Commuter Race. Car v Bus v Train v Cycle

[iarocu]

Tuesdays Glasgow Evening Times had an article where 4 of their staff
members travelled the same 3.3 miles journey into the city centre at
08.40 in the morning.
The cyclist was fastest at 20 minutes and the car slowest at 31
minutes with the train and bus slightly slower than the bike. The
times were door to door to include parking time for the car driver.
I thought the journey chosen was flattering to the bus/train
options as both ends of the journey were within 5 minutes walk of the
train station and the train user happened to get a train immediately
avoiding a 15 minute wait. The route was a major bus route into the
city with frequent buses and bus lanes for much of the distance. Most
urban journeys would involve waiting time for buses or trains and
possibly longer walks to the train station or bus route.Also a regular
cyclist could cut some time off 20 minutes for 3.3 miles.
The article was fairly well balanced but I wouldn't hold my
breath waiting for many commuters to take up cycling. The cyclist was
worried both by the traffic fumes and bus drivers driving very close
behind her intimidating her into leaving the bus/cycle lane to let
them past.
Iain

 

[B.G. Finlay IT Services]

iarocu ([email protected]) wrote:
: Tuesdays Glasgow Evening Times had an article where 4 of their staff
: members travelled the same 3.3 miles journey into the city centre at
: 08.40 in the morning.
: The cyclist was fastest at 20 minutes and the car slowest at 31
: minutes with the train and bus slightly slower than the bike. The
: times were door to door to include parking time for the car driver.
: I thought the journey chosen was flattering to the bus/train
: options as both ends of the journey were within 5 minutes walk of the
: train station and the train user happened to get a train immediately
: avoiding a 15 minute wait. The route was a major bus route into the
: city with frequent buses and bus lanes for much of the distance. Most
: urban journeys would involve waiting time for buses or trains and
: possibly longer walks to the train station or bus route.Also a regular
: cyclist could cut some time off 20 minutes for 3.3 miles.
: The article was fairly well balanced but I wouldn't hold my
: breath waiting for many commuters to take up cycling. The cyclist was
: worried both by the traffic fumes and bus drivers driving very close
: behind her intimidating her into leaving the bus/cycle lane to let
: them past.

They should include motorbikes and/or scooters in those 'races'.

Blair.

 

[Colin Blackburn]

On 22 Sep 2004 15:45:37 +0100, B.G. Finlay IT Services
<[email protected]> wrote:

> iarocu ([email protected]) wrote:
> : Tuesdays Glasgow Evening Times had an article where 4 of their staff
> : members travelled the same 3.3 miles journey into the city centre at
> : 08.40 in the morning.
[...]
>
> They should include motorbikes and/or scooters in those 'races'.

And jetpacks!!

Colin

 

[Zog The Undeniable]

iarocu wrote:

> Tuesdays Glasgow Evening Times had an article where 4 of their staff
> members travelled the same 3.3 miles journey into the city centre at
> 08.40 in the morning.
> The cyclist was fastest at 20 minutes and the car slowest at 31
> minutes with the train and bus slightly slower than the bike. The
> times were door to door to include parking time for the car driver.


Add on showering and changing time and the bike is slowest. Sorry -
I've done it myself.

 

[anonymous coward]

On Wed, 22 Sep 2004 18:50:41 +0100, Zog The Undeniable wrote:

> iarocu wrote:
>
>> Tuesdays Glasgow Evening Times had an article where 4 of their staff
>> members travelled the same 3.3 miles journey into the city centre at
>> 08.40 in the morning.
>> The cyclist was fastest at 20 minutes and the car slowest at 31
>> minutes with the train and bus slightly slower than the bike. The
>> times were door to door to include parking time for the car driver.
>
>
> Add on showering and changing time and the bike is slowest. Sorry -
> I've done it myself.

3.3 miles in 20 minutes; average 10 miles an hour - that sounds fairly
leisurely to me.

AC

 

[Just zis Guy, you know?]

Zog The Undeniable wrote:

> Add on showering and changing time and the bike is slowest. Sorry -
> I've done it myself.

Now subtract the time saved by not showering at home prior to leaving...

Guy
--
May contain traces of irony. Contents liable to settle after posting.
http://www.chapmancentral.co.uk

88% of helmet statistics are made up, 65% of them at Washington
University

 

[Zog The Undeniable]

Just zis Guy, you know? wrote:

> Zog The Undeniable wrote:
>
>
>>Add on showering and changing time and the bike is slowest. Sorry -
>>I've done it myself.
>
>
> Now subtract the time saved by not showering at home prior to leaving...

It's a good point, but you still have to get dressed twice and undressed
once. I've never managed the full commute (including everything) in
under 40 minutes, although riding time is only 18-19 minutes. The car
takes between 9 and 11 minutes depending on traffic lights.

