Commuting - Recent news story with SEPTA strike in Philly

Bikeforums.net is a forum about nothing but bikes. Our community can help you find information about hard-to-find and localized information like bicycle tours, specialties like where in your area to have your recumbent bike serviced, or what are the best bicycle tires and seats for the activities you use your bike for.



PDA
Kinger
11-03-05, 08:06 AM
This was taken from the 6abc news website, in reguards to the latest mass transit strike (SEPTA)

And They're Off...PHILADELPHIA-November 3, 2005 - There was this bicyclist, motorist, and taxi driver. No, it's not a commuter joke. Find out who's fastest

The SEPTA strike has inspired some commuters to test those three means of transportation. They wanted to know which mode was fastest, when traveling from 39th and Locust streets in West Philadelphia to the Municipal Services Building in Center City.
The cab finished first, in 14 minutes. The cost was $12.

The bicyclist finished two minutes later. It was free.

The driver finished third, in 22 minutes. But here's the punch line: the driver then had to pay $21 to park.

(Copyright 2005 by WPVI-TV 6. All rights reserved.)

urban_assault
11-03-05, 08:09 AM
I love it.
tajsss
11-03-05, 08:56 AM
Curious if the rider was going all out for the news or if was riding at his/her regular pace. Either way, thats awesome.

jyossarian
11-03-05, 09:26 AM
Now if that rider was a messenger, he'd have arrived first cuz he would've just skitched, then shot ahead at red lights and around traffic.
awunder
11-03-05, 10:33 AM
They did something similar here a few years ago. Downtown to a central location on the cusp of suburbia along a commong route. Bike vs. Bus vs. Car (cabs are pricey around here and nobody takes them).
Results: Bike was #1 (yeay!), followed quite a ways off by the car (stuck in traffic) and the bus (frequent stops and stuck in traffic).
homebrew13
11-03-05, 05:15 PM
Transportation Race (http://www.philly.com/mld/dailynews/news/local/13067781.htm) (yes you need to register)

The Philadelphia Daily News did the same thing today except they did a 10 miles race between Regional Rail, Bike, Foot, Car, and Taxi. I like this story better. The bike won by 4 minutes.
icithecat
11-03-05, 08:42 PM
They do that every year here in 'bike to work week'. A commute of different miles every year with car and bike leaving from the same point at the same time. The finish line is the counter of a big Starbucks downtown. The driver obviously has to find parking, whereas the biker locks up to the patio fence. Guess who wins.
edit
What they do not take into account, is that if the finish line was a desk, the biker would have to shower and change.
I-Like-To-Bike
11-04-05, 05:43 AM
What they do not take into account, is that if the finish line was a desk, the biker would have to shower and change.
Especially true if the biker considers bikecommuting another form of racing or race training, and works himself into a lather turning a potentially daily relaxed ride into a sweaty workout. Fine, if that is what is desired, but hardly necessary for every commute.