[Chalupa102]

I'm tired of putting wear and tear on my car and wasting gas for shorts trips and am looking for alternative transportation options. 2 times a week and 1 time during the weekends, i make a 2 mile trip one-way. The way there is downhill and the way back is uphill. From my house to my destination, it's 310 ft descent. About 1/3 is flat and the rest is hills, some steeper than others. About 1.5 miles are on smaller roads and the last 1/2 mile is on a 40 MPH road.

The biggest issue i have is the weather is getting colder and the trips during the week are in the dark at about 6:30-8pm. The weekend trips are during the day light hrs. Snow will also be falling soon, but if the weather is really bad, i won't be making the trips even in my car.

I do have a bicycle, but i don't really know if i want to ride in the dark, mainly because of cars.

What are my best options especially with winter approaching? I am on a minor budget of about $2,000-$3,000.