Is riding a bike a mile better than walking/running a mile?

Question

Is riding a bike a mile better than walking/running a mile?

Answer 1

Neither is "better", they're just different.

Running a mile will burn more calories than biking a mile, but running a mile will take longer.

Both exercises are good cardio workouts. Cycling is low impact and is less stressful on your knees and ankles.

Answer 2

In terms of calories burned per minute, running wins hands down, but a mile isn't really enough to get much benefit unless you're just starting out from a long term illness or coming off of sleeping on the couch for a few years.

Answer 3

better how? you will most likely travel at a higher rate of speed, so it is more efficient. however, depending on the terrain, walking/running may be more practical. if you are asking from a fitness perspective, walking at a quick pace is probably most effective, as the distance is too short to effectively raise your heartrate running or cycling. to get benefit from cardiovascular activity, you want to sustain an increased heartrate for 30-45 minutes. even a slow runner would cover a mile in about 8 minutes, a slow cyclist in about 5 minutes. even walking shouldn't take more than 10 minutes..

Answer 4

Walking is better than sitting, otherwise walking is highly over rated.

Running a mile is more exercise than biking a mile. But it's a nonsensical comparison. Cycling and running for the same amout of TIME and EFFORT are about the same workout.