 

[Tim Hall]

On Wed, 22 Sep 2004 19:04:54 +0100, "Just zis Guy, you know?"
<[email protected]> wrote:

>Zog The Undeniable wrote:
>
>> Add on showering and changing time and the bike is slowest. Sorry -
>> I've done it myself.
>
>Now subtract the time saved by not showering at home prior to leaving...
>

3.3 miles isn't long enough to get warm, let alone break into a sweat.
I'd take the long way round.

Tim

 

[Martin Newstead]

Zog The Undeniable wrote:
> Just zis Guy, you know? wrote:
>
>> Zog The Undeniable wrote:
>>
>>
>>> Add on showering and changing time and the bike is slowest. Sorry -
>>> I've done it myself.
>>
>>
>> Now subtract the time saved by not showering at home prior to
>> leaving...
>
> It's a good point, but you still have to get dressed twice and
> undressed once. I've never managed the full commute (including
> everything) in under 40 minutes, although riding time is only 18-19
> minutes. The car takes between 9 and 11 minutes depending on traffic
> lights.

My commute is 18-19 minutes by bike on the way there (a 2.1 mile hill makes
the journey home slower). It takes me about the same by car but then I'd
have to pay for parking, I'd be poluting the environment and not getting any
exercise. Speed isn't the reason I commute by bike. I know I don't have to
tell you this though Z.

 

[Andy Dingley]

On 22 Sep 2004 15:45:37 +0100, [email protected] (B.G. Finlay
IT Services) wrote:

> They should include motorbikes and/or scooters in those 'races'.

I once beat a friend's brand-new Fireblade (some sort of huge
fire-breathing jetpack motorbike) by bicycle on our commuter run.

I cheated - pushbikes can use the footbridges over the Avon, he had to
go round the Temple Meads roundabout and its Museum Of Traffic Lights.

--
Smert' spamionam

 

[Andy Dingley]

On Wed, 22 Sep 2004 19:04:54 +0100, "Just zis Guy, you know?"
<[email protected]> wrote:

>Now subtract the time saved by not showering at home prior to leaving...

Or work in IT....

 

[Paul Rudin]

Zog The Undeniable <[email protected]> writes:


> Add on showering and changing time and the bike is slowest. Sorry -
> I've done it myself.

OTOH if you shower anyway it's merely a question of showering once you
get to work rather than before your journey...

 

[Paul M]

Andy Dingley wrote:
> On 22 Sep 2004 15:45:37 +0100, [email protected] (B.G. Finlay
> IT Services) wrote:
>
>
>>They should include motorbikes and/or scooters in those 'races'.
>
>
> I once beat a friend's brand-new Fireblade (some sort of huge
> fire-breathing jetpack motorbike) by bicycle on our commuter run.
>
> I cheated - pushbikes can use the footbridges over the Avon, he had to
> go round the Temple Meads roundabout and its Museum Of Traffic Lights.
>

I pulled up at the lights on the big roundabout between Broadmead
and Stokes Croft next to a mtotrbike once. I headed up Stokes Croft and
City Road whle the motorbike headed in the direction of Newfoundland
Road. I arrived at the junction of Stapleton Road and Fishponds Road
and was sitting at the traffic lights when the motorbike came in from
the direction of the M32 some 10-15 seconds later - I was quite chuffed.

Paul M

 

[Simon Brooke]

in message <4151bb5a.0@entanet>, Zog The Undeniable
('[email protected]') wrote:

> iarocu wrote:
>
>> Tuesdays Glasgow Evening Times had an article where 4 of their staff
>> members travelled the same 3.3 miles journey into the city centre at
>> 08.40 in the morning.
>> The cyclist was fastest at 20 minutes and the car slowest at 31
>> minutes with the train and bus slightly slower than the bike. The
>> times were door to door to include parking time for the car driver.
>
> Add on showering and changing time and the bike is slowest. Sorry -
> I've done it myself.

It's not normally necessary to wear special clothes nor to cycle fast
enough to break sweat. It may be fun to do so, but it's not necessarily
efficient.

--
[email protected] (Simon Brooke) http://www.jasmine.org.uk/~simon/

;; Men never do evil so completely and cheerfully as when they
;; do it from  religious conviction."          -- Pascal

 

[Andrew Howe]

"Paul M" <[email protected]> wrote in message
news:[email protected]...
> I pulled up at the lights on the big roundabout between Broadmead
> and Stokes Croft next to a mtotrbike once. I headed up Stokes Croft and
> City Road whle the motorbike headed in the direction of Newfoundland
> Road. I arrived at the junction of Stapleton Road and Fishponds Road
> and was sitting at the traffic lights when the motorbike came in from
> the direction of the M32 some 10-15 seconds later - I was quite chuffed.
>
> Paul M

Ah, a Bristol thread! I used to cycle from Clifton to Stokes Croft every
morning... Quite funny how many cars you pass, isn't it?
It's not so nice on the way back though... Ninetree Hill is a ***** to get
up...
My favourite bit has to be the lights at the junction of Park Row/St
Michael's Hill. Cycle past about 50 cars, get in front in the cyclist bit,
then accelerate down the hill so fast they don't know what's hit them...
(Yes I do always stop at the lights, that's why it's so funny)

Andrew.

