Filed under: Transportation Alternatives
Want to commute by bicycle? Here's how to get started
What is the greenest way to get somewhere? Probably walking, I suppose, because it doesn't take much to get started and the outlay of products necessary to do it is very small. But, next is probably by cycle. Not powered cycles either, but the good old fashioned pedal-powered bikes. True, you can spend a few grand on a super nice bike, but the truth of the matter is that pretty much any bike powered by your legs is the most efficient way to get around. Don't believe me? Click here for proof. Now that we have established the efficiency, you want to try it, right? If so, click on this article here, and see what it will take to get started.
[Source: Ligher Footstep]
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
Tim 4:36PM (5/03/2007)
It's funny to see that Red China is all making and buying cars while we lose the car business and start riding bikes. Talking about a swap... is the US sliding toward the 3rd. world?
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bob 8:56AM (5/04/2007)
The wikipedia link says a bike is the *least* efficient way to get around...
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Howard Lee Harkness 9:05AM (5/04/2007)
"The wikipedia link says a bike is the *least* efficient way to get around..." --bob
Where did you get that? Here's a cut & paste from the Wikipedia article:
"In both biological and mechanical terms, the bicycle is extraordinarily efficient. In terms of the amount of energy a person must expend to travel a given distance, investigators have calculated it to be the most efficient self-powered means of transportation."
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Jeremy Korzeniewski 9:55AM (5/04/2007)
Bob and Howard -
The classic problem with user-defined content like Wiki, somebody decided to be funny and changed the first sentence in the article to say that bikes powered by your legs is the least efficient way to get around. Wrong, of course, but what are you gonna do?
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dirtkahuna 10:06AM (5/04/2007)
In most any city, a skilled bicyclist can get from point A to point B as fast as most motorists. My commute is 10 miles one way, and it only takes 20 minutes longer to bicycle than drive. This includes 7 miles of rural riding at about 18 MPH.
Bicycles are extremely efficient machines. They have the added benefit of keeping the rider fit, plus the exercise raises healthy endorphins, making the bicycle commuter feel very energized upon showing up at the workplace.
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MikeW 2:34PM (5/04/2007)
Bicycle are more efficient that walking or running.
Say 100 food calories to run one mile.
50 calories to walk that
and 25 calories to bike that.
Got to love the wheel.
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Daniel 5:58AM (5/13/2007)
As far as i thought running and walking was the same in energy per km, you just get there faster running.
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