Walking is four times less efficient than this common exercise

Health & Fitness
17 Jul 2025 • 5:20 AM MYT
The Independent
The Independent

The world’s most free-thinking newspaper

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  • Cycling is an exceptionally energy-efficient mode of transport, enabling people to travel further and faster with less effort than walking or running.
  • The efficiency stems from the bicycle's design, which allows for a compact, circular leg motion, reducing the energy wasted on swinging heavy limbs.
  • Bicycles utilise wheels for smooth rolling contact with the ground, eliminating the energy loss and jarring impacts associated with each footstep in walking or running.
  • Gears on a bicycle help muscles operate at their peak efficiency by allowing them to maintain an optimal contraction speed, preventing them from becoming less effective at higher speeds.
  • Overall, cycling is considerably more energy-efficient, being at least four times more efficient than walking and eight times more efficient than running, though very steep gradients can favour walking.

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