Contact: Kirk Barrett, 617.224.0563; kbarrett@compuserve.com
Bicycle Coalition of Massachusetts
214A Broadway
Cambridge, MA 02141
(617) 491-RIDE
On Tuesday morning May 20th, a pair of commuters, one bicyclist and one transit rider, traveled from their home in West Cambridge to a Bike Week Breakfast in downtown Boston in the second annual Bike Week Commuter Challenge. Christine Weisiger cycled in while her husband Ted Hamman rode transit. Christine arrived before Ted by 14 minutes, traveling the approximately 6 miles in 33 minutes. Last year's challenge involved three pairs of commuters, one travelling by bike and the other by car or transit. The bicycling commuter arrived at the destination sooner in each case.
Conrad Willeman, Executive Director of the Bicycle Coalition of Massachusetts, said, "The challenge demonstrates that bicycling is a practical form of transportation which is time competitive with other transportation modes." He added, "Bicycle travel is also a great way to get your daily exercise and save on commuting expenses. And it helps reduce traffic congestion, fuel consumption and air and noise pollution." (See this table for a comparison of the costs and impacts of various modes of commuting.)
Despite the steady rain, Christine said she was glad she cycled in. Once she got going, she described the ride as fun. On unexpected benefit was that the rain cut down on the traffic of cyclists and pedestrians on the= Charles River path.
Over 30 cyclists turned out at the breakfast on Copley Plaza sponsored by Marriott and the John Hancock corporate bicycling group. The challenge was sponsored by the Bicycle Coalition of Massachusetts, headquartered in Kendall Square, as part of Bike Week. Bike Week is full of activities, peaking at the second annual Boston Bicycle Festival on City Hall Plaza, Thursday, May 22 from 7:30 to 9:00am. The media is invited to attend the festival.