compare and contrast essay cars and bikes

Bicycle vs car – Which mode of transportation is better for you?

• Post author By bicycle-u
• Post date 08.12.2023

Transportation is an essential aspect of our daily lives, impacting our efficiency and quality of life. When it comes to commuting, two popular options come to mind: the car and the bicycle. Both modes of transportation have their pros and cons, and choosing the right one depends on various factors.

The car has long been the go-to choice for many people, mainly due to its convenience and speed. With a car, you can easily navigate through traffic and reach your destination in a relatively short time. However, car commuting is often associated with traffic congestion, which can be frustrating and time-consuming. Additionally, cars are known for their emission of greenhouse gases, contributing to environmental pollution.

On the other hand, the bicycle offers a different approach to commuting. Cycling is not only an eco-friendly mode of transportation, but it also provides numerous health benefits. Riding a bicycle regularly improves cardiovascular fitness, helps in weight management, and reduces stress. Moreover, bicycles are cost-effective, requiring minimal maintenance and no fuel costs.

Although bikes are a great alternative, they may not be suitable for everyone or all situations. Distances, weather conditions, and physical limitations are some factors to consider. Furthermore, bicycles are slower compared to cars, and not all areas have proper cycling infrastructure. This can make cycling impractical or even dangerous in certain locations.

Benefits of Using a Bicycle

Using a bicycle as a mode of transportation offers numerous advantages over using a car. In terms of sustainability and being eco-friendly, bicycles are far superior. Unlike cars, bicycles don’t emit any harmful emissions that contribute to air pollution and climate change. By choosing to commute by bicycle, individuals can actively reduce their carbon footprint and contribute to a cleaner and healthier environment.

One of the key benefits of using a bicycle is its efficiency in navigating through traffic. With the increasing congestion on roads, bicycles provide a convenient and quicker alternative to cars. Cyclists can often maneuver through heavy traffic, avoiding delays and reaching their destinations faster compared to cars stuck in jams. This advantage not only saves time but also helps reduce stress associated with traffic.

Moreover, using a bicycle for commuting has several health benefits. Cycling is a form of exercise that promotes cardiovascular fitness and strengthens muscles. Regular cycling can help improve overall fitness levels and reduce the risk of various health conditions, such as obesity, heart diseases, and diabetes. Additionally, cycling is a low-impact activity that is easy on the joints, making it suitable for people of all ages and fitness levels.

From a financial perspective, using a bicycle for transportation can save individuals a significant amount of money. Bicycles are more affordable than cars, with lower initial costs and minimal maintenance expenses. Furthermore, the cost of fuel or public transportation fares can be eliminated entirely, resulting in substantial savings over time.

In conclusion, the benefits of using a bicycle for transportation are extensive. From contributing to sustainability and being eco-friendly to improving physical fitness and saving money, bicycles offer a range of advantages over cars. Incorporating cycling into daily commuting routines can have a positive impact on individuals as well as the community as a whole.

Drawbacks of Using a Bicycle

While cycling has a multitude of benefits, it also comes with a few drawbacks compared to using a car for transportation.

One major drawback is the limited speed and efficiency of cycling. Bicycles can be significantly slower than cars, especially when it comes to longer distances or traveling on busy highways. This can make commuting by bicycle more time-consuming and less convenient.

Another challenge of using a bicycle is traffic. Cyclists often have to share the road with cars, which can be dangerous and stressful, especially in areas with heavy traffic. Bicycles are also more vulnerable to accidents and injuries due to the lack of protective barriers and safety features that cars provide.

Additionally, while cycling is generally more environmentally friendly than driving a car, it still has a carbon footprint. The energy and resources required to produce and maintain bicycles, as well as the emissions from production, can contribute to environmental impacts. Furthermore, cycling may not be a viable transportation option for individuals with physical disabilities or health conditions that make it difficult to ride a bike.

In terms of overall convenience, bicycles may not be suitable for transportation purposes that require carrying heavy loads or multiple passengers. Cars have the advantage of larger storage capacities and the ability to transport items or people more comfortably.

Lastly, weather conditions can greatly affect the feasibility of cycling. Rain, snow, and extreme temperatures can make cycling uncomfortable and dangerous. Cars provide better protection from the elements, allowing drivers to arrive at their destination safely and without getting wet or cold.

While bicycles offer numerous benefits in terms of sustainability, exercise, and cost-effectiveness, it is essential to consider these drawbacks when deciding whether to use a bicycle for transportation.

Advantages of Using a Car

While bicycles are a popular mode of transportation, cars have their own set of advantages. Here are some reasons why using a car can be beneficial:

While cars have their advantages, it’s important to weigh them against the potential drawbacks and consider the specific needs of each transportation situation. Ultimately, the choice between using a car or a bicycle depends on various factors such as personal preferences, distance, and the availability of infrastructure.

Disadvantages of Using a Car

While cars have long been a popular mode of transportation, they do come with several disadvantages that should be considered, especially when compared to bicycles. One major disadvantage of commuting by car is the impact it has on sustainability. Cars emit greenhouse gases, contributing to air pollution and climate change. In contrast, bicycles are eco-friendly and produce zero emissions, making them a more sustainable option for transportation.

Another disadvantage of using a car is the issue of traffic. With an increasing number of cars on the road, traffic congestion has become a common problem in many cities. This can lead to longer commute times and increased frustration for drivers. In comparison, bicycles can navigate through traffic more efficiently, often avoiding congestion and arriving at the destination quicker.

Lack of physical activity

Using a car for transportation can contribute to a sedentary lifestyle. With minimal physical activity involved, driving a car does not provide the same health benefits as cycling. Regular exercise is important for overall well-being, and cycling is a great way to incorporate physical activity into your daily routine.

Dependency on fuel

Cars rely on fossil fuels such as gasoline or diesel to operate, making them dependent on a limited natural resource. As fuel prices continue to rise and concerns about energy security grow, the cost of owning and running a car can become a significant disadvantage. Bicycles, on the other hand, are not fueled by non-renewable resources and offer significant cost savings in terms of fuel and maintenance.

Health Benefits of Cycling

Commuting by bicycle offers numerous health benefits.

First, cycling is an excellent form of exercise. It provides a cardiovascular workout, strengthening the heart and improving overall fitness. Regular cycling also helps to build muscle strength, particularly in the lower body, including the legs, hips, and buttocks.

In addition to its physical fitness benefits, cycling can also help to improve mental well-being. Studies have shown that cycling releases endorphins in the brain, which are known as “feel-good” hormones. This can help to reduce stress and anxiety and boost mood and self-esteem.

Cycling is also a great way to burn calories and maintain a healthy weight. It can be an effective form of weight management, as cycling at a moderate pace burns around 300-500 calories per hour. Plus, cycling regularly can help to increase metabolism, even when not actively cycling.

Moreover, cycling is a low-impact exercise that is gentle on the joints. Unlike running or other high-impact activities, cycling puts minimal stress on the knees, hips, and ankles, making it an ideal exercise for people of all ages and fitness levels.

Furthermore, commuting by bicycle can reduce emissions and help to improve air quality. With less traffic on the roads, especially during rush hour, cycling is an effective way to decrease congestion and pollution. This is beneficial not only for cyclists themselves but also for the overall sustainability of transportation.

While there are health benefits to commuting by car, such as the comfort and convenience it provides, the positive effects of cycling outweigh those of driving. From physical fitness to mental well-being to environmental sustainability, cycling offers a multitude of advantages for individuals and communities as a whole.

Environmental Impact of Using a Bicycle

When comparing the environmental impact of using a bicycle versus a car, the efficiency of a bicycle becomes clear. Cars contribute significantly to traffic and emissions, making them a less sustainable mode of transportation.

Commuting by bicycle reduces the number of cars on the road, easing traffic congestion and reducing carbon emissions. Bicycles do not emit any harmful gases or particulate matter, making them an eco-friendly option for shorter trips.

Bicycles also require much less energy to operate compared to cars. The amount of fuel and resources needed to manufacture and maintain a car is much higher than that of a bicycle. This makes bicycles a more sustainable and cost-effective choice for transportation.

In addition, the use of bicycles promotes a healthier and greener lifestyle. Cycling is a form of exercise, improving physical fitness and reducing the need for sedentary activities. It also reduces the demand for infrastructure dedicated to parking and road maintenance, creating more space for green areas and a cleaner environment.

Overall, the use of bicycles as a mode of transportation has a minimal environmental impact. It reduces traffic, emissions, and the overall reliance on cars. Embracing cycling as a means of transportation contributes to a more sustainable future for our planet.

Convenience of Using a Car

When it comes to transportation, the car offers unmatched convenience. With a car, you have the freedom to travel anytime and anywhere without relying on public transportation schedules or routes. You can easily hop into your car and drive straight to your destination, saving you time and effort.

Car transportation also offers efficiency, especially when it comes to longer distances or carrying heavy loads. Unlike bicycles, cars can cover greater distances much faster, making them an ideal choice for long commutes or road trips.

Furthermore, cars provide a sheltered and safe mode of transportation, protecting you from adverse weather conditions such as rain or extreme heat. This can be particularly advantageous when commuting to work or running errands.

While bicycles are often promoted as a sustainable mode of transportation due to their lack of emissions and contribution to reducing traffic congestion, cars have made significant strides in recent years in terms of sustainability. Many modern cars are designed to be fuel-efficient and environmentally friendly, emitting fewer emissions compared to older models. Additionally, the availability of electric cars has further decreased the carbon footprint associated with car transportation.

Despite the convenience of using a car, it is important to consider the impact of increased traffic congestion in urban areas. The growing number of cars on the roads can lead to increased travel times and contribute to air pollution. To address these issues, many cities are implementing measures such as carpool lanes, tolls, and promoting alternative modes of transportation, including bicycles.

In conclusion, the convenience of using a car for transportation cannot be denied. Cars offer efficiency, protection from the elements, and the ability to travel long distances quickly. While sustainability and traffic congestion remain valid concerns, advancements in eco-friendly technology are helping to mitigate the negative impact of cars on the environment. Ultimately, the choice between a car and bicycle depends on various factors such as personal preferences, distance to travel, and the availability of alternative transportation options.

Traffic Congestion and Cars

Traffic congestion is a major issue in cities around the world, and cars are often identified as one of the main contributors to this problem. As cities grow, the number of cars on the road increases, leading to increased traffic and longer commute times.

Cars are a popular mode of transportation due to their convenience and ability to travel long distances quickly. However, the efficiency of cars is relatively low compared to bicycles. In urban areas, cars often spend a significant amount of time idling in traffic or searching for parking, which wastes fuel and adds to traffic congestion.

In addition to traffic congestion, cars also contribute to environmental issues, such as air pollution and greenhouse gas emissions. The combustion engines in cars emit pollutants that have negative impacts on air quality, human health, and the environment. These emissions contribute to global warming and climate change.

On the other hand, bicycles are a more sustainable and eco-friendly mode of transportation. They do not emit any greenhouse gases or pollutants, making them a cleaner option for urban commuting. Bicycles also take up less space on the road and in parking areas, reducing traffic congestion and the need for additional infrastructure.

Efficiency and Sustainability Benefits

Bicycles are a more efficient mode of transportation compared to cars. They require less energy to operate and maintain, making them a more sustainable choice. Bicycles also promote a healthier lifestyle, as cycling is a form of exercise that can improve cardiovascular health and overall fitness.

Reducing Traffic Congestion with Cars

Although cars contribute to traffic congestion, it is important to note that they also remain a vital mode of transportation for many individuals and families. In some scenarios, cars can provide a more efficient and convenient option, especially for longer commutes or carrying heavy loads.

Efforts to reduce traffic congestion and promote sustainable transportation can involve initiatives such as improving public transportation systems, creating bike lanes, and implementing carpooling programs. By providing alternative options and incentives for individuals to choose more eco-friendly modes of transportation like bicycles, we can help alleviate traffic congestion and reduce the environmental impact of cars.

