Originally Posted by
genec
OK but most transportation needs of the masses involve relatively smooth roads... where bikes beat anything else hands down.
Walking is more efficient in many ways and situations -- especially when the distances are really small, there is no room to store the bicycle (or infrastructure to maintain it) or there is no road.
Mechanized transport of some sort often beats biking in other situations with other criteria.
We all repeat this factoid, and there is truth to it, but it does warrant more critical thought than it's normally given. And yes, not that this matters.