New Prevailing Wisdom: In Philly, A Bike Will Get You There Quicker Nearly Every Time
Yesterday, the Bicycle Coalition of Greater Philadelphia staged its annual Commuter Race and wouldn’t you know it, the bicycle prevailed for the fourth year in a row, beating out a car and a SEPTA bus. Coincidentally, for the fourth year in a row, the race was heralded as a huge success for the Coalition, who continue to make a great point here — that there is nothing as godawful fucking dumb as driving in Philadelphia. Note to train- or, er, bikespotters: The winner of yesterday’s race was not riding a fixed gear, as you may have assumed. The winning bike was manned by Fuji Bikes President Pat Cunnane, who finished the four mile race from 29th and Poplar to City hall in just over 12 minutes. Not too shabby for a middle aged dude wearing a suit. So yet again, we get it, bicycles are the fastest way to travel through the city — we just wish cabbies and proles would stop gunning for us like it’s some kind of bloodsport. Which, well, it is, but still.
[Photo: Philly Bike Coalition Flickrstream]
May 28th, 2009 at 2:55 pm
I LOVE bikes, but just wondering if the rider obeyed all traffic laws such as stopping at stop lights and signs. It’s easy to beat a bus and car when you’re not stopping at all nor adhering to road laws. That’s just a caveat that should be addressed, if it happened. I mean, I sometimes only pause for a few seconds at lights and stop signs, and look both ways, but that’s more than some riders do.
May 28th, 2009 at 3:43 pm
towncrier: according to the captions in their flickr folder, “Ambassadors were playing the role of officials verifying that the racers followed the rules and obeyed all traffic laws. “
May 28th, 2009 at 4:20 pm
People make the same complaint every year about the bicyclists obeying street signs. As a cyclist, I wish motorists would do same.
May 28th, 2009 at 4:24 pm
@JTR: Hear, hear.
May 28th, 2009 at 4:44 pm
Goodie. Thanks, Mr. Drake. That’s all I wanted to know.
May 28th, 2009 at 5:33 pm
@JTR, I bike more than drive, but when I drive it’s only once in a while I come across a driver doing something so brazenly against the rules of the road that I narrowly avoid an accident. Cyclists come close to death for things they’d be at fault for far more frequently.
And the thing is, as the study points out, you actually will get there faster on a bike if you follow the rules of the road. I know plenty of idiot cyclists who think that breaking traffic regs is actually how you beat the traffic.
May 29th, 2009 at 9:27 am
Here’s something they don’t tell you: Who plans the route?
For the last 4 years, the Bicycle Coalition stages a race against a car and a SEPTA bus. Every year, the bike wins.
Am I the only one who is going to call bullshit on this “study” and this “story”?
This is like getting a press release from some group like the PMRC in the 80′s, quoting it verbatim, then holding it up like some grand truth! “Motley Crue are evil!” “Bikes beat cars!”
I’d rather see a non-partial study done, a non-partial race, and see who wins. If a PRO-BIKE group holds a race and a BIKE CONSTANTLY WINS, doesn’t that seem odd and fishy? Doesn’t seem that the smart thing to do would be to not report this story as fact and, instead, call it for what it is: A publicity stunt that doesn’t prove a point, but reasserts what people want to hear and what the group in charge wanted to see.
May 29th, 2009 at 10:50 am
I bike to work every day. My philosophy is that, if cars don’t allow me to ride safely in the middle of a lane and treat me like a car, then I don’t have to obey the same traffic laws as cars. I slow down at stop signs but only stop if there are cars or pedestrians. I treat traffic lights the same way. I stop for traffic, but ignore them if there aren’t any cars going through. Of course, I’m no gearless and fearless bike messenger, so I’m not weaving through traffic. I stick to the side of the road.
May 29th, 2009 at 11:16 am
@Larry, I don’t think are really trying to fool us all… I mean, the obviousness of the result is probably the point.
June 5th, 2009 at 9:21 pm
As one of the Ambassadors, a number of practical (read: less than 5 miles) routes are considered for this race and cyclists are expected to follow the established traffic laws.
Believe me the “gearless and fearless” cause plenty of damage to our mission of promoting bicycling as a safe, sustainable form of transportation and recreation. Bicycles are legal vehicles and should be expected to enjoy the rights and follow responsibilities that status entails.