El Paso man trades truck for bike to avoid construction and traffic

An El Paso man traded in his truck for a bike in the midst of the ongoing construction and traffic.

Shawn Finley tells ABC-7 he sold his truck seven months ago and purchased a bike to get around town. His decision has completely changed his outlook on transportation and life.

“We’re supposed to have construction until 2040. With all that construction, there’s not going to be any improvement in the length of time of traffic. So actually, I decided to stop being in traffic. And by getting out of the vehicle, and on a bike, I’m no longer in traffic,” Finley told ABC-7.

Finley says the move was a major adjustment.

“The first three months were difficult. It was a big lifestyle change because I was so reliant on the A/C, the radio and just sitting all the time.”

Finley tells ABC-7 he saves at least $800 per month by not pumping gas and paying for car insurance. He uses that money to adjust his motorized bike to make his commute a bit easier.

While he no longer has to wait in traffic, he does encounter issues on the road.

“The flat tire is a big challenge here. We get a lot of debris on the roads.”

Finley also said a lack of bike lanes makes it difficult for bicyclists to move around El Paso.

“We need painted and protected lanes strictly for cyclists,” Finley said, “I think that would improve and get people out of their shells a little bit more.”

Finley bikes at least 60 miles per week, helping him become more active. “Not a lot of physical weight change, but cholesterol has dropped, I’m not on the pills anymore. Blood pressure has dropped so I’m thankful for that,” he said.

It’s also helped him strengthen his bond with his son, who also bikes with him. “It took time away from him. Now he can ride right beside me or we can talk, or plan out the route together,” Finley said, “So we’ve connected more there. “

If the weather is bad, Finley avoids biking. He also adjusts his commute or uses public transportation if he needs to get across town. “There’s always an alternative method. We just have to explore it and find those that have figured it out and do it right,” said Finley, who plans on biking permanently.