What is the fastest way to commute to work every day in an urban environment? Is it by car? Taxi? Train? Bus? Most people in the United States never think of commuting by bicycle.
However, it is often the fastest way to get to work or school.
It is also the cheapest and the most environmentally friendly means of transportation available to most urban commuters.
According to the 2000 U.
S.
Census, New Yorkers have the longest average commute times in the nation at 45 minutes.
However, the average commute by bicycle in NYC is just 30 minutes.
Every year the Transportation Alternatives organization holds its annual commuter challenge.
And every year the bike commuter wins by a landslide.
In 2009, a cyclist, a subway rider and a taxi journeyed from Sunnyside Queens to Columbus Circle in Manhattan.
The cyclist traversed the 4.
2 mile commute in just 20 minutes, easily besting the subway rider's 35 minute time and the taxi's snail-paced 47 minute finish.
The bike commuter's trip was enjoyable and invigorating while the train commuter suffered cramped conditions and the taxi driver frustrating traffic delays on the Queensboro Bridge.
On top of the first place finish, the bike commuter burnt the most calories, alleviated stress, spent the least amount of money, and made the smallest impact on air quality and the environment.
The cyclist added no CO2 to the air, the subway rider added just 1 pound of CO2, and the taxi driver emitted a whopping 6 pounds.
Not to mention the cab fare was $20.