Gothamist: TA's Annual Bike Vs. Subway Vs. Car Commuter Race

Patrick

Mon, 21 May 2007 16:07:01 -0500

I bike to to work everyday and the few times I've had to take the subway, it's always taken my longer. Driving? I can't even imagine. I did have the experience of driving my boss's car for a pickup in Bay Ridge. Going from Cobble Hill to there and back, with traffic, took me more than an hour and a half. I've biked basically the same route and done it in about an hour. I'm a very defensive cyclist as well, always giving peds and cars the right of way (even if they don't have it), so it's possible it could be done even faster.

Mike

Mon, 21 May 2007 15:08:00 -0500

They change the starting and ending points every year. One year recently it was Grand Army Plaza to Columbus Circle, and the bike still won.

SPer

Mon, 21 May 2007 09:48:07 -0500

15 minutes from Wmsburg to Bellevue is what I would expect from a reasonably fit cyclist who knows her route. I commute from Sunset Park to Gramercy several mornings a week. It takes me 35 minutes. Bicycle commuting rules -- you really can't beat it as a way to stay fit, it's practically free (less cost of bike and repairs), and gives unparalleled personal mobility.

anonynmass

Sat, 19 May 2007 18:37:02 -0500

That is an impressive time by the bicyclist. However, for this kind of measure to mean anything, they should run several if not many of these races with randomly selected start and end points.

Bikesbest

Sat, 19 May 2007 17:13:41 -0500

I commute year round from Greenpoint to Chelsea - and, at least during rush hours, have yet to be beaten by subway or car... Keeps you fit and energized as added bonus.

Bikesbest

Sat, 19 May 2007 17:11:23 -0500

I commute year round from Greenpoint to Chelsea - and, at least during rush hours, have yet to be beaten by subway or car... Keeps you fit and energized as added bonus.

Bikesbest

Sat, 19 May 2007 17:02:54 -0500

I commute year round from Greenpoint to Chelsea - and, at least during rush hours, have yet to be beaten by subway or car... Keeps you fit and energized as added bonus.

mike

Sat, 19 May 2007 13:34:01 -0500

Cab rider, if you smell like a wet towel after riding a bicycle a few miles, you might have a personal hygiene problems. But really, it doesn't matter...it's your money, take a cab if you like. I'm just saying, cyclists don't automatically smell bad. Riding a bike is not that difficult and unless you're really pushing yourself there's no reason to break a sweat. And if you're clean before you ride, sweating won't make you stink.

cab rider all the way baby!!

Sat, 19 May 2007 12:47:36 -0500

The only one that didn't end up smelling like day old wet towel is the cab rider. Plus what's 8 minutes when you don't have to run a red light on a bike or run over by the train?

Bikers don't suck

Sat, 19 May 2007 12:13:34 -0500

Hey "Dude" How can you say bikers suck? That's ridiculous. Obviously some bikers suck (but so do some *understatement* motorists, some pedestrians, some bus drivers, and LOTS of cabbies). Anyhow...When I moved from East Harlem to the Northwest Bronx, I moved a bunch of my stuff by bike. Over 100 blocks North and all the way crosstown. Just for fun, I raced my wife while she took the subway. I won easily. Next time we tried it with her driving. I won again. How was I able to beat her on these longer trips without blowing red lights? The bike paths along the perimeter of Northern Manhattan don't have any red lights.

Dude

Sat, 19 May 2007 10:34:03 -0500

Totally fixed contest that chooses the route optimal for biking. Stupidly biasd but no surprise coming from TA. The biker must have ran every red light she could, was there a count of how many pedestrian she endangered? Next time have an impartial party please choose the route, and it should be longer. Bikers SUCK!

ben

Sat, 19 May 2007 10:06:27 -0500

nick-i can promise you you're wrong. i live on on north 5th in williamsburg. my friend lives on 25th and 8th. i routinely get to his place faster on my bike than someone leaving at the same time and taking the subway. across manhattan on a bike (especially downtown) is nothing.

nick

Sat, 19 May 2007 09:50:40 -0500

this is bullshit. why not make the destination on the west side? i can promise you that subway would win if it were 26th and 8th. this is basically "how quickly can you cross the williamsburg bridge?"..and im not surprised bicycle won.

nathan

Sat, 19 May 2007 03:55:48 -0500

I've not been able to decide yet how accurate HopStop's times are, but I can say that Google Maps presumes (as do others of its kind) that traffic and stoplights don't exist, and that one is always able to drive at the speed limit. Obviously, in NYC, that is a near-impossibility. That may explain the disparity on that front...

jp

Fri, 18 May 2007 23:31:36 -0500

yeah. Bike riding gives me energy like crazy!!!! After I bike for half an hour I wanna punch old ladies in the face.

mike

Fri, 18 May 2007 22:20:25 -0500

Steve - After a long day at work, I find that I look forward to my bike ride. Riding *gives* me energy.

KevinWalsh

Fri, 18 May 2007 22:19:20 -0500

The year a bike doesn't win when TA runs the contest is the year I eat my hat. www.forgotten-ny.com

Steven

Fri, 18 May 2007 21:48:17 -0500

After a long day at work I don't think I could have the energy to ride a bike.

RatherBe

Fri, 18 May 2007 21:02:59 -0500

I'm sure that when it was safe to go through lights she did. I mean safe, not kind of safe. That's part of riding a bike in the city.

but

Fri, 18 May 2007 20:21:35 -0500

Did the bike rider obey all traffic laws?

armchair_warrior

Fri, 18 May 2007 19:27:49 -0500

sweet, biker rider beats all!