Wednesday, April 27, 2011
Bike/Car/Bus Challenge
To prove that bicycling is a good option for short trips we've challenged some local officials to compare travel time for bike/car/bus for a 3 mile trip to the Reston Town Center. Starting near South Lakes HS I will be bicycling on roads and trails. Delegate Ken Plum will drive his hybrid car, and Kathleen Driscoll McKee will take the bus. We'll compare travel times and we'll compare the cost of the trips, including the direct cost of the trip (breakfast for me, gas for Del. Plum, and bus fare for Ms. McKee), the cost of annual maintenance (bike/car), and other indirect costs such as "free" parking and air pollution. See our news release for more info:
Bike/Car/Bus Challenge to be held on Monday, May 2, 2011
Reston, VA, April 26, 2011 - Bike to Work Day is Friday, May 20 at the Reston Town Center Pavilion. To promote traveling by bicycle, on Monday, May 2, several residents of Reston are holding a bike/car/bus commute challenge. The purpose of the challenge is to compare the cost and travel time of the three modes during a typical short commute within Reston. For short trips, bicycle travel time compares favorably to car and bus travel times, and the cost of the trip is much less. National surveys indicate that nearly 50 percent of all trips are 3 miles or less.
The event will begin at 8:15 a.m. on May 2 and will last approximately an hour. The participants will leave from Cobblestone Lane in south Reston and travel to the Reston Town Center Pavilion, slightly more than 3 miles away. Each participant will be timed. The motorist must park in long term parking, as if he is going to be working at the Town Center for the day, and walk to the Pavilion. The bicyclist must also park and lock his bike and walk to the Pavilion. The bus rider’s time includes walking to and from the bus stop. People can choose their own route and must obey traffic rules.
Bruce Wright, Chairman of Fairfax Advocates for Better Bicycling, will ride his bicycle, Del. Ken Plum will drive his hybrid car, and Reston Association President Kathleen Driscoll McKee will ride the bus. "I'm confident I can get to the Town Center before Ken and Kathleen. On a bicycle I'm not affected as much by congestion on the road," said Bruce. "Plus, I'll have fun, save money, and get a workout at the same time." Hunter Mill District Supervisor Cathy Hudgins has been invited to meet everyone at the Town Center.
The cost of maintaining a bike is around $200/year. By comparison AAA estimates that the cost of maintaining a car is about $8,000/year, more than most people spend on clothing, health care and entertainment combined. Driving also has many indirect costs as well. Nationwide, motorist user fees pay for about half the cost of building and maintaining roads. All of us pay for the rest of the cost. Most of us also pay for “free” parking by paying higher prices for goods and services. The cost of one structured car parking space is around $15,000. The cost of a bicycle rack is approximately $300 installed. Transit costs are more difficult to quantify, varying by type and usage.
For more information contact Bruce Wright at 703-328-9619, chairman@fabb-bikes.org.
Resources
Bicycle trip planning:
Google Maps: http://maps.google.com/
Walk Score: http://www.walkscore.com/
Ride the City DC Metro: http://www.ridethecity.com/dc
Transit:
WMATA’s Trip Planner: http://www.wmata.com/rider_tools/tripplanner/
Reston, VA, April 26, 2011 - Bike to Work Day is Friday, May 20 at the Reston Town Center Pavilion. To promote traveling by bicycle, on Monday, May 2, several residents of Reston are holding a bike/car/bus commute challenge. The purpose of the challenge is to compare the cost and travel time of the three modes during a typical short commute within Reston. For short trips, bicycle travel time compares favorably to car and bus travel times, and the cost of the trip is much less. National surveys indicate that nearly 50 percent of all trips are 3 miles or less.
The event will begin at 8:15 a.m. on May 2 and will last approximately an hour. The participants will leave from Cobblestone Lane in south Reston and travel to the Reston Town Center Pavilion, slightly more than 3 miles away. Each participant will be timed. The motorist must park in long term parking, as if he is going to be working at the Town Center for the day, and walk to the Pavilion. The bicyclist must also park and lock his bike and walk to the Pavilion. The bus rider’s time includes walking to and from the bus stop. People can choose their own route and must obey traffic rules.
Bruce Wright, Chairman of Fairfax Advocates for Better Bicycling, will ride his bicycle, Del. Ken Plum will drive his hybrid car, and Reston Association President Kathleen Driscoll McKee will ride the bus. "I'm confident I can get to the Town Center before Ken and Kathleen. On a bicycle I'm not affected as much by congestion on the road," said Bruce. "Plus, I'll have fun, save money, and get a workout at the same time." Hunter Mill District Supervisor Cathy Hudgins has been invited to meet everyone at the Town Center.
The cost of maintaining a bike is around $200/year. By comparison AAA estimates that the cost of maintaining a car is about $8,000/year, more than most people spend on clothing, health care and entertainment combined. Driving also has many indirect costs as well. Nationwide, motorist user fees pay for about half the cost of building and maintaining roads. All of us pay for the rest of the cost. Most of us also pay for “free” parking by paying higher prices for goods and services. The cost of one structured car parking space is around $15,000. The cost of a bicycle rack is approximately $300 installed. Transit costs are more difficult to quantify, varying by type and usage.
For more information contact Bruce Wright at 703-328-9619, chairman@fabb-bikes.org.
Resources
Bicycle trip planning:
Google Maps: http://maps.google.com/
Walk Score: http://www.walkscore.com/
Ride the City DC Metro: http://www.ridethecity.com/dc
Transit:
WMATA’s Trip Planner: http://www.wmata.com/rider_tools/tripplanner/
Update: See Dr. Gridlock's blog post on the challenge
Wright is hoping that the Reston competition will encourage commuters not only to participate in the annual Bike to Work Day on May 20 but also to consider biking as a realistic alternative to motor vehicles.
He says the annual cost of maintaining a bike is about $200. (Which tells me he maintains his bike a lot better than I maintain mine.) By comparison, he says, it costs about $8,000 a year to keep a car, citing an AAA estimate.
"Wright has challenged me several times now to set up one of our Post "Which Way?" commuting features as a bike vs. car competition, and I do plan to take him up on that."
He says the annual cost of maintaining a bike is about $200. (Which tells me he maintains his bike a lot better than I maintain mine.) By comparison, he says, it costs about $8,000 a year to keep a car, citing an AAA estimate.
"Wright has challenged me several times now to set up one of our Post "Which Way?" commuting features as a bike vs. car competition, and I do plan to take him up on that."
Labels: bike to work day, bike/car/bus challenge
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