Small hills and wind (in general except on a bridge or a hurricane) have no effect on a car. Cars, in general, are not too much of a problem for other cars to see since they are about the same size and in the road lanes. Cars use gasoline and emit noxious fumes. Cars travel at 25-80 (or more with idiots at the wheel (assuming not on a race track)) mph. Cars can carry 1-9 or so passengers.
On a bike going up hills increases the energy needed and hence increases the calories burned. Into the wind with a bike has the same effect. However, going down hills and with the wind does not seem to reduce the energy needed; this might be because we don't recognize the reduction as much as the increase. Cars are a large problem for bikes, in a collision with a bike the care wins plus the cars do not seem to realize that we are there and hence do (to us) stupid and dangerous things. Bikes use people calories for propulsion, which does not add to pollution other than the sweat odor. When we bike, our speed is usually between 10-12 mph, up hills 0-8 mph and down hills 12-20 mph. With our tandem we could have 2 passengers but usually the only one per bike (a friend of ours son has a four-dem) or with the bike kiddie cart 1 or 2 small children.
Long distances are a car's specialty; it takes a looonnng time to bicycle more than 20-30 miles; but on a bike it is much more likely to appreciate the scenery and notice people and other attractions. If everybody would bike for short distances (1-15 miles round trip), then our health and pollution would be much better.
When the spirits are low, when the day appears dark, when work becomes monotonous, when hope hardly seems worth having, just mount a bicycle and go out for a spin down the road, without thought on anything but the ride you are taking.- Sherlock Holmes
When you ride hard on a mountain bike, sometimes you fall, otherwise you’re not riding hard.- President George Bush
An engineer designing from scratch could hardly concoct a better device (BIKE) to unclog modern roads – cheap, nonpolluting, small and silent…- Rick Smith
The bicycle is just as good company as most husbands and, when it gets old and shabby, a woman can dispose of it and get a new one without shocking the entire community.- Ann Strong
Cycling to work is an important issue for business – the more who do it, the more our communities will support it. Healthy and green, cycling is worthy of the support of every business in the land.- Sir Digby Jones
Until mountain biking came along, the bike scene was ruled by a small elite cadre of people who seemed allergic to enthusiasm.- Jacquie Phelan
The bicycle is the most civilized conveyance known to man. Other forms of transport grow daily more nightmarish. Only the bicycle remains pure in heart. - Iris Murdoch
When I see an adult on a bicycle, I do not despair for the future of the human race.
- H.G. Wells
Marriage is a wonderful invention; but then again, so is a bicycle repair kit.
- Lord Charles Beresford
Bicycling is the nearest approximation I know to the flight of birds. The airplane simply carries a man on its back like an obedient Pegasus; it gives him no wings of his own.- Louis J. Helle
bicycle (n)a vehicle composed of two wheels held in a frame one behind the other, propelled by pedals and steered with handlebars attached to the front wheel.
ORIGIN mid 19th cent.: from bi- [two] + Greek kuklos ‘wheel.’
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