Costs of Owning and Operating a Car

Owning and operating a car can have significant costs associated with it. Not only do cars contribute to emissions and traffic congestion, but they can also be expensive to maintain and operate.

Initial Purchase and Depreciation

One of the biggest costs of owning a car is the initial purchase price. Cars can be a significant investment, and the value of a car starts to depreciate as soon as it drives off the dealership lot. This depreciation means that cars are not a financially sound investment like other assets, and their value will continue to decrease over time.

Fuel and Maintenance

Another cost of owning a car is the price of fuel. A car requires regular refueling, which can quickly add up, especially with rising fuel prices. Additionally, cars need regular maintenance and servicing, including oil changes, tire rotations, and occasional repairs. These ongoing costs can contribute to the overall expense of owning a car.

Insurance and Registration

Car owners are also responsible for insurance and registration fees. Insurance costs can vary depending on factors such as the driver’s age, driving record, and type of car. Registration fees are typically required annually and vary based on the region or state.

While cars provide convenience and the ability to travel long distances quickly, they are not the most cost-effective or eco-friendly mode of transportation. Cars contribute to emissions and traffic congestion, which can have negative impacts on the environment and the overall commuting experience. Bicycles, on the other hand, are a more efficient and eco-friendly mode of transportation, promoting sustainability in urban areas and reducing overall traffic congestion.

Exercise and Fitness with Bicycles

Bicycles offer a fantastic opportunity for exercise and fitness. Unlike cars, which can often leave us stuck in traffic and sedentary for long periods of time, riding a bicycle allows us to get moving and stay active.

One of the greatest advantages of bicycling is its eco-friendly nature. When we choose to ride a bicycle instead of drive a car, we reduce our carbon emissions and decrease our impact on the environment. This makes bicycling a sustainable mode of transportation.

In addition to its environmental benefits, bicycling is an efficient mode of commuting. It allows us to bypass traffic congestion and get to our destinations faster. It’s a cost-effective option as well, as bicycles require minimal maintenance compared to cars.

Furthermore, riding a bicycle regularly can improve our fitness levels. It provides an excellent cardiovascular workout and strengthens our leg muscles. Bicycling is also a low-impact exercise, making it suitable for people of all fitness levels and ages. It can be an enjoyable way to burn calories, increase stamina, and improve overall health.

Overall, choosing to ride a bicycle instead of using a car not only benefits our personal health and fitness but also contributes to a more sustainable future. By reducing our reliance on cars and decreasing emissions, we can make a positive impact on the environment. So hop on a bicycle and start pedaling towards a healthier and greener lifestyle!

Car Safety Features

When it comes to transportation, cars are a popular choice for many individuals due to their convenience and efficiency. One important aspect that makes cars a preferred mode of transportation is the various safety features they offer.

Enhanced Traffic Safety

Cars are equipped with a plethora of safety features that work towards ensuring the safety of both the driver and passengers. These features include seat belts, airbags, anti-lock braking systems, and electronic stability control, to name a few. Seat belts are crucial in preventing serious injuries during accidents, while airbags provide an additional layer of protection in case of collision. The anti-lock braking system allows for better control of the vehicle during sudden braking, reducing the risk of accidents. Electronic stability control helps to maintain control of the car during slippery road conditions, further enhancing overall road safety.

Reduced Emissions

In recent years, as sustainability and the environmental impact of transportation have become significant concerns, car manufacturers have made efforts to create more eco-friendly vehicles. Modern cars are designed with improved fuel efficiency, thereby reducing emissions and minimizing their carbon footprint. Some cars even incorporate hybrid or electric technologies, offering even greater levels of emission reduction. These advancements contribute to a greener future and a more sustainable mode of transportation.

In conclusion, the safety features in cars, not only ensure a safe and secure journey, but also contribute towards traffic safety. When combined with efforts to reduce emissions and create more sustainable transportation options, cars can become a more eco-friendly choice for commuting and daily transportation needs.

How Bicycles Promote Sustainable Transportation

Bicycles are one of the most efficient modes of transportation, promoting sustainability in various ways.

Firstly, bicycles are highly efficient in terms of energy consumption. Unlike cars, which require large amounts of fuel to operate, bicycles rely solely on human power. This makes bicycles a sustainable and environmentally friendly option for commuting and short-distance trips.

In addition to their energy efficiency, bicycles also contribute to sustainability by reducing traffic congestion. With more people opting to ride bicycles instead of driving cars, there are fewer vehicles on the road, resulting in less congestion and smoother traffic flow. This not only reduces the time spent in traffic but also decreases the amount of emissions produced by vehicles.

Speaking of emissions, bicycles produce zero emissions, making them an excellent choice for reducing air pollution. Cars, on the other hand, are significant contributors to greenhouse gas emissions, which have a detrimental impact on the environment and human health. By choosing to ride bicycles instead of cars, individuals can actively contribute to reducing carbon emissions and improving air quality.

Bicycles also promote sustainable transportation by being a cost-effective mode of transportation. Owning and maintaining a car can be expensive, with costs such as fuel, insurance, and maintenance adding up over time. Bicycles, on the other hand, require minimal maintenance and do not require any fuel expenses. This makes them a sustainable choice for individuals looking to save money while reducing their carbon footprint.

In conclusion, bicycles promote sustainable transportation by offering a highly efficient and environmentally friendly mode of commuting. They reduce energy consumption, decrease traffic congestion, minimize emissions, and provide a cost-effective alternative to cars. By incorporating bicycles into our daily lives and transportation habits, we can contribute to creating a more sustainable future for ourselves and the planet.

Parking Challenges for Cars

One of the major challenges that cars face is finding appropriate parking spaces. With the increasing number of cars on the road, parking has become a serious issue in many cities around the world. The lack of available parking spaces in crowded urban areas can lead to traffic congestion and frustration for drivers.

Emissions from cars, as well as the traffic caused by searching for parking, contribute to air pollution and environmental degradation. This is in contrast to bicycles, which are more eco-friendly and produce zero emissions, making them a sustainable mode of transportation.

Furthermore, the inefficiency of car parking can lead to wasted time and energy for both individual drivers and society as a whole. Finding a parking space often involves circling around congested areas, creating additional traffic and increasing the carbon footprint. Meanwhile, bicycles can be parked in designated spots or easily secured to bike racks, requiring minimal space and reducing the overall strain on transportation infrastructure.

Benefits of Bicycle Parking

In contrast to car parking, bicycle parking is generally easier and more convenient. Many cities now have designated bicycle parking areas that make it easy for cyclists to secure their bikes. These areas are often strategically located near public transit stations, workplaces, and popular destinations, encouraging more people to choose cycling as their mode of commuting.

Additionally, bicycle parking facilities are usually cost-effective and require minimal maintenance compared to car parking structures. They contribute to a more sustainable and efficient transportation system by reducing the demand for car parking spaces and encouraging more people to utilize bicycles for short trips.

In conclusion, car parking poses several challenges related to emissions, traffic, and efficiency, while bicycle parking offers a more eco-friendly and convenient solution. Encouraging the use of bicycles by implementing well-designed bicycle parking facilities can help promote sustainability, reduce traffic congestion, and create a more efficient transportation system.

Bicycles and Accessibility

When it comes to transportation options, bicycles have long been favored for their efficiency and accessibility. Unlike cars, bicycles do not require gasoline or emit harmful emissions, making them a more environmentally friendly choice. This makes bicycles a great option for commuting, as they contribute to the reduction of traffic congestion and the overall improvement of air quality.

One of the main advantages of bicycles is their accessibility – anyone can ride a bicycle regardless of age or physical ability. Bicycles can be used as a means of transportation for short distances, making them ideal for running errands or navigating through busy urban areas. They can also be easily stored and parked, requiring much less space than cars.

In addition to their accessibility, bicycles also promote sustainability. By choosing to ride a bicycle instead of driving a car, individuals can reduce their carbon footprint and contribute to a greener environment. Bicycles also require fewer resources to manufacture and maintain, making them a more sustainable mode of transportation overall.

Overall, bicycles offer a convenient and eco-friendly alternative to cars. With their accessibility and emphasis on sustainability, bicycles can play a significant role in improving transportation systems and creating a more sustainable future.

Speed and Efficiency with Cars

When it comes to speed and efficiency, cars have a clear advantage over bicycles. With their powerful engines and ability to reach high speeds, cars can get you from point A to point B much faster than a bicycle. This is especially advantageous for longer distances or when traveling on highways.

Furthermore, cars provide a convenient mode of transportation, allowing you to reach your destination without breaking a sweat. Unlike bicycles, cars offer climate control options, allowing you to stay comfortable regardless of the weather conditions. This makes cars particularly suitable for commuting, especially in areas with extreme temperatures or unpredictable weather.

Transportation Efficiency

In terms of transportation efficiency, cars can carry multiple passengers and accommodate larger quantities of goods. This makes them ideal for transporting heavy or bulky items that would be difficult or impractical to carry on a bicycle. Additionally, cars provide shelter and protection from external factors such as traffic congestion and unsafe road conditions.

Eco-Friendly Considerations

While cars offer speed and convenience, it is important to consider their impact on the environment. Cars are known for their emissions, which contribute to air pollution and climate change. This is especially concerning in heavily congested areas with high volumes of traffic.

To address these concerns, the automotive industry has been making efforts to produce more eco-friendly and sustainable cars. Electric vehicles, for example, produce zero emissions and are becoming increasingly popular as a greener alternative to traditional gasoline-powered cars. However, the infrastructure for electric vehicles is still developing and may not be as widely available as conventional fuel stations.

In conclusion, cars offer speed, convenience, and the ability to transport large quantities and multiple passengers. However, their impact on the environment should be considered, and efforts should be made to promote more sustainable transportation options, such as bicycles, for shorter distances and to decrease traffic congestion.

Community and Social Interactions on Bicycles

One of the advantages of choosing bicycles as a mode of transportation is the opportunity for increased community and social interactions. In contrast to cars, which often isolate individuals with the windows up and the radio on, bicyclists are more exposed to their surroundings and the people they encounter on their journeys.

Bicycles allow for a closer connection with the community as riders can easily engage in conversations with pedestrians and other cyclists. This can lead to unexpected encounters and friendships being formed. Whether it’s a casual conversation at a stoplight or a shared smile while passing on the bike path, these interactions can help foster a sense of belonging and unity within the community.

Furthermore, bicycles contribute to a more vibrant and lively street scene. As cyclists navigate through traffic, they become a visible and active part of the urban landscape. This presence not only adds to the charm and character of a neighborhood, but also encourages others to consider cycling as a viable commuting option.

The efficiency and eco-friendly nature of bicycles also play a role in fostering community interactions. Bicycles are a sustainable mode of transportation that helps reduce traffic congestion and carbon emissions. By choosing to bike instead of drive, individuals are actively contributing to a more sustainable community. This shared commitment to environmental responsibility can serve as a common ground for cyclists to connect and engage with one another.

Public Transportation and Bike Commuting

When it comes to eco-friendly and sustainable transportation options, both public transportation and bike commuting offer significant advantages over traditional car usage.

Public transportation systems, such as buses and trains, are designed to accommodate a large number of passengers, making them an efficient way to transport people from one place to another. By using public transportation, individuals can reduce their carbon footprint and contribute to a cleaner environment. Compared to cars, which emit large amounts of greenhouse gases and pollutants, public transportation is much more environmentally friendly.

Bicycle commuting is another sustainable option that reduces emissions and promotes a healthier lifestyle. Bicycles emit zero emissions and do not contribute to air pollution, making them an excellent choice for short-distance commuting. Furthermore, biking to work or school can improve cardiovascular health and reduce the risk of chronic diseases associated with a sedentary lifestyle.

