By Sushant Agarwal
Published on | Jul 14, 2025
Your 5km commute: walk for an hour or cycle in 15 minutes? Science says cycling is four times more efficient than walking — and here’s why.
Cycling uses just 0.16 MJ/km vs walking's 0.53 MJ/km, making it one of the planet’s most energy-efficient travel modes (Energy Policy, 2015).
The bicycle’s pedal rotation aligns with human biomechanics, reducing energy loss unlike walking’s less efficient limb-swinging motion.
Walking wastes energy through micro-collisions; cycling’s rolling tyres ensure zero impact and minimal energy loss.
Gears keep you in the muscle efficiency “sweet spot,” avoiding high-energy fast contractions per the force-velocity muscle physiology principle.
On very steep slopes (gradient >15%), walking becomes more efficient. Cyclists struggle to generate enough upward force via circular pedalling.
Cycling downhill = effortless. Walking downhill on gradients >10% = joint stress + energy-wasting impacts.
Cycling is: 4x more efficient than walking 8x more efficient than running (Source: The Conversation, biomechanics expert analysis, 2024)
Your bicycle transforms raw human power into one of the most efficient motion systems on Earth — it’s more than transport, it’s biomechanical harmony.