For the sixth consecutive year, the bicyclist won. Following all the rules of the road, the cyclist covered the 3.15 mile commute in 18:35, 6 minutes better than both the driver (24:50) and the transit rider (25:15).
The Commuter Race remains a simple illustration of the benefits of bicycle commuting. Consider the costs involved in the three modes of transportation involved:
- Yearly cost of a bicycle: $250
- Yearly cost of SEPTA: $996 for twelve monthly TransPasses
- Yearly cost of a car: $7,630 for a small sedan driving 10,000 miles a year (source: AAA)
All three methods of transportation have their benefits and drawbacks. But nearly 50% of the US working population commutes five miles or less to work. A 15-minute bicycle commute each way meets the CDC's minimum recommendation of 30 minutes of daily moderate-intensity physical exercise. With the summer upon us, it is a wonderful time to join your fellow Philadelphians and give bicycle commuting a try.
Many thanks to Zipcar for providing the car and driver. The Bicycle Coalition's Commuter Race is part of Bike Month. For other Bike Month events, check out our events page. For a more colorful account of the Commuter Race itself, see below (click post title to read further):