Both public transportation and bicycle commuting offer economic benefits as well. Using public transportation eliminates the need to pay for parking fees, vehicle maintenance, and fuel costs. Similarly, biking to work eliminates the need for fuel altogether. This can result in significant cost savings over time.

While public transportation and biking have their advantages, they may not be suitable for every situation. In some cases, a car may be necessary for transporting heavy items, traveling long distances, or navigating areas with limited public transportation options. However, by incorporating public transportation or biking into our daily routines whenever possible, we can contribute to a more sustainable and efficient transportation system.

In conclusion, both public transportation and bike commuting offer numerous advantages in terms of efficiency, eco-friendliness, and cost savings. By reducing the reliance on cars and embracing these alternative modes of transportation, individuals can play a significant role in creating a more sustainable future.

Questions and answers:

What are the benefits of using a bicycle as a mode of transportation.

Using a bicycle as a mode of transportation has numerous benefits. It is cost-effective, as it does not require any fuel and has minimal maintenance costs. It is also environmentally friendly, as it does not emit any pollutants. Additionally, cycling is a great form of exercise and can improve cardiovascular health.

What are the disadvantages of using a bicycle as a mode of transportation?

While cycling has many advantages, there are also some disadvantages. One of the main drawbacks is the limited carrying capacity. Bicycles have limited space for carrying groceries or other large items. Cycling can also be more time-consuming compared to using a car, especially for longer distances. Weather conditions, such as rain or snow, can also make cycling less pleasant or even dangerous.

What are the benefits of using a car as a mode of transportation?

Using a car as a mode of transportation offers several benefits. Cars provide a higher level of comfort and convenience compared to bicycles. They also have more carrying capacity, making it easier to transport larger items. Cars are generally faster, allowing for quicker travel, especially for longer distances. In addition, cars provide protection from adverse weather conditions and can be more suitable for people with physical limitations.

What are the disadvantages of using a car as a mode of transportation?

Despite its advantages, using a car as a mode of transportation has some drawbacks. Firstly, cars are expensive to purchase, maintain, and fuel. They also contribute to air pollution and traffic congestion. Additionally, relying on cars can lead to a sedentary lifestyle, as less physical activity is involved compared to cycling. Lastly, finding parking spaces can be a challenge, especially in crowded urban areas.

Which mode of transportation is more environmentally friendly: bicycles or cars?

Bicycles are generally considered to be more environmentally friendly compared to cars. They do not emit any greenhouse gases or pollutants, contributing to cleaner air and reducing the carbon footprint. On the other hand, cars emit carbon dioxide and other harmful substances, leading to air pollution and negative environmental impacts. Therefore, choosing bicycles as a mode of transportation can have a positive impact on the environment.

What are the benefits of riding a bicycle?

There are several benefits of riding a bicycle. Firstly, it is a great form of exercise that helps improve cardiovascular health and tone muscles. Secondly, it is an environmentally friendly way of transportation as it does not produce any emissions. Additionally, riding a bicycle can save you money on fuel and parking fees.

Are there any disadvantages of using a car?

Yes, there are some disadvantages of using a car. Firstly, cars contribute to air pollution and greenhouse gas emissions that are harmful to the environment. Secondly, cars require fuel, which can be expensive and contribute to our reliance on non-renewable resources. Additionally, traffic congestion and limited parking spaces are common issues when using a car.

Is it safer to ride a bicycle or drive a car?

In terms of safety, it can depend on various factors. While bicycles are more vulnerable to accidents, they are also smaller and more maneuverable, allowing cyclists to avoid certain hazards on the road. Cars, on the other hand, offer more protection with their steel frames and safety features, but they can also be involved in more serious accidents due to higher speeds. Ultimately, it is important for both cyclists and drivers to follow traffic laws and be aware of their surroundings to ensure safety.

What are the advantages of using a car for transportation?

There are several advantages of using a car for transportation. Firstly, cars provide convenience and flexibility as they allow you to travel longer distances and carry larger loads compared to a bicycle. Secondly, cars offer more protection and comfort, especially in severe weather conditions. Additionally, cars often have built-in features such as air conditioning and entertainment systems that can enhance the driving experience.

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Compare and Contrast Essay:  Car vs. Motorcycle

Car versus motorcycle: Which is better? The answer to this question seems quite simple but, in reality, the answer is much more complex. For beginners, it is important to know the basic differences between the two, such as their functions, safety issues, and maintenance costs. Motorcycle enthusiasts, on the other hand, would argue that their vehicles are far superior to their cars because they are quieter, more maneuverable, and much more fun to ride. 

A car is used for transportation, while a motorcycle is used for recreation. Motorcycles are far better at providing transportation because of their maneuverability and speed. However, both are use as a means of transportation. Vehicles such as cars are more useful when driving on interstate highways, but motorcyclists can travel much faster and for far longer distances. Motorcycles are generally smaller than cars, which makes them easier to park and have more legroom.

Motorcycle safety depends on the rider, not just the vehicle. Motorcycles have far more lean angles than cars, which results in more accidents. Cars are designed to withstand forces associated with rear-end collisions that are more likely to happen to motorcyclists. In fact, cars are built to be safer than motorcycles, as are motorcycles built to be safer than cars. 

Cars like a motorcycle require maintenance in order to function.Cars require a lot of maintenance and repairs to make sure that they function properly. On the other hand, motorcycles require far less maintenance. Therefore, both require maintenance. Most of them are equipped with simple maintenance schedules to make sure that they do not malfunction, while cars require constant maintenance due to their various moving parts. For example, a car may have a lot of different parts that need to be inspected and repaired, which can take up a lot of time.

Despite the many obvious advantages of motorcycles over cars, the two products are both tools that are essential for getting around. The choice between a motorcycle and a car should be based on the needs and the preferences of the driver. I think that a motorcycle is a better choice for most people, as they are more fun and are more comfortable to ride, but I can understand why some people might be tempted to choose a car. Overall, the value of using a motorcycle is undeniable.

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Writing a Comparison-and-Contrast Essay

First, choose whether you want to compare seemingly disparate subjects, contrast seemingly similar subjects, or compare and contrast subjects. Once you have decided on a topic, introduce it with an engaging opening paragraph. Your thesis should come at the end of the introduction, and it should establish the subjects you will compare, contrast, or both as well as state what can be learned from doing so. Be sure to make an argument in your thesis; explain to the reader what’s at stake in analyzing the relationship between your stated subjects.

The body of the essay can be organized in one of two ways: by subject or by individual points. The organizing strategy that you choose will depend on, as always, your audience and your purpose. You may also consider your particular approach to the subjects as well as the nature of the subjects themselves; some subjects might better lend themselves to one structure or the other. Make sure to use comparison and contrast phrases to cue the reader to the ways in which you are analyzing the relationship between the subjects.

After you finish analyzing the subjects, write a conclusion that summarizes the main points of the essay and reinforces your thesis. This conclusion is the “and so” statement for your essay, giving you the place to offer a judgment based on the examination you have just offered.

Sample Comparison-and-Contrast Essays

A South African Storm

By Allison Howard – Peace Corps Volunteer: South Africa (2003-2005)

It’s a Saturday afternoon in January in South Africa. When I begin the 45–minute walk to the shops for groceries, I can hear thunder cracking in the distance up the mountain in Mageobaskloof. But at 4 p.m. the sky is still light and bright and I am sure—famous last words—I will be fine without an umbrella.

Just the basics: eggs, bread, Diet Coke in a bag slung into the crook of my elbow. Halfway from town, two black South African women—domestic workers in the homes of white Afrikaner families—stop me with wide smiles. They know me; I’m the only white person in town who walks everywhere, as they do. They chatter quickly in northern Sotho: “Missus, you must go fast. Pula e tla na! The rain, it comes!” They like me, and it feels very important to me that they do.“Yebo, yebo, mma,” I say—Yes, it’s true—and I hurry along in flip-flops, quickening my pace, feeling good about our brief but neighborly conversation. These are Venda women.

My black South African friends tell me it’s easy to tell a Venda from a Shangaan from a Xhosa from a Pedi. “These ones from Venda, they have wide across the nose and high in the cheekbones,” they say. But I don’t see it; I’m years away from being able to distinguish the nuances of ethnicity. Today, I know these women are Vendas simply because of their clothing: bright stripes of green and yellow and black fabric tied at one shoulder and hanging quite like a sack around their bodies. They’ve already extended a kindness to me by speaking in northern Sotho. It’s not their language but they know I don’t speak a word of Afrikaans (though they don’t understand why; Afrikaans is the language of white people). They know I struggle with Sotho and they’re trying to help me learn. So they speak Sotho to me and they’re delighted and amused by my fumbling responses. And I am, quite simply, delighted by their delight.

The Venda ladies are right: the rain, it comes. Lightly at first, and by habit I begin trotting to hurry my way home. Just a little rain at first and there are plenty of us out in it. I can see others up ahead on the street and others still just leaving the shops to get back before the real rain begins.

The people who are walking along this swath of tar road are black. Black people don’t live in this neighborhood—or in my town at all, for the most part. They work and board here as domestic workers, nannies, gardeners. Their families live in black townships and rural villages—some just outside of my town; others far away, in places like Venda.

Today, we’re walking together in the rain, and I’m quickening my pace because—after all, it’s raining. That’s what you do in the rain. And even though it’s coming down noticeably harder, it’s 80 degrees and I’m not cold, I’m just wet. My hair is stuck to my forehead and my T-shirt is soaked … and I’m the only one running for cover. And I think: So what? It’s just water and in the middle of the January summer, it’s warm, refreshing water. Why run? Why do we run from the rain?

In my life back in the United States, I might run because I was carrying a leather handbag, or because I wore an outfit that shouldn’t get wet. I would run because rain dishevels and messes things up. Mostly though, we run because we just do; it’s a habit. I’ve done it a hundred times: running to my car or the subway station with a newspaper sheltering my head. I have never not quickened my pace in the rain until today.

It took all of my 27 years and a move to Africa, where I don’t have a leather handbag to shelter or a pretty outfit to protect. I’m wearing an old cotton skirt and a T-shirt, and I’m drenched, and I love it. I learn things here in the most ordinary circumstances. And I feel like a smarter, better woman today because I got groceries in the rain.

But on the long walk home, positively soaked and smiling like a fool, I notice a car pulling over and a man yelling in Afrikaans to get in, get in. I look in the direction I’ve come from and several meters behind me is a woman with a baby tied to her back and an elderly man carrying bags, leading a young boy by the hand. On the road ahead, a woman about my age carries a parcel wrapped in plastic, balanced precariously on her head. There are maybe 20 people walking with me in my reverie of rain and they are black. And the man in the car is white and he’s gesturing frantically for me to get in. Why me? Why not the others? Because I’m white and it’s about race. Everything is about race here.

This man in the car is trying to do something kind and neighborly. He wants to help me and his gesture is right, but his instincts are so wrong. How do you resent someone who is, for no benefit of his own, trying to help? But I do. I resent him and I resent the world he lives in that taught him such selective kindness. This whole event unravels in a few seconds’ time. He’s leaned over and opened the car door, urging me in … and I get in. And we speed past my fellow walkers and he drops me at my doorstep before I have time to think of anything besides giving him directions.

It feels like a mistake because I’m ashamed to think what the Venda women would have felt if he’d ignored them and they had watched me climb into that car. In some ways, the whole episode seems absurd. I’m not going to atone for 400 years of South African history by walking with black people in the rain. If I’d refused his ride, he wouldn’t have thought anything besides the fact that I was certifiably crazy. That’s the thing about being here: I’m not going to change anything. But I believe it matters in some infinitesimal way that people like the Venda women, and the dozens of people who may walk alongside me on any given day, know that I’m there. In black South African culture it is polite to greet every person you pass. That’s what they do, so I do it, too. On the occasional morning, someone might greet me as “sesi,” sister. I have to believe that matters; I know it matters to me.

