Mythbusters: Is a bike greener than a car?

[sendler]

Originally Posted by PaleMelanesian

Once you get to this level of fuel (non) consumption, the differences are small.

I fully understand the requirements of passengers and luggage. Carrying 2 people in a car getting 70 is better than two people each riding bikes that get 140mpg. You would only get 100 mpg on my bike. Put 4 people in the car and the advantage is huge. But in absolute terms for a solo commuter or traveler if you had been alone on your trip, a 30% difference of fuel non consumption is quite substantial. You would have been 30% greener. And the development of high fuel economy, enclosed 2 and 3 wheelers is thus far completely untapped. If Honda thought anyone would buy it, they could wrap my CBR250R engine in a nice full body fairing such as Allert's that could get 120mpg at 65mph and sell it for $7,000.

[Grant-53]

As an individual owner I want to set a goal of a potential 500 passenger miles per gallon for all my motor vehicles. Currently my car and van are at 175 pmpg with the 5 seat, 1.6L Prism getting 35 mpg and the 7 seat, 3.3L Caravan at 25 mpg. A car would need to get 100 mpg and the van 71 mpg. Since most people travel alone, a 500 mpg motorcycle would be an excellent vehicle for trips more than 25 miles. Any distance less than 25 miles a faired bicycle is more cost efficient. The CBR 250R is a good candidate for 175 mpg with a full fairing system.

All consumer costs need to be considerd in average annual cost per mile over the life of the vehicle. I look at ABC ratings on the tire sidewall for treadlife and maintain tire pressures.

In the macro setting, energy use and pollution per million miles traveled my be the Green yardstick. This might include manufacturing, operation, and disposal of transportation systems. Right now the school bus may be the leader in passenger miles per gallon.

[sendler]

[QUOTE=Grant-53;282873]As an individual owner I want to set a goal of a potential 500 passenger miles per gallon for all my motor vehicles./QUOTE]

"Potential" passenger miles per gallon seems a little too much like a feel good way of looking at things. How often do your vehicles carry more than one person? I don't think you want me to start commuting to work alone in a school bus.

[Grant-53]

With a good sized family I often have at least one or two passengers for the Prism. The van does the family trips with 5 or 6 aboard. We remove the seats for hauling food for our church food pantry. The older daughters don't drive stick yet but I try to have a bicycle fit for each of us available. One daughter uses a bus pass to the community college 20 miles away; nobody bikes up Spencer Hill as there is no shoulder.
Since most of us do alot of solo travel commuting or for recreation, focus on two wheel vehicles makes sense. Think about all those poor folks stuck in traffic jams getting to work in Boston or LA; it takes an hour to go 20 miles! I suppose you could build a recumbent bike to look like a miniature school bus

[Frank Lee]

Yes, think about traffic jams.

[sendler]

Wow! The cat on the Honda CBR250R is huge for a 250.

[Everett]

It depends on use. A bike is more efficient for a single person getting around. Factor in family,groceries etc and a car is more practical.
I have 2 bikes,a Harley and a Honda. I ride the Honda in the city. It's a liquid cooled 750 v-twin 1986. Gets about 50 mpg. My Harley is my pleasure bike. My winter truck is a 4x4,horrible on fuel and will get thru and winter condition mother nature can throw at me. Then I have a mustang gt for summer driving. The mustang gets very few miles,I ride the bikes.
It all depends on a persons needs. A bike may put out more pollution however burns so much less fuel it may be a moot issue.
I dunno but I do know my wallet is thicker come summertime.
In the wind

[sendler]

Frank Lee posted a study showing the benefits of small motorcycles to reduce congestion and emissions in high volume areas.
.
New research indicates motorcycle commuting reduces traffic congestion and emissions

[Frank Lee]

Oh yeah, HERE is where I was thinking of posting it!

[ProDarwin]

Cool. I wonder what the effects would be following non-CA US laws? Bikes here can't legally lane-split, lane-share, etc. As far as the space they take up, not much different than a Smart car really.