My issue here is the lack of certainty on just how much time I have unfortunately so I can't quite make a full judgement on the matter.

 

[steamybrian]

The bike will be cheaper to run and you can use it straight away.
Not only with a car the cost of driving lessons and the length of time before you pass your test and can drive it. The cost of running a car is expensive with tax, MOT and insurance. Insurance for under 21s can be VERY, VERY expensive. Driving lessons for when you have more money.

 

[Puffing Devil]

A moped, or even larger bike/scooter, is a great call - perhaps less of a theft threat/parking issue. 2 years on a CBT to pass a car test, meanwhile you have an easy commute to work.

 

[Gloster]

It is forty years ago, but after a couple of years of cycling (nine miles each way over Devon roads for shifts) I moved jobs and, as I hadn’t got my licence when I started, I got a 49 cc moped. I continued to use it on nice days even after I got a licence as it was cheaper and a change. It was a bit slow on steep hills and not fun in the middle of winter (but better than a bike), but it always meant I had a back-up to get to work. This was in the country, but there might be advantages to a moped in the city when travelling at busy times.

 

[Sorcerer]

Perhaps I've misunderstood, but based on what I'm reading on here and on the government website, am I right in thinking that I can ride a moped as long as I complete the CBT course and then pass the car driving course within two years? If so that means that while I will have to pay tax and insurance on it, at the very least it will give me a speed advantage over an electric bike.

 

[Puffing Devil]

Yes. If your CBT runs out you simply need to repeat the training.

 

[alxndr]

Perhaps I've misunderstood, but based on what I'm reading on here and on the government website, am I right in thinking that I can ride a moped as long as I complete the CBT course and then pass the car driving course within two years? If so that means that while I will have to pay tax and insurance on it, at the very least it will give me a speed advantage over an electric bike.

After a CBT you have two years to either pass a bike test or retake the CBT.

 

[skyhigh]

The commutable 1-hour distance from my home to the Liverpool depot is doable on an electric bike over several routes

To be honest in my opinion this would be mad. For example I book on at 03.45 tomorrow. The last thing I'd want to have to do is get up to cycle into work at 02.30. Same thing applies to other days. For example next week I have a 10hr job that books on at 0630. By 1630 I will be knackered and cycling an hour to get home would be awful.

 

[alxndr]

I think quite a lot of it is down to personal preference and the route. My mother and partner both love cycling to and from work/uni. I’ve done it once and it was fine, but I wouldn’t want to do it often. The beginning was quite nice having the streets more or less to myself at 5am, but once I’d disappeared into the tunnel of trees alongside the River Clyde with no lighting, no landmarks, and no idea how much further I had to go, my enthusiasm rapidly disappeared. In daylight it’s a nice ride but at night I’d sooner have the roads and some landmarks to go by.

Weather is a big thing too. I had a 15 minute cycle commute for years and I’d end up staying quite a while after my shift was over trying to summon the energy to face cycling back in the cold and rain. And do you want to cycle in the ice and snow as well?

I’m all for bikes, and I think ebikes are great, but you do need to be realistic. If there’s an alternative, say taking the train when shift times match up and only cycling one way, then it might be more practical.

 

[birchesgreen]

Learning to drive would be the better option. You don't need to get a car now but its a very useful skill to know how to drive one. I didn't learn till i was 30 but i regret not doing it when i was younger as it would have opened up some different career options.

 

[Harpers Tate]

In terms of journey time then I'd assume that at (eg 3am) a car will be quicker. But at busier (day) times, it may well save time on a bike. Compliant EBikes will assist you up to 15.5 mph and (based on my experience with my newly-acquired EBike) even a 1:10 hill isn't devastatingly hard to ride up. I'd say an Ebike is a practical alternative overall.

In terms of cost upfront - even a brand new Ebike with state of the art spec will cost less than many used bangers cars. In terms of ongoing cost - no mandatory insurance, no MOT, no tax. Nothing beyond new tyres, brake pads, etc. Unless there is a major failure (eg in the electrics). And you can always ride one like a regular bike anyway. And no fuel (or, much, much less electricity). Way cheaper. Forever.

