19/10/2025
So!
It’s official (again)! 🚲
More than 50 years after a groundbreaking study first proved it, Scientific American has re-confirmed that the humble bicycle is the most efficient mode of travel on Earth.
Back in 1973, their iconic graph showed that a cyclist uses just a fifth of the energy of someone walking, ranking #1 in efficiency among land animals and machines.
The simple genius lies in coasting - unlike walking, you don't need constant energy expenditure. This very idea inspired Steve Jobs to famously call computers "bicycles for our minds."
Fast forward to today, and the science still holds up. The updated 2025 analysis calls a human on a bike a "hyperefficient terrestrial locomotor," noting that cycling makes being on land almost as effortless as swimming is in water.
But perhaps the most powerful takeaway is how relevant the original conclusion remains. As the 1973 essay stated, the bicycle "can be regarded as the most benevolent of machines" as it demands few resources, reduces pollution, and improves health.
For a better world, the prescription is simple: "Cycle and recycle."
When was the last time you enjoyed a bike ride?
