8th Annual NYC Commuter Race Pits Bike Vs. Car Vs. MTA

Every year Transportation Alternatives holds a commuter race to Manhattan between a cyclist, a subway rider, and a motorist to promote the efficacy of cycling. And every year the cyclist wins. When will the gaming commission investigate T.A.? The only difference today between the outcome of last year's race was that this year the car commuter came in dead last, taking 47 minutes, 11 seconds to get from Sunnyside to Columbus Circle in a taxi. Coming in second was NYC transit rider Dan Hendrick, who crossed the finish line in 35 minutes, 16 seconds.

Bronx librarian Rachael Myers finished her 4.2 mile bicycle commute from Sunnyside in just 20 minutes, 15 seconds, giving her plenty of time to gloat before the losers straggled in: "As soon as I saw all the traffic backed up on the Queensboro Bridge, I knew this wasn't going to be a fair fight. I actually was able to finish a cup of coffee before anyone else made it to the finish line." Willie Thompson, a marketing specialist who took the yellow cab, said, "Anytime I'm in a hurry, I take a cab thinking it'll get me there the fastest. I can't believe I lost by 27 minutes today."

According to 2000 Census figures, New Yorkers have the longest commutes in the country, about 45 minutes. And Transportation Alternatives calculated the carbon footprint of each commute today: The bike produced zero emissions; the transit commute generated about one pound of CO2, and the gluttonous cab rider unleashed 6 lbs of CO2 (and paid a taxi fare of $20).

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By John Del Signore in News on May 21, 2009 12:21 PM

Comments [rss]

eyekantspel

"This is only a demonstration of the viability of bikes as one more option."

Do they include the time it takes to get the bike from wherever it's stored, putting on a helmet, etc. at the beginning of the commute and locking/storing it at the end? A pedestrian/subway rider doesn't have those issues to contend with.

eyekantspel

The biggest problem with this race is that if a lot more people started riding bikes, the streets would become congested with bike traffic and there would be a lot more bicycle accidents.

The reason bikes are reasonably fast now is because there aren't that many on the road. If the cycling advocates were actually successful, it would just make traffic that much more of a nightmare -- can you imagine even 10 bicycles with riders of varying age/ability trying to navigate on the same block? It would be hazardous to everyone involved.

GoToHell

Yeah, like I really want to commute ANYWHERE by bicycle and arrive all hot and sweaty. Oh yeah, and I really want to do that during the Winter too. Fuck off.

snessnyc

GOOD! We bikers don't want you! Can you understand this simple fact?: NO ONE IS MAKING YOU TAKE A BIKE. This is only a demonstration of the viability of bikes as one more option. For those who want to bike to work or anywhere else, it's great. For those who don't, take whatever transport works for you.

NannyState

While the guy pictured above may have come in third, he certainly arrived gay!

Snoopy

That is really an assumption that I find totally accurate based on how he exits the cab.

But he also is a bike messenger that got bitch slapped and had his bike stolen so now he takes cabs. He loses money on every trip but he makes it up in volume.

Snoopy

"The bike produced zero emissions;" Obviously, because the bike is inert. However unless the rider held her breath for the period of time it took to complete the trip, there was CO2 produced at a greater rate than the other two individuals involved in this experiment simply because her rate of breathing was probably higher.

matty

Back on topic. Can rickshaws be included in this even next year? What about pogo sticking to work. I think that would make this even more objective.

threadseven

i see that girl on the greenway in manhattan all the time! no way. i didn't know she commuted to the bronx. um, she's wicked hot.

JacqueMehoff

she kinda looks like marcia gay harden.

BERT

my question is...does bronx librarian, rachael myers, commute to the bronx everyday? where from?

not to be snarky - just curious.

matty

Good question. Also she looks like an extremely boring person. No offense.

Rocknrope

And how can you tell that from those pictures? Because she's a librarian? I'm really curious.

matty

Maybe she's a rockin' librarian. Who knows.

babyhitler

22 minutes? i would have smoked through that thing in 12 minutes on my single speed. I used to ride fixie but realized you can't fixate on girls butts if you do. I had too many accidents so I flip flopped that shit.

Ed

How many people from Sunnyside drive to Manhattan on a daily basis ? Not much I assume, given its close proximity to Manhattan. Why don't TA try eastern Queens where people would need to bike on the LIE.

mzza

wow. wow. and wow. Hate much?

it is true that "Bronx librarian Rachael Myers" is wearing her favorite "i'm out to kill a thousand pedestrians on the way to work today" skirt. you can see it, but she's sewn on to the inner lining the pinky toe of each ped she's taken out during rush hours (off peak murders are too easy).

I know this because she told me this while hanging out in the Secret Villains Lair run by transportation alternatives deep underground (below the subway tracks) where we drink reckless amounts of beer and hang our trophies from the days ride, swapping stories about the SUVs and Minivans we've inconvenienced by forcing them to not-double-park illegally.

Good times.

Liam

(it was a joke)

mzza

sorry RBB, hard to tell really considering the recent coverage (like the recent Times bit) and the vitriolic comments directed at bikes.

brandonz

Bikes are awesome, but they always rig this race route to be disadvantageous to train riders... Who would win Sunnyside to Grand Central I wonder? or Jackson Heights to Penn Station?