Bicycle

The human body is one source of energy that should not be overlooked, and bicycles are the most energy efficient way to travel.

Bicycles are extremely beneficial to our health and wellbeing, and there are no age or physical restrictions to adapting a bicycle to suit individual needs. Tricycles can easily replace the car to do school runs or shopping and are a fun way to spend quality recreation time with family and friends.

The amount of embodied energy required to produce a bicycle is tiny compared to other forms of transport, a cycle lane or path is less intensive to create, and can carry five times as many people as a road twice as wide. However, a bicycle's environmental sustainability is about more than the issue of low embodied energy... if enough people switch from polluting transport modes to a bicycle (a zero emission form when in use), there is potential for reduced carbon emissions and improved air quality in our towns and cities. The role of the bicycle is also of huge importance in reducing noise pollution levels in our communities and places of work.

Pedal power can also be harnessed to drive machinery and cycling systems have been used to power generators, water pumps, lawnmowers and musical instruments. Bicycles are easy to build, customize and maintain. Many town and cities have cycle hire schemes.