NYC Transportation Advocates Battle for Fastest Commute: Cyclist Out-Commutes Straphanger and Taxi Rider

Monday, May 3rd 8AM from Junior's in Brooklyn
To the Columbus Circle entrance to Central Park

This morning, commuter bicyclist Paul S. White, Executive Director of Transportation Alternatives, won the Bike Month NYC 2004 Commuter Race by making it from Junior's Restaurant on Flatbush and DeKalb Avenues in Brooklyn to Columbus Circle in Manhattan in 25 minutes. White beat taxi rider Jon Orcutt, Executive Director of the Tri-State Transportation Campaign, by five minutes and subway rider, Gene Russianoff, Senior Attorney for NYPIRG's Straphanger's Campaign, by ten minutes.

White, a regular bike commuter, reported that he was happy that his "victory proves to would-be bike commuters that getting to work by bike is fast and easy." He encouraged others to "take advantage of the good summer weather and give bike commuting a spin."

According to 2000 Census figures, New Yorkers have longest average commute in the country, about 45 minutes. However, the average bicycle commute in New York City only takes 30 minutes.

"Biking is booming in the Big Apple," says Transportation Alternatives' Projects Director, Noah Budnick. "Everyday, 110,000 New Yorkers use bicycles to commute or run errands; this is an increase from 75,000 daily riders just ten years ago."

In the past year, cycling in New York City has benefited from Mayor Bloomberg opening the intern Manhattan Waterfront Greenway, new bike lanes in the Bronx, Brooklyn and Queens, continued 24/7 bicycle access to the subway and Staten Island Ferry and a new, stronger bike rack design.

Bike Month NYC, presented by Transportation Alternatives and the NYC Department of Transportation, honors the bicycle as a convenient, quick, quiet, clean and community-friendly form of transportation. This year's thirteenth annual celebration of cycling in New York City features over 200 events throughout all five boroughs between April 24 and June 6. The calendar of events is available at bike shops and online at www.bikemonthnyc.org.