Thursday, May 26, 2011
The folding bike/train method beats bicycle, electric car by minutes.
On Wednesday, May 25, Marty's Reliable Cycle and TransOptions organized a challenge ... a "commuter challenge." Three alternative modes of transportation–a bicycle, Chevrolet Volt electric car and a combination of train travel and folding bike–set out from the Madison Train Station at 8:05 a.m., with the ultimate destination the Hyatt Morristown, about four miles away. While Matthew Vance, the train/folding bike competitor, ultimately won out, he only did so by a few minutes. And, in the end, everyone that sought an alternative to their regular ways of getting around were winners. Check out Morristown Patch's video of the journey.
Wednesday, May 25, 2011
Well, actually, Matthew Vance, who took the train, won.
For some of the competitors, their only fuel was the strong, flavorful coffee found at Drip in Madison. As the whistle blew from the incoming 8:05 a.m. NJ Transit train bound for Morristown from Madison, Matthew Vance, an attorney in Morristown, prepared to board, Dahon-brand folding bicycle in hand. Meanwhile, Backyard Bike Tours owner Bill Ruddick, atop his fancy Specialized Roubaix road bicycle, clicked into his pedals and headed out. David Baranauskas, of Wigder Chevrolet in Livingston, stepped into the dealership's Chevrolet Volt electric car, turned on the vehicle and silently drove away. The "Commuter Challenge," organized by Marty's Reliable Cycle and TransOptions, was set up to examine alternative means of transportation besides …
Many of us have one; how many actually use it?
While waiting for the 8:05 a.m. train in Madison, marking the start of the "Commuter Challenge" on Wednesday morning, Christine Wong, of Morristown, came up to the group of competitors and organizers of the Marty's Reliable Cycle/TransOptions event to ask about the new Chevrolet Volt electric-powered vehicle competing in the event. Speaking with Matthew Vance, the competitor riding the train and riding from the station to the Hyatt Morristown via his Dahon-brand folding bicycle, she noted she also had one of those types of bikes. "Oh, you're a folding bike rider," I asked. Wong laughed. "I'm a folding bike owner, I'm not a folding bike rider, at least right now." There are a lot of us out there that share Wong's ownership/ridership …
Kendra Arnold
5:06 pm on Wednesday, May 25, 2011
I ride at least Monday through Friday, but sometimes take the weekend off and just hoof it. What happened on South Street, Mike? doored? more ›