Most Influential Transportation?

[Silurian]

However, I'd say that its effect on society was probably smaller than that of the car, because the bicycle held this position for only a relatively short period before being eclipsed by the car as most people's major desirable private vehicle.

What is the desirable private vehicle and what most people actually use are different.

It also it depends which country you are talking about. The US appears to have used the bicycle for a relatively short period of time - 1890s to 1910s then tha car started to take over.

In the UK bikes were still widely used until the 1960s. So not really a short period.

From Oldbike

In 1951, Raleigh produced more than a million cycles. But between 1950 and 1962, as increasingly prosperous consumers abandoned the cycle in favour of the car, cycle sales in the UK halved. This led Raleigh in 1958 to resume moped production and later to launch a motor scooter. More significantly, during this period Raleigh acquired two major rival groups: Triumph and Three Spires in 1954, and BSA (including New Hudson and Sunbeam) in 1957.

http://oldbike.wordpress.com/9-bicycle-history-nottingham/

In 1950 523000 cars were produced in the UK.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Automotive_industry_in_the_United_Kingdom#Production_data


In other parts of the world over 50% of the journeys are still made by bicycle.

http://www.ibike.org/library/statistics-data.htm


Before the cheap and safe bicycle became widely available in the 1890s most people would have walked. With the bicycle people could easily visit a town ten or twenty miles away at little cost. The car allows you to go much further and costs more. But I think going from being confined to the town or village you live in, to being able to cheaply and easily visit places further afield is a bigger change than from bike to car.

 

[MajKira]

Coastal and riverine shipping was faster than the horse for the transport of goods. Until the introduction of mail/ stage coaches, ships were also quicker for passenger transport between points near the coast.

river and coastal ships also or open sea ships most important but on other terrains like plains or hills horse was good. And both of course best for warfaring before the Industrial Rev. Like InnerAsia nomads being archering on horses buildin an Emp

 

[SeekTruthFromFacts]

In 1879 the cycling record (on road) over a 24 hour period was 22.75 km/h covering 546 km.
For horses, the Trevis Cup (a major endurance race) has a record averaging 18.2 km/h for 160 km, without counting the two 60 minute rest stops. By 2011 the cycling record was up to 871 km (averaging 36.3 km/h, twice the horse).

I am going with bicycles over the long distance. Horses would gain an advantage over more difficult terrain and the ability to carry more.

I would also note that while a bicycle uses human power, the gears greatly increase efficiency and multiply the ability of a person several times over.

Clearly what's required is a quadricycle. The stamina and carrying ability of a horse, with the gearing of a bicycle.

 

[Racsoviale]

Clearly what's required is a quadricycle. The stamina and carrying ability of a horse, with the gearing of a bicycle.

One could maybe even install some sort of powersource, which might make it possible for the machine to "drive" itself