I was disappointed in myself for getting into the car because I acted according to the same habit that makes us think rain an inconvenience. Just as we run from the rain, I hopped into that car because I’m supposed to. Conventionally, it makes sense. But convention compels us to do so many things that don’t make any sense at all. Convention misinforms our instincts. And in a larger sense, it is convention that propels Afrikaner culture anachronistically into the future. Ten years after the supposed end of apartheid, I’m living in a world of institutionalized racism. Convention becomes institution—and it’s oppressive and it’s unjust. I know that if I’m going to make it here for two more years, I need to walk in the rain. It’s a small, wasted gesture, but it’s an uncorrupted instinct that makes me feel human.

So much about living here feels like that fraction of a second when the Afrikaner man was appealing to my conventional sensibilities and the people on the street were appealing to my human instincts. It may feel unnatural to reject those sensibilities just as, at first, it feels unnatural to walk in the rain. But if I lose a hold on my instincts here, I’ll fail myself and I’ll fail to achieve those tiny things that matter so much. It’s simple and it’s small; and it’s everything. Gandhi said, “Be the change you wish to see in the world.” Indeed. Let it rain.

Comparing and Contrasting London and Washington, DC

Both Washington, DC, and London are capital cities of English-speaking countries, and yet they offer vastly different experiences to their residents and visitors. Comparing and contrasting the two cities based on their history, their culture, and their residents show how different and similar the two are.

Both cities are rich in world and national history, though they developed on very different time lines. London, for example, has a history that dates back over two thousand years. It was part of the Roman Empire and known by the similar name, Londinium. It was not only one of the northernmost points of the Roman Empire but also the epicenter of the British Empire where it held significant global influence from the early sixteenth century on through the early twentieth century. Washington, DC, on the other hand, has only formally existed since the late eighteenth century. Though Native Americans inhabited the land several thousand years earlier, and settlers inhabited the land as early as the sixteenth century, the city did not become the capital of the United States until the 1790s. From that point onward to today, however, Washington, DC, has increasingly maintained significant global influence. Even though both cities have different histories, they have both held, and continue to hold, significant social influence in the economic and cultural global spheres.

Both Washington, DC, and London offer a wide array of museums that harbor many of the world’s most prized treasures. While Washington, DC, has the National Gallery of Art and several other Smithsonian galleries, London’s art scene and galleries have a definite edge in this category. From the Tate Modern to the British National Gallery, London’s art ranks among the world’s best. This difference and advantage has much to do with London and Britain’s historical depth compared to that of the United States. London has a much richer past than Washington, DC, and consequently has a lot more material to pull from when arranging its collections. Both cities have thriving theater districts, but again, London wins this comparison, too, both in quantity and quality of theater choices. With regard to other cultural places like restaurants, pubs, and bars, both cities are very comparable. Both have a wide selection of expensive, elegant restaurants as well as a similar amount of global and national chains. While London may be better known for its pubs and taste in beer, DC offers a different bar-going experience. With clubs and pubs that tend to stay open later than their British counterparts, the DC night life tend to be less reserved overall.

Both cities also share and differ in cultural diversity and cost of living. Both cities share a very expensive cost of living—both in terms of housing and shopping. A downtown one-bedroom apartment in DC can easily cost $1,800 per month, and a similar “flat” in London may double that amount. These high costs create socioeconomic disparity among the residents. Although both cities’ residents are predominantly wealthy, both have a significantly large population of poor and homeless. Perhaps the most significant difference between the resident demographics is the racial makeup. Washington, DC, is a “minority majority” city, which means the majority of its citizens are races other than white. In 2009, according to the US Census, 55 percent of DC residents were classified as “Black or African American” and 35 percent of its residents were classified as “white.” London, by contrast, has very few minorities—in 2006, 70 percent of its population was “white,” while only 10 percent was “black.” The racial demographic differences between the cities is drastic.

Even though Washington, DC, and London are major capital cities of English-speaking countries in the Western world, they have many differences along with their similarities. They have vastly different histories, art cultures, and racial demographics, but they remain similar in their cost of living and socioeconomic disparity.

Sample Student Outline

In “Batman: A Hero for Any Time,” Jacob Gallman-Dreiling compares the traditional portrayal of the superhero Batman with the modern version. As you read, look for the comparison and contrast phrases that the author uses to help the reader understand the argument he is making. What kind of organizational structure does the essay follow?

Jacob Gallman-Dreiling

English 1101

16 March 2013

Thesis : Although the framework of the Batman story always remains the same, the character has been re-imagined over time to suit the changing expectations of a hero through his characterization as well as that of those who surround him, both friends and foes.

• Bruce Wayne’s parents are murdered in front of him.
• Bruce Wayne grows up to inherit his parents’ fortune.
• Batman fights crime with the help of Commissioner Gordon and others.
• Batman employs an arsenal of non-lethal weapons to aid him.
• Characters could not use concealed weapons.
• Stories required “morals.”
• Stories could not use kidnapping or excessive violence.
• Stories incorporated elements of science fiction.
• Stories had limitations on the portrayal of female characters.
• Batman’s suits often had ridiculous properties he conveniently prepared for the upcoming mission.
• Batman is haunted by the death of his parents.
• Batman has become a skilled detective and fighter.
• Batman’s suit is more armor than spandex.
• Batman is haunted by his mistakes.
• Batman and Commissioner Gordon conspire to hide the truth about Harvey Dent from the people of Gotham.
• Characters like Ace the Bat-Hound, Bat-Mice, and Batwoman were created to draw in children.
• Issues were built around a villain-of-the-week.
• Dick Grayson grows up and goes to college.
• Batgirl is paralyzed by the Joker.
• Joker is given several conflicting backstories explaining his psychosis.
• Catwoman has changed from a harmless cat-burglar to a reformed prostitute.

Sample Student Essay

Batman: A Hero for Any Time

Few ideas in this world are as timeless as that of a superhero. The ancient Greeks had Odysseus and Hercules. The British have Sherlock Holmes and Allan Quatermain. The Americans developed the modern concept of the superhero with characters like Superman and Spider-Man and created elaborate stories for the origin of their powers, much like the Greeks used when creating their heroes. While the world of superheroes was originally a white man’s club, the creation of Wonder Woman ushered in a new era of diversity. Now men, women, people of color, even those of differing sexual orientations are represented among the ranks of those who fight against evil. Though teams of superheroes like the Justice League of America and the XMen have enduring popularity, few superheroes have captured the imagination like Batman. Created in 1939 by Bob Kane and Bill Finger, a boy orphaned by violence grows to become the Caped Crusader, avenger of the fictional of Gotham. This comic book hero has spurred film, radio, and television adaptations, has spawned action figures and video games, and has maintained an uninterrupted comic book publication, something few other superhero titles can boast. Although the framework of the Batman story always remains the same, the character has been re-imagined over time to suit the changing expectations of a hero through his characterization as well as through the portrayal of those who surround him, both friends and foes.

The basic framework of the Batman story has stayed the same since his debut in May, 1939. At the age of eight, Bruce Wayne, the son of wealthy socialites, witnesses his parents’ murder at the hands of a desperate mugger and swears to avenge their deaths by waging war on all criminals. He grows up to inherit their fortune and the family company, using the money to fund charitable efforts and to reside in stately Wayne Manor. By night, he becomes Batman, ridding the Gotham City streets of menacing foes like the Joker, the Riddler, and Two-Face. He is aided in his fight by his sidekick Robin, Batgirl, and Commissioner Gordon, as well as his butler Alfred Pennyworth. His most enduring love interest is Selina Kyle, who is also known as the notorious cat-burglar, Catwoman. Batman eschews lethal weaponry such as guns, instead preferring to outwit his foes using his intellect to bring them to justice.

While the key details of Batman’s backstory have remained unchanged for almost seventy-five years, his characterization has changed to suit the ever-evolving expectations of a superhero. When the character debuted in the Silver Age of comics—the decades between 1950 and 1970—he was a sunny, pulpy character: he was billed as the “World’s Greatest Detective” and performed as such, while reflecting what is considered to be a more innocent time. His villains were grand, but he outsmarted them using his intelligence and science. The introduction of the Comics Code Authority in 1954 restricted not only the way that stories were presented but also the types of stories that could be presented. For instance, concealed weapons were forbidden, stories were required to have “morals,” and kidnapping and excessive violence were forbidden. As such, Batman’s stories began incorporating elements of science fiction. As the comics demonstrate, Batman famously repels aliens and an island of animatronic dinosaurs during this period. Also, female characters in the Batman stories of this time are poorly treated. The villain Catwoman had to be shelved due to regulations regarding women and violence, while the original Batwoman was brought on as a potential love interest to quiet the growing assertion of conservative culture warriors that Batman and Robin were, in fact, lovers. When this version of Batwoman was deemed unnecessary, she was written out. This period is also famous for Batman having “batsuits” with heretofore unseen special properties, such as fireproofing and thermal heating.

Modern portrayals of Batman show him as a deeply flawed, psychologically scarred hero. During the 1980s the Comics Code’s influence was waning, and writers like Frank Miller took advantage of this to tell brutal, psychological stories. Haunted by the murder of his parents, a modern Batman is dangerous and calculating. He has returned to his roots as a skilled detective and fighter, which has made him suspicious and paranoid. He is often depicted as having calculated how to defeat his allies, should the need arise, with contingency plans for everyone from Robin to Superman. Modern writers have a young Bruce Wayne train as a ninja before returning to Gotham to become Batman, so greater emphasis is placed on his stealth and fighting skills. The batsuit has reflected this change as well, shifting from a cloth/spandex suit to one that is very clearly body armor, built to withstand bullets and knives.

He is also haunted by his mistakes. After the death of Jason Todd, the second sidekick to go by the codename Robin, Batman spirals into anger and depression over not being able to prevent Jason’s death at the hands of the Joker. For the next decade, Jason’s murder haunts Batman alongside that of his parents as his greatest failure. He puts Jason’s costume on display in the Batcave as motivation. In the 2008 Christopher Nolan film The Dark Knight , Batman and Commissioner Gordon conspire to hide the truth of the popular District Attorney Harvey Dent’s descent into madness so that Gotham City will have a symbol of hope. While that decision is for the good of the city, it leads to Bruce Wayne’s reclusion and an eight year hiatus as Batman. Such dark, psychological stories would never have been allowed during the heyday of the Comics Code Authority.

Just as the portrayal of Batman has shifted to meet the current expectations of a superhero, so too have the depictions of the characters around him, both allies and enemies. During the Silver Age, Batman’s associates are, like Batman himself, light-hearted. Characters like Ace the Bat-Hound and the Bat-Mice were introduced to bring in more young readers, though these characters were rarely seen after 1964. Issues were built around a villain-of-the-week who is purely evil and has no outside motivation. These stories also tend to be episodic with no story arcs or even character arcs. The Joker is originally a calculating murderer, but his character becomes a gleeful trickster to comply with the Code.

As readers matured, the creative forces driving the various Batman outlets were able to tell more complex, meaningful stories. Thus, in modern portrayals, Batman’s associates deal with real, lasting consequences and changes. Beginning with Frank Miller’s The Dark Knight comic series, Batman’s friends begin their trials. Dick Grayson, the original Robin, grows up and goes to college, being replaced by the ill-fated Jason Todd. He becomes a hero in his own right, going by the codename Nightwing and becoming the leader of the Teen Titans. In the seminal 1988 graphic novel The Killing Joke , Batgirl is partially paralyzed by the Joker, who shoots her through her spine as part of an effort to drive her father, Commissioner Gordon, insane. This condition lasts until the DC-Universe-wide reboot in 2011, and she is now able to walk and has resumed the mantle of Batgirl. The Joker himself has been given many different backstories, all of them horrific. Filmmakers give a nod to the Joker’s varied backstories in the film The Dark Knight by having the Joker give conflicting accounts of how he received his trademark scars. Catwoman is originally just a bored housewife who turns to crime, but beginning in the 1980s her story retroactively changes to her being a prostitute who turns to burglary to buy freedom for herself and her sister. Once a staunch villain of Batman, this new version of the character is portrayed more as an antihero; though she is not necessarily an upstanding citizen, the new Catwoman will join forces with Batman to fight evil when it suits her. These stories appeal to an audience craving depth and substance to their characters, far different from the Pre-Vietnam War era Batman stories.

