karlos_the_jackal
Work in progress
- Location
- Haywards heath
It was all about alternative transport to the car. Had a race between a bike and car into central birmingham 6 miles, bike beat car by over 5 minutes.
Anyone see Dom's on the case on BBC1 last night?
- Thread starter karlos_the_jackal
- Start date
Page may contain affiliate links. Please see terms for details.
XmisterIS
Purveyor of fine nonsense
Didn't see it, but there have been numerous tests like that on the T.V.
And what do most people do in response? Ignore all the evidence, jump into the car, sit in traffic for hours every day, then complain about the amount of traffic on the roads ...
And what do most people do in response? Ignore all the evidence, jump into the car, sit in traffic for hours every day, then complain about the amount of traffic on the roads ...
GrumpyGregry
Here for rides.
My commute:-
By mo'bike 30 mins
By car 35 mins
By bike 50 mins
By train/foot 55 mins
By mo'bike 30 mins
By car 35 mins
By bike 50 mins
By train/foot 55 mins
Lazy-Commuter
New Member
- Location
- Bottom Right Corner
For me ..
20 mins in the car on a good day*, can be 30-40.
25-30 mins on the bike, depending on wind conditions.
20 mins in the train, plus 20 mins walking to the station.
* If there's a bad accident on the motorway near our offices, the whole area can become gridlocked - often 'til gone eight in the evening if it happens during rush hour. In that case, it would probably take well over an hour - if not closer to two - to drive home. When that's happened previously on days when I've had the car at work, I get the train home and leave the car at work.
If gridlock happens when I have the bike at work, I cycle past my colleagues - one of whom lives a mile from our offices - sitting in the big queue that starts in our car park, smiling and waving as I go. Wishing I could do a wheely.
20 mins in the car on a good day*, can be 30-40.
25-30 mins on the bike, depending on wind conditions.
20 mins in the train, plus 20 mins walking to the station.
* If there's a bad accident on the motorway near our offices, the whole area can become gridlocked - often 'til gone eight in the evening if it happens during rush hour. In that case, it would probably take well over an hour - if not closer to two - to drive home. When that's happened previously on days when I've had the car at work, I get the train home and leave the car at work.
If gridlock happens when I have the bike at work, I cycle past my colleagues - one of whom lives a mile from our offices - sitting in the big queue that starts in our car park, smiling and waving as I go. Wishing I could do a wheely.
OP
OP
karlos_the_jackal
Work in progress
- Location
- Haywards heath
Train/foot 1hr 10
Cycle 1hr 10
car-never tried it wouldnt like to probably about 1hr
walk-3hr 30 (yes i've walked it)
Cycle 1hr 10
car-never tried it wouldnt like to probably about 1hr
walk-3hr 30 (yes i've walked it)
arallsopp
Post of The Year 2009 winner
- Location
- Bromley, Kent
I live in SE London, but work in NW London, and get to visit such delights as Streatham, Crystal Palace, Anerley, Wandsworth, etc.
I've driven it once. 17 miles took about 2 and a half hours. It was horrible. Average speed (moving) was a little over 8mph, and I spent half an hour just sitting there. The last 2 miles at either end were on clear roads. I will not do that again.
I've trained it a few times. Half hour walk to station, half hour to Victoria, half hour down the District Line, 25 minute walk/dash to office. All in, an hour on foot, and an hour in fairly unpleasant surroundings. Tube nice and sweaty these days too.
I ride it regularly. 2 minutes to get the bike onto the driveway. 1hr 6mins to get to the office. 2 mins to get the bike up in the lift. That's just over half the time it takes by any other means. Still don't really get a chance to go full tilt, due to traffic levels.
Oddly, one of my colleagues comes in on a motorbike. We followed each other home a few nights back, and discovered that whilst she can hit 30mph+ with ease, traffic will stop her from doing it with any regularity. Whilst I'll top out around 25 on the flat, the fact that we only got one two mile stretch where it mattered meant I got back at the same time as her anyway. I can filter a little easier, I guess, so quickly edge back.
Besides which, I wasn't going to be beaten.
