Thursday, May 21, 2009
Start: 7:00 AM at Aubergine Café, 49-22 Skillman Ave, Sunnyside, Queens
Finish: 7:30 AM at Columbus Circle, NE corner in front of the Maine Monument, Manhattan Excellent photo opportunities at FINISH: contestants crossing finish line, awards ceremony

Who is New York City's fastest commuter? On Thursday, the city will find out as Bike Month NYC comes to a dramatic climax with the 8th Annual Great NYC Commuter Race, a contest to see what mode of transportation gets New Yorkers around quickest--bicycles, subways or cars. This year's event pits three commuters against each other in a race from Sunnyside, Queens to Columbus Circle in Manhattan. After nearly a decade of bicycle-dominance, this year's competition features a new twist. In connection with T.A.'s new campaign for civic-minded cycling, Biking Rules!, T.A. has chosen a rider notorious for slow, courteous riding who will prove that bicyclists need not skirt the laws to have the fastest commute. This year's contestants are:

Cyclist: Rachel Myers, librarian at the Horace Mann School in the Bronx
The Route: Skillman Avenue bike lane, Queensboro Bridge bike path, Central Park South The Ride: Iro single-speed bicycle, won in a raffle last year at the City Reliquary Museum

Straphanger: Dan Hendrick, New York League of Conservation Voters
The Route: 7 train to Times Square, 1 Train to Columbus Circle The Ride: M160B subway car, NYC Transit's newest rolling stock

Taxi Rider: Willie Thompson, marketing specialist for a student travel non-profit
The Route: Queens Boulevard, Queensboro Bridge, Central Park South The Ride: Ford Crown Victoria

New Yorkers have the longest commutes in the country--about 45 minutes. However, the average bicycle commute in New York City only takes 30 minutes. Cycling is booming in NYC, with more than 185,000 taking to their bikes every day. Full results to be announced in post-event release. A video with minute-by-minute coverage of last year's race is available at streetfilms.org/archives/bike-vs-car-vs-transit

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