Bicycles腳踏車
腳踏車是人類發明過效率最高的交通工具——比走路省力四倍，也比任何動物都省。
CEFR A2閱讀約 5 分鐘 · 12 個單字 · 測驗卷 100 分
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The Riverside Bike Path河濱自行車道
12 個可以點的單字 · 可以隨時暫停、轉動場景
逐字稿（14 段）
- 1Welcome to the riverside bike path. The bicycle was invented over two hundred years ago, and it is still winning.歡迎來到河濱自行車道。腳踏車兩百多年前就發明了，到現在還是贏家。
- 2Riding uses only about a quarter of the energy of walking. The bicycle is very efficient.騎車只用掉走路大約四分之一的能量。腳踏車非常有效率。
- 3Push the pedals round and round. Each pedal stroke turns the wheel.把踏板一圈一圈踩下去。每踩一圈，輪子就跟著轉。
- 4A low gear makes climbing easy. A high gear goes far with each stroke, but it is hard to push.低速檔爬坡很輕鬆。高速檔每踩一圈走得遠，但踩起來很重。
- 5To slow down, squeeze the brake levers gently. Use both brakes.要減速時，輕輕捏下煞車拉桿。兩邊的煞車都要用。
- 6The brake pads rub on the rim. The energy of movement becomes heat, and the bike slows down.煞車皮摩擦輪圈，運動的能量變成熱，車子就慢下來。
- 7When you slow down, your weight shifts forward. Grabbing only the front brake can throw you over the bars.減速時，重心會往前移。只猛抓前煞，可能會把你摔過車頭。
- 8Wearing a helmet is the best thing you can do to protect your head.戴安全帽，是保護頭部最有效的一件事。
- 9Be visible! Lights and bright clothes help drivers see you.讓別人看得見你！車燈和亮色衣服能幫助駕駛看到你。
- 10Most collisions happen because a driver did not see the rider.大部分的碰撞，都是因為駕駛沒看到騎士。
- 11Why doesn't a moving bike fall over? The rider keeps making tiny steering moves. You steer towards the side you are falling.騎動的腳踏車為什麼不會倒？因為騎士一直在做微小的轉向。快倒向哪邊，就往哪邊轉。
- 12That is why it is almost impossible to balance while standing still.這也是為什麼停著不動時，幾乎不可能保持平衡。
- 13Riding around Taiwan is about 900 kilometres. Many people take on this challenge after graduating.騎車環島大約 900 公里。很多人畢業後會去挑戰這件事。
- 14Now it's your turn. Turn the bike path around and click on anything you see.現在換你了。轉動自行車道，點點看你看到的每一樣東西。
The Most Efficient Machine效率最高的機器
If you measure the energy needed to move one kilogram one kilometre, a person on a bicycle beats every animal and every other vehicle.如果計算「把一公斤移動一公里」所需的能量，騎腳踏車的人贏過所有動物和所有其他交通工具。
Riding uses only about a quarter of the energy of walking the same distance, because the wheels keep rolling instead of your body rising and falling with every step.騎車走同樣距離只用掉走路約四分之一的能量，因為輪子一直滾動，而不是身體每一步都要起伏。
A bicycle also weighs almost nothing compared with a car. A car uses most of its fuel moving the car, not the person.腳踏車跟汽車比幾乎沒有重量。汽車大部分的油都用在搬動車子本身，而不是人。
That is why the bicycle, invented over two hundred years ago, is still winning.這就是為什麼兩百多年前發明的腳踏車，到現在還是贏家。
How a Bicycle Works腳踏車怎麼運作
- Gears trade speed for force變速是拿速度換力量
- A low gear turns the wheel slowly but makes climbing easy. A high gear turns the wheel far for each pedal stroke but is hard to push. You cannot get both.低速檔轉得慢，但爬坡輕鬆。高速檔每踩一圈輪子轉得遠，但踩起來很重。兩者不可能兼得。
