Bike Wins
Thread started by
_iJunes at 10.6.09 - 3:54 pm
Bicycle Beats Helicopter
Being the business hub of South America and one of the largest cities in the world has its bitter side: São Paulo has been drowning in a sea of automobiles (6 million and counting) for quite some time, and the future doesn’t show any signs of improvement. Insufficient buses and subway lines, together with private vehicles mostly with single occupants, compose a scenario of daily chaos, with frequently over 80kms (50mi) of traffic jams in the main avenues.
This car-centric urban transport model is showing signs of exhaustion. The average São Paulo inhabitant spends almost three hours a day stuck in traffic jams. That’s about 15 hours a week – or almost 2 working days. Apart from the economic and psychological damages, let alone the carbon footprint, this situation is a true hindrance for the city’s development and for the well-being of the people who live in it.
It was in this scenario that the São Paulo Intermodal Challenge was held. The challenge was simple: to get from point A to point B as quickly as possible – during rush hour – using the mode of transportation of your choice. The goal was to raise awareness regarding a number of alternatives to cars, and to promote the World Carless Day, by proving that avoiding traffic – and its consequences – might just be a matter of choice.
The means of transportation chosen ranged from cars, bikes, motorbikes, and a helicopter to buses, metro, their own feet and even a wheelchair. Contrary to all forecasts, a biker won the challenge, with a total time of 22 minutes – more than 10 minutes faster than the person on the helicopter, who spent a total of 33 minutes and 30 seconds between going to the heliport, waiting for takeoff clearance, flying and landing.
The car came way behind, with a total time of 1:22– slower than the runner, who took 1:06, the bus (1:11) and just 10 minutes faster than the person who chose to walk the whole path (1:32).
To move beyond the car paradigm is a necessity, one that gains an even greater importance due to São Paulo’s size and economic relevance. The Intermodal Challenge may not present any real solution to the problem, but at least it brings some attention towards a fundamental question that is urban mobility and how it impacts the ecosystem we live in every way.
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haha i just left at the same time from silverlake to fry's in burbank and beat my friends in a car by 10 min. Then we agreed to meet at victory and magnolia for some tasty tacos. I beat them again by 5 minutes by bike. I'm on a fixie going 25 mph and i don't pass too many cars but seam to get there faster some how. i love this article and i'm sending it out.
onemanstrash10.6.09 - 10:30 pm
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Where's the motorcycle, scooter, and moped in this mix?
User110.6.09 - 10:38 pm
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shut up! you know they will smoke the bicyclists time...
Schwinner responding to a
comment by User1
10.7.09 - 8:51 am
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the quoted article mentions a motorbike, but it does not say how much faster the motorbike was.
spiraldemon responding to a
comment by Schwinner
10.7.09 - 8:57 am
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If you followed that link above, you'll see a motorcyclist came in at 25 minutes. The fastest bicyclist came in at 22 minutes.
I'm puzzled at how a skater can be so slow. Skater was 1/3 faster than a walker. I don't even skate and I think I could have done better!
Would have been nice to see more info on the participants. I guess we're just suppose to believe it. Because we're all cyclists and want to root for the good guy, right?
User1 responding to a
comment by spiraldemon
10.7.09 - 11:25 am
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i love bicycles..but it looked like a scooter or motorcycle...will beat the bike.
Huey55510.7.09 - 11:34 am
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obviously, the race result is flawed. I ride both a motorcycle and a bicycle. my motorcycle is undoubtedly faster than my bicycle.
spiraldemon10.7.09 - 11:38 am
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I've passed motorbikes in extreme trafficy conditions.
trickmilla responding to a
comment by spiraldemon
10.7.09 - 11:41 am
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I'm sure there are exceptions, but my daily rush hour commute by motorcycle is faster than anything.
patrick, wanna race my eight mile commute in the 818? my motorcycle, your bicycle. I'm not usually a gambling man, but I'll put money on it, too.
spiraldemon10.7.09 - 11:49 am
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yeah after that case of beer and 10 bucks. seesh
_iJunes responding to a
comment by spiraldemon
10.7.09 - 12:02 pm
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no thanks.
But if you fly me an my bike to Sao Palo we can race the same course.
I'll bet you $10 a slice of pizza that I win.
I'll even pay for your pre-race Brazilian so that you can minimize wind drag.
I'd say you have better than even odds since I ride a mid-60's fixie conversion.
That guys who did it in 22 mins probably has a light-weight road bike.
trickmilla responding to a
comment by spiraldemon
10.7.09 - 12:44 pm
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i take it back!
that is obviously a fixie.
i'll make it $20 and a whole pizza.
trickmilla10.7.09 - 12:46 pm
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meh, different conditions, different city, etc.
LA streets were designed around motor vehicles. we have the most spread out city in the world. until our infrastructure changes drastically, motorcycling will remain the fastest transportation in LA.
spiraldemon10.7.09 - 1:25 pm
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-->
Ridazz Roulette!
Can you say....
you're not my son! you lost the race!