Article: Cyclist wins commuter race

[ozbob]

Northern Times 25th  June 2010 Page 1

Cyclist wins commuter race

Cyclist wins commuter race

By MIRANDA FORSTER   

Cyclist wins commuter race

A STRATHPINE cyclist has highlighted how bad peak-hour traffic has become by trouncing a drag-car champion in a race to Brisbane CBD.
Strathpine Bike Shop worker Ryan Chesney finished a whopping 10 minutes ahead of Kallangur drag racer Ben Bray in a Northern Times commuter challenge between a cyclist, a motorist, and a rail passenger.

Mr Bray took a frustrating 59 minutes to drive from the Times office at Strathpine Community Centre to King George Square.
Rail commuter Kaylene Matheson meanwhile finished second in 50 minutes.

With most of the 95,000 people who leave the region every day travelling to Brisbane for work, the Times tested the best way to commute, in what were wet and windy conditions on Wednesday.

The results back Moreton Bay Regional Council Mayor Allan Sutherland's push for better public transport and bikeways in Pine Rivers.

North Lakes-based Dutton Cycles Racing and Recreational Club president Kurt Dutton said bike lanes on major roads, as well as bikeways, were needed in Pine Rivers and the north.
Mr Chesney said roadworks on Lutwyche Rd at Chalk St forced him on to footpaths.

"It was a bit scary but it wasn't too bad, although for someone who hasn't done it before (ridden on the road) it would be a bit scary," he said.

Ms Matheson said her journey would have been faster but for a slight delay on the line after Bowen Hills Station. She would like to see more services or more carriages on the Caboolture line to reduce over-crowding.

Mr Bray faced the most number of bottlenecks on his trip. Despite the problems, the three-time national drag racing champion said he would probably drive if he worked in the City.
"I definitely wouldn't ride, I'm not fit enough," he said.

Cr Sutherland, fresh from a visit to Parliament House in Canberra last week to lobby for the Petrie to Kippa-Ring rail link, said he was a strong advocate for a train line servicing the suburbs of Murrumba Downs, Kallangur, North Lakes and Mango Hill.

"We have some of the most car-reliant and fastest-growing suburbs in Australia,'' Cr Sutherland said.
"Fast, frequent and reliable public transport is of course the best way to get people out of their cars."

Cr Sutherland said council had also invested $3.5m in bikeways in the last year alone. The Mayor's stance on public transport is backed up by a 2008 Griffith University study that found most Pine Rivers suburbs have relatively high levels of car ownership and a large number of car commuters.

Cyclist 49 minutes, rail passenger 50 minutes,  car 59 minutes

[Mozz]

Woohoo for active transport that cyclist was hooting thoughaverage speed must have been in the mid to high 20's kph which is flying for a commuter who has to stop for red lights stop signs breaks in bike paths etc

[Jon Bryant]

Great article.  It highlight that active and public transport were the future rather than claim not enough road work was being undertaken!!!!

[longboi]

I know Ryan...He's mad about bikes and this proves it =P