Bikers ride to commute victory

Published on Monday 22 September 2008 10:18

MOTORCYCLISTS have emerged victorious in a battle to find the quickest way to travel into Edinburgh city centre.

The annual commuter time trial saw bikes, buses, cars, and even a jogger battle it out from the edge of town to St Andrew Square.

Participants set off from four separate departure points, with the fastest mode of transport found to be the motorbike ride from Ingliston park-and-ride, clocking up an average speed of 18.3mph.

The fastest journey overall was the 16-minute bike ride from Ocean Terminal to St Andrew Square.

The slowest participant was the jogger from Newcraighall park-and-ride to the city centre, who completed the five-mile journey in 38 minutes.

Event organiser Maggie Wynn said: "The challenge compares some typical commuter journeys into the centre of Edinburgh for speed, cost and impact on climate change.

"We hope the results will help people make their own minds up about how they want to travel to work. For the first time we had two joggers and their average speed was very similar to the car."

All of the participants in the challenge had to follow the highway code and other regulations, such as the speed limits.

Patsy James, 56, an IT trainer from Portobello, took the train from Newcraighall with her bicycle, and arrived first from those doing that route.

She said: "Travelling by train with a bicycle makes a really speedy combination. For journeys of more than five miles it is the quickest home-to work option, and if you have a folding bicycle there is no worry about finding space on the train.

"Newcraighall park-and-ride has lots of cycle parking stands and lockers, so it is also possible to leave the bicycle safely at the station."

The commuter challenge is part of European Mobility Week.

Iain Coupar, marketing director for Lothian Buses, was one of those taking part in the challenge, cycling from Ingliston park-and-ride to St Andrew Square in 27 minutes.

He said: "It was a really good event and I think I could have been a bit quicker actually if I had not been caught at a couple of lights.

"For me, the beauty of this is that it shows that you don't just have to stick to one mode of transport if you're commuting.

"Personally I will sometimes cycle from West Lothian into our offices in Edinburgh, but on other occasions I will drive to the park-and-ride at Hermiston and just get the bus.

"It is all about choices, you have to weigh up the hassle of driving or cycling against taking the bus, which is stress-free."