 

[davek]

Tim Hall wrote:
> 3.3 miles isn't long enough to get warm, let alone break into a sweat.
> I'd take the long way round.

Funny you should say that, but I'm currently commuting into London from
East Kent, taking my bike on the train and riding the last few miles. My
place of work is in Kensington High Street and I have the choice of two
trains - one that arrives at Victoria, one that arrives at Cannon Street.

So far, I've been making a point of taking the Cannon Street train just
to get in the extra miles. (Not sure quite what the distance is but I'd
guess around 6 miles.)

On Zog's point about getting changed/showered: yes, this is true, but I
find a journey on London's fair underground system leaves me in much the
same state as a 6 mile bike ride anyway, ie needing a shower. And as Guy
says, I can crawl out of my pit five minutes before I'm due to leave the
house in the morning, just pull on the lycra and worry about making
myself presentable when I reach the other end.

It's not an entirely carefree journey - I almost became the filling in a
lorry/bus sandwich today while negotiating Trafalgar Square. [Apologies
to those who don't know the road, but you'll get the idea...] Coming up
Northumberland Avenue, I was in the left-hand lane to go straight on up
the Mall, while the lorry was behind the bus in the outside lane to turn
right-ish (up Haymarket?). Then at the last moment the lorry cut into
the inside lane in order to get through the lights before they went red,
so I swerved to avoid him and found myself going up the middle between
the bus and the lorry. I probably should have waited behind them but I
had a head of steam up and didn't fancy sitting at the lights for five
minutes. I realise now that this was an idiotic way to approach the
situation, regardless of the rights and wrongs of the lorry's manoeuvre.
I should have stopped at the lights, even if it meant a wait - better
late than "the late".[1]

Anyway, the upshot was that my exit from the roundabout was blocked and
as the space between the lorry and the bus narrowed, it was only some
furious pedalling that saved my bacon - no way could the bus driver have
seen me and the lorry driver clearly wasn't looking anyway. Such
incidents aside, I'm seriously enjoying my daily dice with danger on the
mean streets of our fair capital, and I wouldn't want to travel any
other way. So much more fun than the Tube - I'm very glad to be out in
the fumes above ground rather than the fumes below ground.

But this is a six month contract so we'll see how I feel about this as
winter sets in.

Oh yes, and I saw the chap on the Segway in Hyde Park yesterday. At
least, I presume it's the same one.

d.

1.Slartibartfast joke, Hitchhikers fans.

 

[Andrew Howe]

"Just zis Guy, you know?" <[email protected]> wrote in message
news:[email protected]...
> Now subtract the time saved by not showering at home prior to leaving...
>
> Guy

I've awarded you my "Best usenet comeback of the day" award. Granted,
there's a lot more competition for my coveted "Biggest usenet ****wit of the
day" award. But still... Well deserved, that chap.

Andrew.

 

[davek]

Simon Brooke wrote:
> It's not normally necessary to wear special clothes nor to cycle fast
> enough to break sweat. It may be fun to do so, but it's not necessarily
> efficient.

I treat my commute as my daily exercise, so I do feel the need to ride
hard enough to break a sweat - and that being the case "proper" clothing
is much more comfortable and practical.

Some of my colleagues go to the gym after work for their daily exercise.
And afterwards they are still lumbered with getting showered and changed
/and/ travelling home. I know which I find more efficient.

d.

 

[Me!]

On Wed, 22 Sep 2004 18:50:41 +0100, Zog The Undeniable
<[email protected]> wrote:


>Add on showering and changing time and the bike is slowest. Sorry -
>I've done it myself.


Changing - 3 minutes.

Bacteria makes sweat smell.

If you're clean, theres no reason for the sweat in the first few
minutes of work to be a problem.

 

[Paul M]

Andrew Howe wrote:

> My favourite bit has to be the lights at the junction of Park Row/St
> Michael's Hill. Cycle past about 50 cars, get in front in the cyclist bit,
> then accelerate down the hill so fast they don't know what's hit them...
> (Yes I do always stop at the lights, that's why it's so funny)
>

I'm fond of the traffic lights by College Green I often time my trips
back from town/the library to co-incide with rush hour just for added
excitement.


Paul M