I've driven it once. 17 miles took about 2 and a half hours. It was horrible. Average speed (moving) was a little over 8mph, and I spent half an hour just sitting there. The last 2 miles at either end were on clear roads. I will not do that again.
I've trained it a few times. Half hour walk to station, half hour to Victoria, half hour down the District Line, 25 minute walk/dash to office. All in, an hour on foot, and an hour in fairly unpleasant surroundings. Tube nice and sweaty these days too.
I ride it regularly. 2 minutes to get the bike onto the driveway. 1hr 6mins to get to the office. 2 mins to get the bike up in the lift. That's just over half the time it takes by any other means. Still don't really get a chance to go full tilt, due to traffic levels.
Oddly, one of my colleagues comes in on a motorbike. We followed each other home a few nights back, and discovered that whilst she can hit 30mph+ with ease, traffic will stop her from doing it with any regularity. Whilst I'll top out around 25 on the flat, the fact that we only got one two mile stretch where it mattered meant I got back at the same time as her anyway. I can filter a little easier, I guess, so quickly edge back.
Besides which, I wasn't going to be beaten.
swee'pea99
Squire
Bus & tube - 40 mins good day, up to an hour bad day
Bike - 25 mins, give or take 2 mins depending on wind
Car - forget it. Probably 30 mins+, and probably £50+ in exclusion zone charges and parking
Bike - 25 mins, give or take 2 mins depending on wind
Car - forget it. Probably 30 mins+, and probably £50+ in exclusion zone charges and parking
scouserinlondon
Senior Member
- Location
- streatham, London
The train takes between 40 mins and an hour, bike takes between 30 - 40 mins, so better off by bike.
karlos_the_jackal said:
I watched it. It was a little crass but anything that highlights the benefits of cycling and portrays the cyclist in a good light has got to be a good thing, especially on prime time TV.
He quoted a figure of how much every cyclist saves motorist but I cant remember now what it was.
gemsno4
Active Member
- Location
- Southampton
I am surprised it is that close in time, maybe not at rush hour? For me in Birmingham to get to work for 9am:
By bike 20 minutes
By bus (including walking to stops) 40 minutes
By car 45 minutes
No contest really!
By bike 20 minutes
By bus (including walking to stops) 40 minutes
By car 45 minutes
No contest really!
fossyant
Ride It Like You Stole It!
- Location
- South Manchester
Me.....South Manchester....
Bike (long 11 mile route) 35 mins rolling (40 total) (Direct 6 miles 20 mins)
Car - direct route - 6 miles - 45 minutes
Bus - direct route plus 5 min walk - over an hour.
Effectively, the bike is twice as quick.
Bike (long 11 mile route) 35 mins rolling (40 total) (Direct 6 miles 20 mins)
Car - direct route - 6 miles - 45 minutes
Bus - direct route plus 5 min walk - over an hour.
Effectively, the bike is twice as quick.
summerdays
Cycling in the sun
- Location
- Bristol
The program was shown on daytime TV back in March sort of time when I was off work.
In Bristol they did a car vs bike between Bath and Bristol - the car won!!! though to be fair the cyclists cameraman came down sick on route and delayed him.
Uncle Mort said:
In Bristol they did a car vs bike between Bath and Bristol - the car won!!! though to be fair the cyclists cameraman came down sick on route and delayed him.
OP
OP
karlos_the_jackal
Work in progress
- Location
- Haywards heath
BSA- i think every cyclist saves the country £320 a year based on lower road costs, NHS treatments and generally just being really good people ( ok i slightly exaggarate)
It was a bit crass and he kept on going on about the rider being semi pro ( happenend to be semi pro cyclo cross) which i think might put people off thinking that he must be going really fast.
It was a bit crass and he kept on going on about the rider being semi pro ( happenend to be semi pro cyclo cross) which i think might put people off thinking that he must be going really fast.
Will1985
Über Member
- Location
- South Norfolk
That's right. I was wondering how people were going to justify watching daytime TV!! My excuse is that I was having breakfast at the beginning of the programme and decided to stay at home to watch rather than go to the library!summerdays said:
