Cyclists win rush-hour challenge
In the Auckland Commuter Challenge four sets of cyclists, racing car drivers and buses raced across Auckland during rush hour.
The cyclists' wins, with an average time of 26m51s, is the latest demonstration of Auckland's traffic crisis, says Cycle Action Auckland, which organised the event.
Although one car did beat the competing cyclist, cars averaged a slower rate.
The cars came in second at an average of 31m32s while the buses averaged 53m10s.
The North Shore cyclist was given permission to cycle over the Harbour Bridge. (How did the motorists deal with that? If she was sharing the lane with the drivers then a land could be opened up to cyclists on a regular basis.)
The safety issue is one of the things people fear about cycling in Auckland.
Event co-ordinator Leonard Bloksberg, of Cycle AA, said the event proved that if more commuters rode bicycles, traffic congestion would be less of a headache.
However, he believed many chose not to because they feared being hurt.
"If riding a bike you are probably more likely to get a skinned knee but if you're in a car you are more likely to be killed," Dr Bloksberg said.
According to Transfund 366 motorists died last year, seven cyclists and no bus passengers.
About 6 per cent of commuters travel by bike or foot, 7 per cent by public transport and the rest in their cars.
Jon Bridges, a TV3 presenter-producer, writes of his winning ride.