While the key details to the Batman story never change, the way the character has been presented has changed over time, as has the way his associated characters have been presented. It is perhaps this adaptability that has allowed Batman to flourish in popularity for almost seventy-five years, with no signs of that popularity waning. As the demographic for Batman’s stories matures, the power wielded by the Comics Code Authority has diminished, making darker, more meaningful stories possible. Previously one dimensional characters were given subtleties and nuances, much in the way modern film versions depict the heroes of old, from Odysseus to Sherlock Holmes. As society’s norms change, this change is reflected in the way films, stories, and comic books depict superheroes. With all the changes occurring in culture worldwide, who knows what the next generation’s Batman will be like?

External Links

“ Disability ” ( https://tinyurl.com/y99te6e2 ) by Nancy Mairs: In “Disability,” writer Nancy Mairs discusses the experience of being a disabled person in a world focused on the able-bodied. It seems to be titled “Hers” but it is the correct essay.

“ Friending, Ancient or Otherwise ” ( https://tinyurl.com/y85u8ae8 ) by Alex Wright: In “Friending, Ancient or Otherwise,” writer Alex Wright explores the evolution and purpose of friendship in the age of social media.

“ Sex, Lies and Conversation: Why Is It So Hard for Men and Women to Talk to Each Other ? ” ( https://tinyurl.com/y95dpehx ) by Deborah Tannen. In this essay, Tannen compares and contrasts conversation styles. You can view the essay here ( https://tinyurl.com/y9vnjqv8 ) also.

Contributors and Attributions

Adapted from  Successful College Composition (Crowther et al.) . Sourced from  LibreTexts , licensed under  CC BY-NC-SA  .

Adapted from  Let's Get Writing (Browning, DeVries, Boylan, Kurtz and Burton) . Sourced from  LibreTexts , licensed under  CC BY-NC-SA  .

Comparing and Contrasting

What this handout is about.

This handout will help you first to determine whether a particular assignment is asking for comparison/contrast and then to generate a list of similarities and differences, decide which similarities and differences to focus on, and organize your paper so that it will be clear and effective. It will also explain how you can (and why you should) develop a thesis that goes beyond “Thing A and Thing B are similar in many ways but different in others.”

Introduction

In your career as a student, you’ll encounter many different kinds of writing assignments, each with its own requirements. One of the most common is the comparison/contrast essay, in which you focus on the ways in which certain things or ideas—usually two of them—are similar to (this is the comparison) and/or different from (this is the contrast) one another. By assigning such essays, your instructors are encouraging you to make connections between texts or ideas, engage in critical thinking, and go beyond mere description or summary to generate interesting analysis: when you reflect on similarities and differences, you gain a deeper understanding of the items you are comparing, their relationship to each other, and what is most important about them.

Recognizing comparison/contrast in assignments

Some assignments use words—like compare, contrast, similarities, and differences—that make it easy for you to see that they are asking you to compare and/or contrast. Here are a few hypothetical examples:

• Compare and contrast Frye’s and Bartky’s accounts of oppression.
• Compare WWI to WWII, identifying similarities in the causes, development, and outcomes of the wars.
• Contrast Wordsworth and Coleridge; what are the major differences in their poetry?

Notice that some topics ask only for comparison, others only for contrast, and others for both.

But it’s not always so easy to tell whether an assignment is asking you to include comparison/contrast. And in some cases, comparison/contrast is only part of the essay—you begin by comparing and/or contrasting two or more things and then use what you’ve learned to construct an argument or evaluation. Consider these examples, noticing the language that is used to ask for the comparison/contrast and whether the comparison/contrast is only one part of a larger assignment:

• Choose a particular idea or theme, such as romantic love, death, or nature, and consider how it is treated in two Romantic poems.
• How do the different authors we have studied so far define and describe oppression?
• Compare Frye’s and Bartky’s accounts of oppression. What does each imply about women’s collusion in their own oppression? Which is more accurate?
• In the texts we’ve studied, soldiers who served in different wars offer differing accounts of their experiences and feelings both during and after the fighting. What commonalities are there in these accounts? What factors do you think are responsible for their differences?

You may want to check out our handout on understanding assignments for additional tips.

Using comparison/contrast for all kinds of writing projects

Sometimes you may want to use comparison/contrast techniques in your own pre-writing work to get ideas that you can later use for an argument, even if comparison/contrast isn’t an official requirement for the paper you’re writing. For example, if you wanted to argue that Frye’s account of oppression is better than both de Beauvoir’s and Bartky’s, comparing and contrasting the main arguments of those three authors might help you construct your evaluation—even though the topic may not have asked for comparison/contrast and the lists of similarities and differences you generate may not appear anywhere in the final draft of your paper.

Discovering similarities and differences

Making a Venn diagram or a chart can help you quickly and efficiently compare and contrast two or more things or ideas. To make a Venn diagram, simply draw some overlapping circles, one circle for each item you’re considering. In the central area where they overlap, list the traits the two items have in common. Assign each one of the areas that doesn’t overlap; in those areas, you can list the traits that make the things different. Here’s a very simple example, using two pizza places:

To make a chart, figure out what criteria you want to focus on in comparing the items. Along the left side of the page, list each of the criteria. Across the top, list the names of the items. You should then have a box per item for each criterion; you can fill the boxes in and then survey what you’ve discovered.

Here’s an example, this time using three pizza places:

As you generate points of comparison, consider the purpose and content of the assignment and the focus of the class. What do you think the professor wants you to learn by doing this comparison/contrast? How does it fit with what you have been studying so far and with the other assignments in the course? Are there any clues about what to focus on in the assignment itself?

Here are some general questions about different types of things you might have to compare. These are by no means complete or definitive lists; they’re just here to give you some ideas—you can generate your own questions for these and other types of comparison. You may want to begin by using the questions reporters traditionally ask: Who? What? Where? When? Why? How? If you’re talking about objects, you might also consider general properties like size, shape, color, sound, weight, taste, texture, smell, number, duration, and location.

Two historical periods or events

• When did they occur—do you know the date(s) and duration? What happened or changed during each? Why are they significant?
• What kinds of work did people do? What kinds of relationships did they have? What did they value?
• What kinds of governments were there? Who were important people involved?
• What caused events in these periods, and what consequences did they have later on?

Two ideas or theories

• What are they about?
• Did they originate at some particular time?
• Who created them? Who uses or defends them?
• What is the central focus, claim, or goal of each? What conclusions do they offer?
• How are they applied to situations/people/things/etc.?
• Which seems more plausible to you, and why? How broad is their scope?
• What kind of evidence is usually offered for them?

Two pieces of writing or art

• What are their titles? What do they describe or depict?
• What is their tone or mood? What is their form?
• Who created them? When were they created? Why do you think they were created as they were? What themes do they address?
• Do you think one is of higher quality or greater merit than the other(s)—and if so, why?
• For writing: what plot, characterization, setting, theme, tone, and type of narration are used?
• Where are they from? How old are they? What is the gender, race, class, etc. of each?
• What, if anything, are they known for? Do they have any relationship to each other?
• What are they like? What did/do they do? What do they believe? Why are they interesting?
• What stands out most about each of them?

Deciding what to focus on

By now you have probably generated a huge list of similarities and differences—congratulations! Next you must decide which of them are interesting, important, and relevant enough to be included in your paper. Ask yourself these questions:

• What’s relevant to the assignment?
• What’s relevant to the course?
• What’s interesting and informative?
• What matters to the argument you are going to make?
• What’s basic or central (and needs to be mentioned even if obvious)?
• Overall, what’s more important—the similarities or the differences?

Suppose that you are writing a paper comparing two novels. For most literature classes, the fact that they both use Caslon type (a kind of typeface, like the fonts you may use in your writing) is not going to be relevant, nor is the fact that one of them has a few illustrations and the other has none; literature classes are more likely to focus on subjects like characterization, plot, setting, the writer’s style and intentions, language, central themes, and so forth. However, if you were writing a paper for a class on typesetting or on how illustrations are used to enhance novels, the typeface and presence or absence of illustrations might be absolutely critical to include in your final paper.

Sometimes a particular point of comparison or contrast might be relevant but not terribly revealing or interesting. For example, if you are writing a paper about Wordsworth’s “Tintern Abbey” and Coleridge’s “Frost at Midnight,” pointing out that they both have nature as a central theme is relevant (comparisons of poetry often talk about themes) but not terribly interesting; your class has probably already had many discussions about the Romantic poets’ fondness for nature. Talking about the different ways nature is depicted or the different aspects of nature that are emphasized might be more interesting and show a more sophisticated understanding of the poems.

Your thesis

The thesis of your comparison/contrast paper is very important: it can help you create a focused argument and give your reader a road map so they don’t get lost in the sea of points you are about to make. As in any paper, you will want to replace vague reports of your general topic (for example, “This paper will compare and contrast two pizza places,” or “Pepper’s and Amante are similar in some ways and different in others,” or “Pepper’s and Amante are similar in many ways, but they have one major difference”) with something more detailed and specific. For example, you might say, “Pepper’s and Amante have similar prices and ingredients, but their atmospheres and willingness to deliver set them apart.”

Be careful, though—although this thesis is fairly specific and does propose a simple argument (that atmosphere and delivery make the two pizza places different), your instructor will often be looking for a bit more analysis. In this case, the obvious question is “So what? Why should anyone care that Pepper’s and Amante are different in this way?” One might also wonder why the writer chose those two particular pizza places to compare—why not Papa John’s, Dominos, or Pizza Hut? Again, thinking about the context the class provides may help you answer such questions and make a stronger argument. Here’s a revision of the thesis mentioned earlier:

Pepper’s and Amante both offer a greater variety of ingredients than other Chapel Hill/Carrboro pizza places (and than any of the national chains), but the funky, lively atmosphere at Pepper’s makes it a better place to give visiting friends and family a taste of local culture.

You may find our handout on constructing thesis statements useful at this stage.

Organizing your paper

There are many different ways to organize a comparison/contrast essay. Here are two:

Subject-by-subject

Begin by saying everything you have to say about the first subject you are discussing, then move on and make all the points you want to make about the second subject (and after that, the third, and so on, if you’re comparing/contrasting more than two things). If the paper is short, you might be able to fit all of your points about each item into a single paragraph, but it’s more likely that you’d have several paragraphs per item. Using our pizza place comparison/contrast as an example, after the introduction, you might have a paragraph about the ingredients available at Pepper’s, a paragraph about its location, and a paragraph about its ambience. Then you’d have three similar paragraphs about Amante, followed by your conclusion.

The danger of this subject-by-subject organization is that your paper will simply be a list of points: a certain number of points (in my example, three) about one subject, then a certain number of points about another. This is usually not what college instructors are looking for in a paper—generally they want you to compare or contrast two or more things very directly, rather than just listing the traits the things have and leaving it up to the reader to reflect on how those traits are similar or different and why those similarities or differences matter. Thus, if you use the subject-by-subject form, you will probably want to have a very strong, analytical thesis and at least one body paragraph that ties all of your different points together.

