▲ 63 ▼ The Most Efficient Traveler Isn’t a Bird or a Fish—It’s You on a Bike (www.scientificamerican.com) submitted 1 year ago by silence7@slrpnk.net to c/utilitycycling@slrpnk.net 12 comments fedilink hide all child comments Key chart: Archived copies of the article: archive.today web.archive.org
[–] Damage@feddit.it 4 points 1 year ago (8 children) As long as someone laid down pavement permalink fedilink source hideshow 8 child comments replies: [–] silence7@slrpnk.net [S] 7 points 1 year ago (5 children) Even a dry trail is pretty efficient on a bike permalink fedilink source parent hideshow 5 child comments replies: [–] Damage@feddit.it 3 points 1 year ago (4 children) *As long as someone laid down pavement or keeps the trails maintained permalink fedilink source parent hideshow 4 child comments replies: [–] Evkob@lemmy.ca 6 points 1 year ago (2 children) Still by far the least amount of necessary infrastructure needed for any means of transit except walking. permalink fedilink source parent hideshow 2 child comments replies: [–] Damage@feddit.it 1 point 1 year ago (1 child) Yeah but the comparison is with fishes and birds permalink fedilink source parent hideshow 1 child comment replies: [–] jnod4@lemmy.ca 3 points 1 year ago* (last edited 1 year ago) Nvm permalink fedilink source parent [–] ulterno@programming.dev 2 points 1 year ago Yeah, good roads are still required for bicycling. Although, it would greatly reduce the frequency of maintenance events if it were only bicycles, since the lighter vehicles would be much less damaging. Then seasonal changes will remain the major factor for wear. Maybe it would even change the kinds of materials we use in the roads, because you now have similar pressures, but over a much smaller surface area (overall lower forces). permalink fedilink source parent [–] queermunist@lemmy.ml 3 points 1 year ago Gravel roads aren't bad if you have thick and knobby tires. And keep an eye out for really big chunks of gravel. And ruts. And puddles. And erosion. But other than that! It's fine. permalink fedilink source parent [–] GissaMittJobb@lemmy.ml 2 points 1 year ago Mountain and gravel bikes beg to differ permalink fedilink source parent
[–] silence7@slrpnk.net [S] 7 points 1 year ago (5 children) Even a dry trail is pretty efficient on a bike permalink fedilink source parent hideshow 5 child comments replies: [–] Damage@feddit.it 3 points 1 year ago (4 children) *As long as someone laid down pavement or keeps the trails maintained permalink fedilink source parent hideshow 4 child comments replies: [–] Evkob@lemmy.ca 6 points 1 year ago (2 children) Still by far the least amount of necessary infrastructure needed for any means of transit except walking. permalink fedilink source parent hideshow 2 child comments replies: [–] Damage@feddit.it 1 point 1 year ago (1 child) Yeah but the comparison is with fishes and birds permalink fedilink source parent hideshow 1 child comment replies: [–] jnod4@lemmy.ca 3 points 1 year ago* (last edited 1 year ago) Nvm permalink fedilink source parent [–] ulterno@programming.dev 2 points 1 year ago Yeah, good roads are still required for bicycling. Although, it would greatly reduce the frequency of maintenance events if it were only bicycles, since the lighter vehicles would be much less damaging. Then seasonal changes will remain the major factor for wear. Maybe it would even change the kinds of materials we use in the roads, because you now have similar pressures, but over a much smaller surface area (overall lower forces). permalink fedilink source parent
[–] Damage@feddit.it 3 points 1 year ago (4 children) *As long as someone laid down pavement or keeps the trails maintained permalink fedilink source parent hideshow 4 child comments replies: [–] Evkob@lemmy.ca 6 points 1 year ago (2 children) Still by far the least amount of necessary infrastructure needed for any means of transit except walking. permalink fedilink source parent hideshow 2 child comments replies: [–] Damage@feddit.it 1 point 1 year ago (1 child) Yeah but the comparison is with fishes and birds permalink fedilink source parent hideshow 1 child comment replies: [–] jnod4@lemmy.ca 3 points 1 year ago* (last edited 1 year ago) Nvm permalink fedilink source parent [–] ulterno@programming.dev 2 points 1 year ago Yeah, good roads are still required for bicycling. Although, it would greatly reduce the frequency of maintenance events if it were only bicycles, since the lighter vehicles would be much less damaging. Then seasonal changes will remain the major factor for wear. Maybe it would even change the kinds of materials we use in the roads, because you now have similar pressures, but over a much smaller surface area (overall lower forces). permalink fedilink source parent
[–] Evkob@lemmy.ca 6 points 1 year ago (2 children) Still by far the least amount of necessary infrastructure needed for any means of transit except walking. permalink fedilink source parent hideshow 2 child comments replies: [–] Damage@feddit.it 1 point 1 year ago (1 child) Yeah but the comparison is with fishes and birds permalink fedilink source parent hideshow 1 child comment replies: [–] jnod4@lemmy.ca 3 points 1 year ago* (last edited 1 year ago) Nvm permalink fedilink source parent
[–] Damage@feddit.it 1 point 1 year ago (1 child) Yeah but the comparison is with fishes and birds permalink fedilink source parent hideshow 1 child comment replies: [–] jnod4@lemmy.ca 3 points 1 year ago* (last edited 1 year ago) Nvm permalink fedilink source parent
[–] jnod4@lemmy.ca 3 points 1 year ago* (last edited 1 year ago) Nvm permalink fedilink source parent
[–] ulterno@programming.dev 2 points 1 year ago Yeah, good roads are still required for bicycling. Although, it would greatly reduce the frequency of maintenance events if it were only bicycles, since the lighter vehicles would be much less damaging. Then seasonal changes will remain the major factor for wear. Maybe it would even change the kinds of materials we use in the roads, because you now have similar pressures, but over a much smaller surface area (overall lower forces). permalink fedilink source parent
[–] queermunist@lemmy.ml 3 points 1 year ago Gravel roads aren't bad if you have thick and knobby tires. And keep an eye out for really big chunks of gravel. And ruts. And puddles. And erosion. But other than that! It's fine. permalink fedilink source parent
[–] GissaMittJobb@lemmy.ml 2 points 1 year ago Mountain and gravel bikes beg to differ permalink fedilink source parent