From the New York Times, 05.29.08:
Some Reasons the Bike Always WinsThe writer suggests this annual Bike to Work Day challenge event is a "fix"--note the "anti-car" tag--observing that a commute from more distant neighborhoods would offer greater advantage to driving or more likely transit. There may be some truth in that. However, bike-friendly transit systems can offer multimodal opportunities that greatly extend the bicycling advantage door-to-door.
A bicyclist, a driver and a subway rider walked into a bar.
No, actually they didn’t. The three actually raced from Fort Greene to Union Square during today’s morning commute to see who got there fastest in Seventh Annual Great NYC Commuter Race, held by Transportation Alternatives (essentially an anti-car lobbying group). Think of it as a more modest version of a planes, trains and automobiles race from New York to Washington.
The race started at 7:40 a.m. at Connecticut Muffin, 423 Myrtle Avenue, at Clinton Avenue, Brooklyn, and finished at the corner of 14th Street and Union Square East.
The results: bicyclist wins at 16.5 minutes; the driver gets in at 22 minutes; and the subway rider transit was last with 29 minutes. That’s an intriguing result. (Read more.)
Several cities in the U.S. have presented similar bike/car/transit challenge events, including Philadelphia; Salinas, California; and Portland, Oregon. And San Francisco had the event in past years, but the bike's domination basically has made it a moot point. The bicyclists generally prevail in these challenges.
What about your community? Have you had a similar challenge event? Think bicycling might be the clear favorite?
Image: StreetFilms.org
Visit: Driving out, bicycling to work is in, New York Daily News
Visit: Pedal power triumphs again in NYC commuter race, Newsday
Visit: Bicyclist Wins Great Commuter Race, NY1 News
Visit: Bicyclist Beats Transit Rider, Driver in Rush, New York Sun
Visit: Cyclist Wins Race Against Car and MTA Again, The Gothamist
Visit: Bike, Transit or Car: Which Is the Fastest Commute?, StreetsBlog
Visit: Paul Dorn's Bike Commuting Tips Site
3 comments:
There isn't that much traffic here so it isn't a moot point ... the car is a tad faster. However, since there isn't much traffic, it's lots more fun on the bike.
Actually, since I don't have a car... it is a moot point. It is faster than public transport *usually* if I'm goin' fast.
Its a good blog and nice article
and now,people must start to think about natural vehicles
Bike is a good vehicle today, it is cheap, natural and also healthy.
people now should consider to switch their car with bike to go to office or school..
why not?
it's fun, you know
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