- Balance comes from steering平衡來自轉向
- A moving bicycle stays up because the rider constantly makes tiny steering corrections towards whichever way it is falling. That is why it is almost impossible to balance while standing still.行進中的腳踏車不倒，是因為騎士不斷往「快要倒的那一邊」做微小的轉向修正。這也是為什麼停著幾乎不可能平衡。
- Brakes turn motion into heat煞車把動能變成熱
- Brake pads press on the rim or disc and rub. The energy of movement becomes heat, and the bike slows down.煞車皮壓在輪圈或碟盤上摩擦。運動的能量變成熱，車就慢下來。
- Front brake does most of the work前煞出的力最多
- When you slow down your weight shifts forward, pressing the front wheel into the ground. Use both brakes, but squeeze gently — grabbing only the front one can throw you over the bars.減速時重心往前移，把前輪壓向地面。兩邊都要用，但要輕捏——只猛抓前煞可能會把你摔過車頭。
- Be visible讓別人看得見
- Most collisions happen because a driver did not see the rider. Lights, bright clothes and riding where drivers expect you all matter more than speed.大部分事故是因為駕駛沒看到騎士。燈光、亮色衣物，以及騎在駕駛預期看到你的位置，都比騎多快重要。
Energy to Travel One Kilometre移動一公里所需的能量
| Mode 方式 | Relative energy 相對能量 |
|---|---|
| Cycling 騎腳踏車 | Lowest 最低 |
| Walking 走路 | About 4 times cycling 約騎車的 4 倍 |
| Bus (full) 公車（滿載） | Low per person 每人低 |
| Car (one person) 汽車（一人） | Much higher 高出許多 |
資料查證至 2025 年底
這是相對量級，不是精確數字——實際值會隨速度、地形和車輛而變。要記住的是順序：騎車最省，一個人開車最不省。
Cycling in Taiwan台灣的自行車
- Taiwan is one of the world's major makers of bicycles, and two of the best-known brands in the world are Taiwanese.台灣是全球主要的自行車製造國之一，世界上最知名的兩個品牌就是台灣的。
- Riding around the island, about 900 kilometres, is a well-known challenge that many people do after graduating.環島大約 900 公里，是很多人畢業後會去挑戰的一件事。
- YouBike stations let you pick up a bike in one place and leave it in another, which solves the last kilometre from the metro to your door.YouBike 讓你在一處借車、另一處還車，解決了捷運到家門口的最後一公里。
- Wearing a helmet is the single most effective thing a rider can do to reduce serious head injury.戴安全帽是騎士降低嚴重頭部傷害最有效的一件事。
Key Words單字表
efficient/ɪˈfɪʃ.ənt/adj.
有效率的
The bicycle is extremely efficient.腳踏車效率極高。
gear/ɡɪr/n.
檔位、齒輪
Use a low gear to climb.爬坡用低速檔。
pedal/ˈped.əl/n. / v.
踏板；踩踏
Each pedal stroke turns the wheel.每踩一圈輪子就轉動。
steer/stɪr/v.
轉向
You steer towards the fall.你朝著要倒的方向轉。
balance/ˈbæl.əns/n. / v.
平衡
Balance comes from steering.平衡來自轉向。
brake/breɪk/n. / v.
煞車
Use both brakes gently.兩邊煞車都輕輕用。
rub/rʌb/v.
摩擦
The pads rub on the rim.煞車皮摩擦輪圈。
shift/ʃɪft/v.
移動、轉移
Your weight shifts forward.你的重心往前移。
collision/kəˈlɪʒ.ən/n.
碰撞
Most collisions happen at junctions.大部分碰撞發生在路口。
visible/ˈvɪz.ə.bəl/adj.
看得見的
Bright clothes make you visible.亮色衣物讓你被看見。
helmet/ˈhel.mət/n.
安全帽
Always wear a helmet.一定要戴安全帽。
challenge/ˈtʃæl.ɪndʒ/n.
挑戰
Riding around the island is a challenge.環島是一項挑戰。
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