A subject-by-subject structure can be a logical choice if you are writing what is sometimes called a “lens” comparison, in which you use one subject or item (which isn’t really your main topic) to better understand another item (which is). For example, you might be asked to compare a poem you’ve already covered thoroughly in class with one you are reading on your own. It might make sense to give a brief summary of your main ideas about the first poem (this would be your first subject, the “lens”), and then spend most of your paper discussing how those points are similar to or different from your ideas about the second.

Point-by-point

Rather than addressing things one subject at a time, you may wish to talk about one point of comparison at a time. There are two main ways this might play out, depending on how much you have to say about each of the things you are comparing. If you have just a little, you might, in a single paragraph, discuss how a certain point of comparison/contrast relates to all the items you are discussing. For example, I might describe, in one paragraph, what the prices are like at both Pepper’s and Amante; in the next paragraph, I might compare the ingredients available; in a third, I might contrast the atmospheres of the two restaurants.

If I had a bit more to say about the items I was comparing/contrasting, I might devote a whole paragraph to how each point relates to each item. For example, I might have a whole paragraph about the clientele at Pepper’s, followed by a whole paragraph about the clientele at Amante; then I would move on and do two more paragraphs discussing my next point of comparison/contrast—like the ingredients available at each restaurant.

There are no hard and fast rules about organizing a comparison/contrast paper, of course. Just be sure that your reader can easily tell what’s going on! Be aware, too, of the placement of your different points. If you are writing a comparison/contrast in service of an argument, keep in mind that the last point you make is the one you are leaving your reader with. For example, if I am trying to argue that Amante is better than Pepper’s, I should end with a contrast that leaves Amante sounding good, rather than with a point of comparison that I have to admit makes Pepper’s look better. If you’ve decided that the differences between the items you’re comparing/contrasting are most important, you’ll want to end with the differences—and vice versa, if the similarities seem most important to you.

Our handout on organization can help you write good topic sentences and transitions and make sure that you have a good overall structure in place for your paper.

Cue words and other tips

To help your reader keep track of where you are in the comparison/contrast, you’ll want to be sure that your transitions and topic sentences are especially strong. Your thesis should already have given the reader an idea of the points you’ll be making and the organization you’ll be using, but you can help them out with some extra cues. The following words may be helpful to you in signaling your intentions:

• like, similar to, also, unlike, similarly, in the same way, likewise, again, compared to, in contrast, in like manner, contrasted with, on the contrary, however, although, yet, even though, still, but, nevertheless, conversely, at the same time, regardless, despite, while, on the one hand … on the other hand.

For example, you might have a topic sentence like one of these:

• Compared to Pepper’s, Amante is quiet.
• Like Amante, Pepper’s offers fresh garlic as a topping.
• Despite their different locations (downtown Chapel Hill and downtown Carrboro), Pepper’s and Amante are both fairly easy to get to.

You may reproduce it for non-commercial use if you use the entire handout and attribute the source: The Writing Center, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill

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Cars Vs Bicycle # Essay Ideas

Every individual has their own way of writing, and trying to copy someone’s else style won’t lead you anywhere.

Some people believe that it is better to use cars in cities, however, there are others who support bicycle. Discuss both sides and give your opinion.

ESSAY IDEAS

• Cars are more time effective as compared to bicycles.
• Cars are able to transport more number of people and even more, bulky items can be easily transported in cars.
• With all the new technologies, car have become more comfortable to travel.
• Cars are a better form to travel for the elderly people who want to save energy for the work, rather on travelling.
• In cold climates, when temperature drops in or below freezing point, cars are a better option.
• Travelling by car in a city is often safer because of the frame of the vehicle and safety mechanism can protect the driver.

Cars Vs Bicycle

• This form of transportation is more environment friendly as there are no fumes to pollute the atmosphere and no fuel is required which can deplete the world resources.
• Bicycles are a healthier way to travel and consolidate for the exercise people are unable to do.
• Bicycles are cheap and sustainable form of transportation.
• Traffic congestion gets reduced if people travel by bicycles.
• Bicycles are cheaper to maintain.

Now, use these ideas and the tips for writing essay, and go on to write your master piece.

• Essay Ideas

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23 Compare and Contrast

Comparison  in writing discusses elements that are similar, while  contrast  in writing discusses elements that are different. A  compare-and-contrast essay , then, analyzes two subjects by comparing them, contrasting them, or both.

The key to a good compare-and-contrast essay is to choose two or more subjects that connect in a meaningful way. The purpose of conducting the comparison or contrast is not to state the obvious but rather to illuminate subtle differences or unexpected similarities. For example, if you wanted to focus on contrasting two subjects you would not pick apples and oranges; rather, you might choose to compare and contrast two types of oranges or two types of apples to highlight subtle differences. For example, Red Delicious apples are sweet, while Granny Smiths are tart and acidic. Drawing distinctions between elements in a similar category will increase the audience’s understanding of that category, which is the purpose of the compare-and-contrast essay.

Figure 5.7 Apples, Green and Red

Similarly, to focus on comparison, choose two subjects that seem at first to be unrelated. For a comparison essay, you likely would not choose two apples or two oranges because they share so many of the same properties already. Rather, you might try to compare how apples and oranges are quite similar. The more divergent the two subjects initially seem, the more interesting a comparison essay will be.

Writing at Work

Comparing and contrasting is also an evaluative tool. In order to make accurate evaluations about a given topic, you must first know the critical points of similarity and difference. Comparing and contrasting is a primary tool for many workplace assessments. You have likely compared and contrasted yourself to other colleagues. Employee advancements, pay raises, hiring, and firing are typically conducted using comparison and contrast. Comparison and contrast could be used to evaluate companies, departments, or individuals.

Exercise 13

Brainstorm an essay that leans toward contrast. Choose one of the following three categories. Pick two examples from each. Then come up with one similarity and three differences between the examples.

• Romantic comedies
• Internet search engines
• Cell phones

Exercise 14

Brainstorm an essay that leans toward comparison. Choose one of the following three items. Then come up with one difference and three similarities.

• Department stores and discount retail stores
• Fast food chains and fine dining restaurants
• Dogs and cats

The Structure of a Comparison and Contrast Essay

The compare-and-contrast essay starts with a thesis that clearly states the two subjects that are to be compared, contrasted, or both and the reason for doing so. Remember, the point of comparing and contrasting is to provide useful knowledge to the reader. Take the following thesis as an example that focuses on contrast.

Thesis statement : Organic vegetables may cost more than those that are conventionally grown, but they are definitely worth every extra penny.

Here the thesis sets up the two subjects to be compared and contrasted (organic versus conventional vegetables), and it makes a claim about the results that might prove useful to the reader.

You may organize compare-and-contrast essays in one of the following two ways:

• According to the subjects themselves, discussing one then the other
• According to individual points, discussing each subject in relation to each point

The organizational structure you choose depends on the nature of the topic, your purpose, and your audience.

See the chart below, which diagrams the ways to organize the organic versus conventional vegetables thesis.

Figure 5.8 Organization Diagram

Given that compare-and-contrast essays analyze the relationship between two subjects, it is helpful to have some phrases on hand that will cue the reader to such analysis. See the chart below for examples.

Figure 5.9 Phrases of Comparison and Contrast

Exercise 15

Create an outline for each of the items you chose in Exercises 13 and 14. Use the point-by-point organizing strategy for one of them, and use the subject organizing strategy for the other.

Writing a Comparison and Contrast Essay

First, choose whether you want to compare seemingly disparate subjects, contrast seemingly similar subjects, or compare and contrast subjects. Once you have decided on a topic, introduce it with an engaging opening paragraph. Your thesis should come at the end of the introduction, and it should establish the subjects you will compare, contrast, or both as well as state what can be learned from doing so.

The body of the essay can be organized in one of two ways: by subject or by individual points. The organizing strategy that you choose will depend on, as always, your audience and your purpose. You may also consider your particular approach to the subjects as well as the nature of the subjects themselves; some subjects might better lend themselves to one structure or the other. Make sure to use comparison and contrast phrases to cue the reader to the ways in which you are analyzing the relationship between the subjects.

After you finish analyzing the subjects, write a conclusion that reinforces your thesis while drawing a conclusion based on what you have presented. This conclusion is the “and so” statement for your essay, giving you the place to offer a judgement based on the examination you have just offered.

Many business presentations are conducted using comparison and contrast. The organizing strategies—by subject or individual points—could also be used for organizing a presentation. Keep this in mind as a way of organizing your content the next time you or a colleague have to present something at work.

Exercise 16

Choose two people who are significant in your life and have a similar relationship with you (two friends, two siblings, etc). Make a list of similarities and differences between these people. Consult your list, then draw a conclusion based on the presence of these similarities and differences. Outline the similarities and differences, then write a statement that offers an overall conclusion.

Assignment 5

Choose one of the outlines you created in Exercise 15 or 16, and write a full compare-and-contrast essay. Be sure to include an engaging introduction, a clear thesis, well-defined and detailed paragraphs, and a fitting conclusion that ties everything together.

Key Takeaways

• A compare-and-contrast essay analyzes two subjects by either comparing them, contrasting them, or both.
• The purpose of writing a comparison or contrast essay is not to state the obvious but rather to illuminate subtle differences or unexpected similarities between two subjects.
• The thesis should clearly state the subjects that are to be compared, contrasted, or both, and it should state what is to be learned from doing so.
• Organize by the subjects themselves, one then the other.
• Organize by individual points, in which you discuss each subject in relation to each point.
• Use phrases of comparison or phrases of contrast to signal to readers how exactly the two subjects are being analyzed.

External Links

“ Disability ” (https://tinyurl.com/y99te6e2) by Nancy Mairs: In “Disability,” writer Nancy Mairs discusses the experience of being a disabled person in a world focused on the able-bodied. It seems to be titled “Hers” but it is the correct essay.

“ Friending, Ancient or Otherwise ” (https://tinyurl.com/y85u8ae8) by Alex Wright: In “Friending, Ancient or Otherwise,” writer Alex Wright explores the evolution and purpose of friendship in the age of social media.

“ Sex, Lies and Conversation: Why Is It So Hard for Men and Women to Talk to Each Other ? ” (https://tinyurl.com/y95dpehx) by Deborah Tannen. In this essay, Tannen compares and contrasts conversation styles. You can view the essay  here  (https://tinyurl.com/y9vnjqv8) also.

Example Comparison and Contrast Essay

“A South African Storm”

By Allison Howard – Peace Corps Volunteer: South Africa (2003-2005)

It’s a Saturday afternoon in January in South Africa. When I begin the 45–minute walk to the shops for groceries, I can hear thunder cracking in the distance up the mountain in Mageobaskloof. But at 4 p.m. the sky is still light and bright and I am sure—famous last words—I will be fine without an umbrella.

Just the basics: eggs, bread, Diet Coke in a bag slung into the crook of my elbow. Halfway from town, two black South African women—domestic workers in the homes of white Afrikaner families—stop me with wide smiles. They know me; I’m the only white person in town who walks everywhere, as they do. They chatter quickly in northern Sotho: “Missus, you must go fast. Pula e tla na! The rain, it comes!” They like me, and it feels very important to me that they do.“Yebo, yebo, mma,” I say—Yes, it’s true—and I hurry along in flip-flops, quickening my pace, feeling good about our brief but neighborly conversation. These are Venda women.

My black South African friends tell me it’s easy to tell a Venda from a Shangaan from a Xhosa from a Pedi. “These ones from Venda , they have wide across the nose and high in the cheekbones,” they say. But I don’t see it; I’m years away from being able to distinguish the nuances of ethnicity. Today, I know these women are Vendas simply because of their clothing: bright stripes of green and yellow and black fabric tied at one shoulder and hanging quite like a sack around their bodies. They’ve already extended a kindness to me by speaking in northern Sotho. It’s not their language but they know I don’t speak a word of Afrikaans (though they don’t understand why; Afrikaans is the language of white people). They know I struggle with Sotho and they’re trying to help me learn. So they speak Sotho to me and they’re delighted and amused by my fumbling responses. And I am, quite simply, delighted by their delight.

The Venda ladies are right: the rain, it comes. Lightly at first, and by habit I begin trotting to hurry my way home. Just a little rain at first and there are plenty of us out in it. I can see others up ahead on the street and others still just leaving the shops to get back before the real rain begins.

The people who are walking along this swath of tar road are black. Black people don’t live in this neighborhood—or in my town at all, for the most part. They work and board here as domestic workers, nannies, gardeners. Their families live in black townships and rural villages—some just outside of my town; others far away, in places like Venda.

Today, we’re walking together in the rain, and I’m quickening my pace because—after all , it’s raining . That’s what you do in the rain. And even though it’s coming down noticeably harder, it’s 80 degrees and I’m not cold, I’m just wet. My hair is stuck to my forehead and my T-shirt is soaked … and I’m the only one running for cover. And I think: So what? It’s just water and in the middle of the January summer, it’s warm, refreshing water. Why run? Why do we run from the rain?

In my life back in the United States, I might run because I was carrying a leather handbag, or because I wore an outfit that shouldn’t get wet. I would run because rain dishevels and messes things up. Mostly though, we run because we just do; it’s a habit. I’ve done it a hundred times: running to my car or the subway station with a newspaper sheltering my head. I have never not quickened my pace in the rain until today.

It took all of my 27 years and a move to Africa , where I don’t have a leather handbag to shelter or a pretty outfit to protect. I’m wearing an old cotton skirt and a T-shirt, and I’m drenched, and I love it. I learn things here in the most ordinary circumstances. And I feel like a smarter, better woman today because I got groceries in the rain.

But on the long walk home, positively soaked and smiling like a fool, I notice a car pulling over and a man yelling in Afrikaans to get in, get in. I look in the direction I’ve come from and several meters behind me is a woman with a baby tied to her back and an elderly man carrying bags, leading a young boy by the hand. On the road ahead, a woman about my age carries a parcel wrapped in plastic, balanced precariously on her head. There are maybe 20 people walking with me in my reverie of rain and they are black. And the man in the car is white and he’s gesturing frantically for me to get in. Why me? Why not the others? Because I’m white and it’s about race. Everything is about race here.

This man in the car is trying to do something kind and neighborly. He wants to help me and his gesture is right, but his instincts are so wrong. How do you resent someone who is, for no benefit of his own, trying to help? But I do. I resent him and I resent the world he lives in that taught him such selective kindness. This whole event unravels in a few seconds’ time. He’s leaned over and opened the car door, urging me in … and I get in. And we speed past my fellow walkers and he drops me at my doorstep before I have time to think of anything besides giving him directions.

It feels like a mistake because I’m ashamed to think what the Venda women would have felt if he’d ignored them and they had watched me climb into that car. In some ways, the whole episode seems absurd. I’m not going to atone for 400 years of South African history by walking with black people in the rain. If I’d refused his ride, he wouldn’t have thought anything besides the fact that I was certifiably crazy. That’s the thing about being here: I’m not going to change anything. But I believe it matters in some infinitesimal way that people like the Venda women, and the dozens of people who may walk alongside me on any given day, know that I’m there. In black South African culture, it is polite to greet every person you pass. That’s what they do, so I do it, too. On the occasional morning, someone might greet me as “sesi,” sister. I have to believe that matters; I know it matters to me.

I was disappointed in myself for getting into the car because I acted according to the same habit that makes us think rain an inconvenience. Just as we run from the rain, I hopped into that car because I’m supposed to. Conventionally, it makes sense. But convention compels us to do so many things that don’t make any sense at all. Convention misinforms our instincts. And in a larger sense, it is convention that propels Afrikaner culture anachronistically into the future. Ten years after the supposed end of apartheid, I’m living in a world of institutionalized racism. Convention becomes institution—and it’s oppressive and it’s unjust. I know that if I’m going to make it here for two more years, I need to walk in the rain. It’s a small, wasted gesture, but it’s an uncorrupted instinct that makes me feel human.

So much about living here feels like that fraction of a second when the Afrikaner man was appealing to my conventional sensibilities and the people on the street were appealing to my human instincts. It may feel unnatural to reject those sensibilities just as, at first, it feels unnatural to walk in the rain. But if I lose a hold on my instincts here, I’ll fail myself and I’ll fail to achieve those tiny things that matter so much. It’s simple and it’s small; and it’s everything. Gandhi said, “Be the change you wish to see in the world.” Indeed. Let it rain.

Example Comparison and Contrast Essay #2

Comparing and Contrasting London and Washington, DC

Both Washington, DC, and London are capital cities of English-speaking countries, and yet they offer vastly different experiences to their residents and visitors. Comparing and contrasting the two cities based on their history, their culture, and their residents show how different and similar the two are.

Both cities are rich in world and national history, though they developed on very different time lines. London, for example, has a history that dates back over two thousand years. It was part of the Roman Empire and known by the similar name, Londinium. It was not only one of the northernmost points of the Roman Empire but also the epicenter of the British Empire where it held significant global influence from the early sixteenth century on through the early twentieth century. Washington, DC, on the other hand, has only formally existed since the late eighteenth century. Though Native Americans inhabited the land several thousand years earlier, and settlers inhabited the land as early as the sixteenth century, the city did not become the capital of the United States until the 1790s. From that point onward to today, however, Washington, DC, has increasingly maintained significant global influence. Even though both cities have different histories, they have both held, and continue to hold, significant social influence in the economic and cultural global spheres.

Both Washington, DC, and London offer a wide array of museums that harbor many of the world’s most prized treasures. While Washington, DC, has the National Gallery of Art and several other Smithsonian galleries, London’s art scene and galleries have a definite edge in this category. From the Tate Modern to the British National Gallery, London’s art ranks among the world’s best. This difference and advantage has much to do with London and Britain’s historical depth compared to that of the United States. London has a much richer past than Washington, DC, and consequently has a lot more material to pull from when arranging its collections. Both cities have thriving theater districts, but again, London wins this comparison, too, both in quantity and quality of theater choices. With regard to other cultural places like restaurants, pubs, and bars, both cities are very comparable. Both have a wide selection of expensive, elegant restaurants as well as a similar amount of global and national chains. While London may be better known for its pubs and taste in beer, DC offers a different bar-going experience. With clubs and pubs that tend to stay open later than their British counterparts, the DC night life tend to be less reserved overall.

Both cities also share and differ in cultural diversity and cost of living. Both cities share a very expensive cost of living—both in terms of housing and shopping. A downtown one-bedroom apartment in DC can easily cost $1,800 per month, and a similar “flat” in London may double that amount. These high costs create socioeconomic disparity among the residents. Although both cities’ residents are predominantly wealthy, both have a significantly large population of poor and homeless. Perhaps the most significant difference between the resident demographics is the racial makeup. Washington, DC, is a “minority majority” city, which means the majority of its citizens are races other than white. In 2009, according to the US Census, 55 percent of DC residents were classified as “Black or African American” and 35 percent of its residents were classified as “white.” London, by contrast, has very few minorities—in 2006, 70 percent of its population was “white,” while only 10 percent was “black.” The racial demographic differences between the cities is drastic.

Even though Washington, DC, and London are major capital cities of English-speaking countries in the Western world, they have many differences along with their similarities. They have vastly different histories, art cultures, and racial demographics, but they remain similar in their cost of living and socioeconomic disparity.

Attributions

Content taken from Chapter 5 – Rhetorical Modes  by Jenifer Kurtz is licensed under a  Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-ShareAlike 4.0 International License

English 101: Journey Into Open Copyright © 2021 by Christine Jones is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-ShareAlike 4.0 International License , except where otherwise noted.

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Bike vs Car: Difference and Comparison

A vehicle is used for transporting cargo and people. There are a lot of vehicles that are classified into different categories like Land, Air and Water vehicles. Vehicles fulfil the human need to move from one place to another.

It involves the use of kinetic energy and power like a steering system or brake to control the machine. Most vehicles use wheels that help in displacement and lessen the rolling friction.

Vehicles need energy sources so that they can run. Most commonly used are fuels like petrol, ethanol , diesel etc. Bikes and Cars come under the category of Vehicle.

Key Takeaways Bikes are two-wheeled vehicles, powered by a gasoline engine or an electric motor. Cars are four-wheeled vehicles with larger, enclosed spaces for passengers and cargo. Bikes offer greater fuel efficiency and maneuverability, while cars provide more comfort, safety, and carrying capacity.

Bike vs Car

A bike, also known as a bicycle , is a human-powered vehicle consisting of two wheels, a frame, pedals, and handlebars. A car, also known as an automobile, is a four-wheeled vehicle powered by an engine and designed for transportation on roads that are powered by gasoline or diesel fuel.

The bike is used for various kinds of purposes like commuting, sporting, racing, cruising etc. Different names like motorbike, motorcycle or trike call it. It comes in various designs.

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• Mountain Bike vs Road Bike: Difference and Comparison
• Electric Bike vs Petrol Bike: Difference and Comparison
• Yoga Mat vs Bike Mat: Difference and Comparison
• Bike vs Scooty: Difference and Comparison
• Bike vs Cycle: Difference and Comparison

Bike riding has become a kind of social activity where motorcycle riders go on a trip, have bike clubs and rallies etc. The bike comes in three variants, i.e. street, dual and off-road.

A bike is very easy to ride, and one can easily get around the traffic in case they are stuck. It can turn on the corners easily.

A car is a four-wheeled automobile that is used for the transportation of people and cargo. Cars became prominent in the 20th century.

It became so continent to drive them that now many of the economies depend upon it. A car has a steering wheel that provides balance and agility.

It is less likely to fall or lean over, unlike bikes. Cars provide comfort to passengers. Features include a variety of lights, rearview cameras, navigation system, air conditioning, in-car entertainment etc.

Comparison Table

What is bike.

The first-ever bike that could run on petroleum was Daimler Reitwagen. It was built by German inventors in 1885. Hildebrand & Wolfmüller was the first company that started manufacturing bikes commercially.

Then the production of making bikes started in England and America. All the bicycle-making companies made changes in the designs and added internal combustion to make it a motorcycle.

When engines became more powerful, a lot of people started making bikes. In the 19th century, there was a boom in the Bike industry.

When world war 1st happened, the bike was very useful in transporting communication to the troops and armies. At the end of the second world war, Harley Davison became the largest bike manufacturing company.

If we talk about modern times, most bikes are produced by Indian and Japanese companies. Technical aspects of bikes consist of aluminium or steel frames, disk brakes, and telescopic forks holding the front wheel.

Bikes now come in two variants, either fueled by power or electricity. The fuel economy of bikes largely depends upon their engine and riding style. Speed is the most important factor in bikes.

Electric bikes don’t make sound, have zero emissions and are environment friendly. But they cannot give the same speed as power-fueled ones. It offers riders the freedom to ride on the road easily.

What is Car?

The term ‘car’ derives from the Middle English word meaning wheeled vehicle. Originally car meant any wheeled vehicle like a horse cart, wagon, carriage etc. Cars mostly run on gasoline and internal combustion engine.

Cars have become so popular since the 20th century that they cause air and noise pollution and climate change. Cars are meant for the comfort of the passengers.

It is well-equipped with safety systems.  A lot of controls are there in the car, like steering, brakes, changing gears, ventilation, numerous buttons, lights etc.

The Interior of the cars is user-friendly. Because it comes with automatic doors, radio, side windows, portable appliances like chargers, fridges, inventors, etc., more the cost of the car or luxury, it comes with more facilities.

Like massage seats, collidance avoidance seats etc., the weight of the car ranges from 1 to 3 tonnes. Weight affects the consumption of fuel and the performance of the car.