In terms of risk of loss/theft - get it insured. The cheapest way to do that, usually, is to add it to your household cover. Mine added about £20pa to my household policy. But separate policies are pretty easy to find if you can't do that. And to secure it, there are approved locks that you wear around your waist while travelling. Or carry on the bike.

In terms of lots of extra/special clothing - yes, it's currently fashionable in the UK to have dedicated gear for cycling. But it was not always so, and still isn't in many European countries. Then (here) and there (now) most males would simply add cycle clips to their trouser legs. Take a look at the picture here https://www.dutchnews.nl/features/2018/10/a-cycling-nation-how-the-bike-impacts-on-dutch-society/ to see what I mean. You dont even need cycle clips if you choose a bike with a Gates Carbon drive. If you have it fitted with airless tyres, you don't even need a puncture kit and pump.

And there is the immediacy. You could go buy one today and ride it today; no formalities.

Point to note: EBikes can have their battery integrated in the frame. These are more secure, of course. I'd look for one of these rather than a detachable battery; Lithium battery packs are in themselves quite valuable and therefore likely to be lifted if removable. Unless you will have use of a locker at your place of work.

 

[Sorcerer]

I’d like to thank everyone for their answers so far, and at the moment based on the advice I have received I think I will set some savings aside for the purposes of getting an eBike or a moped (I will debate that amongst myself) in case of a need to have an immediate form of transport should I get a job offer while also investing in driving lessons for the long-term. Even if I don’t get the job I will still get a new skill set out of it with a license, as well as good savings that I can build upon that otherwise would’ve went towards a bike. It’s a win-win for me.

After a CBT you have two years to either pass a bike test or retake the CBT.

Thanks for clearing that up for me, I will definitely consider it as an option!

To be honest in my opinion this would be mad. For example I book on at 03.45 tomorrow. The last thing I'd want to have to do is get up to cycle into work at 02.30. Same thing applies to other days. For example next week I have a 10hr job that books on at 0630. By 1630 I will be knackered and cycling an hour to get home would be awful.

It probably is a bit mad on my half, but seeing as I’m not as fit as I used to be (the pandemic made sure of that) and because of how strenuous regular cycling can be, an eBike is one of my only choices. I know there will still be some peddling involved but it won’t be as intense, and it won’t be a full one hour journey, more like twenty to thirty minutes. Forty at a push. It’s not ideal of course but I have to make the most of what I have available to me at the moment unfortunately.

 

[2192]

If you go for the e-bike option, as soon as you can afford it, take a driving test for cars (with manual gears), even if you don't intend to get a car. This gives you a lot more options for future employment, some of which could involve driving the firms vehicles.

 

[Broucek]

An hour each way on a bike in the dark, cold winter doesn't sound much fun to me, particularly when tired after a shift

 

[Gloster]

Might I suggest that next time you catch a bus, taxi or lift roughly along the route you will be taking, you observe it through the eyes of a cyclist or mopedist (that is actually a Swedish word): gradients, placing of lights and junctions, how well the roads are maintained, traffic discipline, etc. There is a lot of difference between cycling in on a nice warm summer’s morning and doing so on a cold and sleety day in mid-winter. Remember, you need to be sufficiently alert when you get to work to do a long shift without being too dozy. Similarly, you don’t want to be fighting the wind, rain and traffic after a long shift when it has all gone ****.

When I used to do my cycling, I was still one-and-twenty and foolish, traffic wasn’t as bad and I was in the country for much of the ride. I would think that, even then, cycling of any sort would be much less fun in the city.

 

[MotCO]

I would suggest that the weather was a key criterion as to whether to go for car or bike/moped. If you have an hour's journey by bike, and you set off in the dry, but unexpectedly it rains, you will arrive at work wet and bedraggled. Do you have showers and changing rooms at your workplace, and can you safely leave a spare change of clothes there?