Bikes beat car and bus in yet another ‘rush hour’ commuter challenge

Cycling to work has many personal benefits – health and wealth being the two most obvious – but bicycles are also swift, too. And because they can filter through traffic perfectly legally, bike to work times are very consistent: no worrying about congestion levels or roadworks. ‘Commuter challenges’ are useful ways to show the time benefit in action. Enfield Council staged one on Thursday 25th and it’s no surprise which of the commuters were swiftest.

Six commuters tested out four different methods of transport in a challenge to travel two miles from John Wilkes House in Ponders End to Enfield Civic Centre to see which transport was the fastest in rush hour.

Two bicycles, a car, a bus user and a pedestrian all set off at 8.30am in a test to see who would arrive first.

The first cyclist – a sporty one, a bloke on a road bike – arrived 8mins and 45 seconds later. The second cyclist – a non-sporty one, a woman on a rusty old town bike, complete with front basket – took 13mins 32 seconds. (The Bike Hub app says the route is 1.75 miles and should take about 11 minutes). The car was five minutes slower than the non-sporty cyclist, arriving after 18 minutes and 40 seconds. The pedestrian took 28 minutes to complete the distance. The bus passenger trailed in at 42 minutes.

Councillor Chris Bond, Cabinet Member for Environment at Enfield Council, said:

“There are many ways to get around the borough, but looking at the cost of transport, speed and what is most enjoyable it is very clear that cycling comes out tops.”