Cars can carry multiple people at a time ranging from five to eight-person. Cars come in different varieties like sports cars, minivans, sedans, hatchbacks, station wagons etc.

The cost of the car is expensive, and maintenance is difficult because repairs, parking, insurance, tax, fuel, everything is included.

Main Differences Between Bike and Car

• A bike may contain two or three wheels and is sometimes referred to as a trike or motorcycle. The car is a four-wheeled automobile.
• On the bike, the rider has to wear a helmet to protect from injuries. A safety kit is not provided. In-car, safety includes seat belts, rear-view mirror, airbags, traction control etc.
• The bike needs a very small space when it comes to parking. Cars need a lot of space in parking depending upon their size.
• Gear in bikes needs to be changed on foot. In-car, the gear is changed by hand, or it is automatic.
• Bikes are very much more affordable than Cars. Cars are expensive because a lot of things are included.

• https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S1361920914000480
• https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0160412012001833

Last Updated : 27 July, 2023

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Piyush Yadav has spent the past 25 years working as a physicist in the local community. He is a physicist passionate about making science more accessible to our readers. He holds a BSc in Natural Sciences and Post Graduate Diploma in Environmental Science. You can read more about him on his bio page .

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Time in Elektrostal , Moscow Oblast, Russia now

• Tokyo 06:02AM
• Beijing 05:02AM
• Kyiv 12:02AM
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Time zone info for Elektrostal

• The time in Elektrostal is 8 hours ahead of the time in New York when New York is on standard time, and 7 hours ahead of the time in New York when New York is on daylight saving time.
• Elektrostal does not change between summer time and winter time.
• The IANA time zone identifier for Elektrostal is Europe/Moscow.

Time difference from Elektrostal

Sunrise, sunset, day length and solar time for elektrostal.

• Sunrise: 04:04AM
• Sunset: 08:41PM
• Day length: 16h 37m
• Solar noon: 12:23PM
• The current local time in Elektrostal is 23 minutes ahead of apparent solar time.

Elektrostal on the map

• Location: Moscow Oblast, Russia
• Latitude: 55.79. Longitude: 38.46
• Population: 144,000

Best restaurants in Elektrostal

• #1 Tolsty medved - Steakhouses food
• #2 Ermitazh - European and japanese food
• #3 Pechka - European and french food

Find best places to eat in Elektrostal

• Best steak restaurants in Elektrostal
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• Best breakfast restaurants in Elektrostal

The 50 largest cities in Russia

Electrostal History and Art Museum

Most Recent: Reviews ordered by most recent publish date in descending order.

Detailed Reviews: Reviews ordered by recency and descriptiveness of user-identified themes such as wait time, length of visit, general tips, and location information.

Electrostal History and Art Museum - All You Need to Know BEFORE You Go (2024)

• (0.19 mi) Elektrostal Hotel
• (1.21 mi) Yakor Hotel
• (1.27 mi) Mini Hotel Banifatsiy
• (1.18 mi) Elemash
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New York Today

How vision zero made new yorkers safer and saved money.

A study found that over a five-year period, the program reduced traffic injuries by 30 percent and cut Medicaid costs.

By James Barron

Good morning. It’s Thursday. Today we’ll find out how the Vision Zero initiative, introduced 10 years ago, reduced more than injuries from traffic accidents. We’ll also get details on a first step toward more secure on-street parking places for bicycles.

Vision Zero, a package of initiatives introduced when Bill de Blasio was mayor a decade ago, is often credited with bringing down traffic deaths in New York City. A new study concluded that it had done more than that: It saved Medicaid more than $90 million in its first five years in reimbursements for treating people with traffic-related injuries.

The study, published in The American Journal of Public Health, said that there had been a 30 percent reduction in traffic injuries from 2014 to 2019, the first five years of Vision Zero.

The study also found that low-income New Yorkers had fewer injuries from crashes involving automobiles, bicycles, motorcycles and pedestrians. The sharpest drop in traffic-related injuries, the study said, was among Black New Yorkers.

Vision Zero promised changes from several city agencies, not just the Department of Transportation or the Police Department. The initiative reduced speed limits to 25 miles per hour, from 30 m.p.h.; introduced physical modifications to streets, including protected lanes for bicycles; and stepped up traffic enforcement.

The authors of the study — Kacie Dragan, a doctoral candidate at Harvard, and Sherry Glied, the dean of the Wagner Graduate School of Public Service at New York University — said that their findings had local and national implications, because other cities have based programs on Vision Zero in the years since de Blasio modeled it on a program from Sweden that dated to the 1970s.

Dragan and Glied noted that one question about traffic policies was whether they “affect only the low-hanging fruit” like fender-benders “while having little influence on severe crashes.” Their data indicated otherwise.

They compared injury treatments covered by Medicaid in the first five years of Vision Zero with similar cases involving Medicaid recipients in six counties surrounding New York that did not have “traffic-calming initiatives.” Dragan and Glied said that the Medicaid data let them assess longer-term consequences of traffic accidents, including follow-up care like physical therapy and prescriptions, that police statistics compiled immediately after a crash could not take into account.

The researchers calculated that Medicaid expenses would have been $762 million from 2014 to 2018 without Vision Zero. Medicaid spent $671 million during that time. The researchers worked with the Medicaid data under protocols that removed the recipients’ names before they did their analysis. The city’s Department of Transportation does not use Medicaid data but said that it had found that the sharpest declines were in nonwhite neighborhoods.

Dragan and Glied found that traffic-related injuries had been trending in the same direction in the city and the other jurisdictions before Vision Zero began. In 2013 — the year before de Blasio announced the program — there were 296 injuries per 100,000 people in the city and 286 in the other six counties.

After Vision Zero began, the rates in New York City dropped more than in the other areas: In 2016, the second full year of Vision Zero, there were 286 injuries for every 100,000 people in the city and 367 in the other jurisdictions.

Traffic-related injuries among low-income New Yorkers, and Black residents of the city in particular, fell in comparison with the surrounding counties. “Given that low-income and Black Americans are more likely to live and work in places with unsafe roadways and face injuries,” they wrote, “these findings suggest that Vision Zero-style reforms are promising for reducing disparities.”

Despite the overall decline in the five-year period, injury numbers did climb in the city and the suburbs in 2017 and 2018. “Cars were bigger, and drivers were using cellphones,” Glied said. A spokesman for the Department of Transportation said that the city recorded the second-fewest pedestrian fatalities last year since the agency began tracking them in 1910 despite the growth of the city “and modern cars being bigger, faster, heavier and generally deadlier,” particularly sport-utility vehicles.

He said that a key element of Vision Zero had been speed cameras and red-light cameras that the police use to issue tickets. The state authorization for red-light cameras will expire this year unless the State Legislature reauthorizes the program. The city has asked to expand it, noting that the cameras have reduced red-light running by 73 percent.

Expect showers that will continue through the evening, with temperatures climbing to the low 70s during the day and dropping to the low 50s in the evening.

ALTERNATE-SIDE PARKING

Suspended today (Solemnity of the Ascension).

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Kai Cenat resolves charges, with apology : The social media star will not be prosecuted on charges of inciting a riot after agreeing to post an apology and pay for damage caused by thousands of his fans in a melee in Union Square last summer .

Safe parking places for bikes

The city’s Department of Transportation calls them “secure bike parking locations.” In sketches of possible prototypes that the agency prepared, they look like storage units. One is the length of a parking space for a car. Another is somewhat larger and is tucked under elevated subway tracks.

Today the agency is taking the first step toward installing 500 of them on city streets. It is beginning the process of finding a company to operate what it envisions as a “groundbreaking bike storage network.” The idea to provide parking places for bicycles that are more secure than trees or telephone poles — or the 56,000-plus bike parking spots on streets, sidewalks and plazas. The 56,000 does not include thousands of spaces for Citi Bikes at the company’s 1,100-plus docking stations.

The transportation commissioner, Ydanis Rodriguez, said in a statement that providing safe parking for bikes “will support continued growth in cycling by addressing a key barrier to bike ownership: the lack of access to secure bike storage.”

That became a concern during the pandemic, when more people bought bikes — and more bikes were taken from sidewalks, garages and basements. In the first six months of the pandemic in 2020, the number of bicycles jumped 27 percent from the same period the year before, according to the police.

The department acknowledges that the structures that end up on streets may look nothing like the ones in its sketches. It envisions “small-capacity units” at the curb in residential areas and larger units near transit hubs and major destinations, including some that could charge e-bikes. The agency is also looking to install open, self-locking racks that could accommodate bikes of any size and configuration. The racks could also double as charging stations for e-bikes.

One company has already installed bike storage units at the Port Authority Bus Terminal in Midtown and in Downtown Brooklyn. The company, Oonee, has also installed a network of facilities in Jersey City, said Shabazz Stuart, its founder and chief executive.

But Oonee had to remove one of its pods in Lower Manhattan in 2019 in a dispute with the city over advertising and financing issues.

“My life for seven years has been trying to prove the city is ready for this,” Stuart said on Wednesday. “Seven years ago, people would laugh me out of their offices. Whatever the city decides to do, the fact that we’re having this conversation, that is a dream come true for me.”

METROPOLITAN diary

Longing for Coney on a winter’s day Upstate

Dear Diary:

Anything is possible in Coney. Everyone believes that dreams come true. It’s an Eden of illusion, That indulges your confusion, A mystery without a clue.

Everything is wonderful in Coney. The Ferris wheel will bring you to the sky. As you gaze across the ocean, You can somehow get the notion, You will soar and you will fly,

I found my love, she’s gone now, in Coney. In Coney.

Everything is possible in Coney. In Coney Island all your dreams come true. You must never ask what is it, But just know that it’s exquisite, And all you’d ever want Is there for you.

— Lou Craft

Illustrated by Agnes Lee. Send submissions here and read more Metropolitan Diary here .

Glad we could get together here. See you tomorrow. — J.B.

P.S. Here’s today’s Mini Crossword and Spelling Bee . You can find all our puzzles here .

Melissa Guerrero and Ed Shanahan contributed to New York Today. You can reach the team at [email protected].

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James Barron writes the New York Today newsletter, a morning roundup of what’s happening in the city. More about James Barron

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Geographic coordinates of Elektrostal, Moscow Oblast, Russia

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Coordinates of Elektrostal in decimal degrees

Coordinates of elektrostal in degrees and decimal minutes, utm coordinates of elektrostal, geographic coordinate systems.

WGS 84 coordinate reference system is the latest revision of the World Geodetic System, which is used in mapping and navigation, including GPS satellite navigation system (the Global Positioning System).

Geographic coordinates (latitude and longitude) define a position on the Earth’s surface. Coordinates are angular units. The canonical form of latitude and longitude representation uses degrees (°), minutes (′), and seconds (″). GPS systems widely use coordinates in degrees and decimal minutes, or in decimal degrees.

Latitude varies from −90° to 90°. The latitude of the Equator is 0°; the latitude of the South Pole is −90°; the latitude of the North Pole is 90°. Positive latitude values correspond to the geographic locations north of the Equator (abbrev. N). Negative latitude values correspond to the geographic locations south of the Equator (abbrev. S).

Longitude is counted from the prime meridian ( IERS Reference Meridian for WGS 84) and varies from −180° to 180°. Positive longitude values correspond to the geographic locations east of the prime meridian (abbrev. E). Negative longitude values correspond to the geographic locations west of the prime meridian (abbrev. W).

UTM or Universal Transverse Mercator coordinate system divides the Earth’s surface into 60 longitudinal zones. The coordinates of a location within each zone are defined as a planar coordinate pair related to the intersection of the equator and the zone’s central meridian, and measured in meters.

Elevation above sea level is a measure of a geographic location’s height. We are using the global digital elevation model GTOPO30 .

Elektrostal , Moscow Oblast, Russia