Some Sacramento Residents Trade Cars For Cargo Bikes To Get Around; Save Money

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.