Cyclists Faster Than a Plane in CA
The recent temporary shut-down of interstate 405 in California prompted a range of responses from those who normally depend on highway driving for their commutes. When JetBlue began offering cheap — and wasteful, and carbon-intensive — flights across the city from Long Beach to Burbank, a group of intrepid cyclists took to the streets to demonstrate the superiority of burning calories over burning carbon. From the NPR report:
The flights inspired a group of cyclists to challenge JetBlue to a race. Members of the Wolfpack Hustle planned to peddle on a roughly 40-mile route starting near the Burbank airport to see whether they or a JetBlue passenger will reach Long Beach first.
Cycling advocates said they hope to show that gridlock can be avoided without using a car or plane.
“Everyone’s freaking out about car traffic around the 405, bicycling represents a very viable alternative,” cyclist Gary Kavanagh said.
The result? Leaving their homes at the same time as a blogger who intended to run the security gauntlet at the airport and catch a flight, the cyclists arrived at their destination before the flight even took off.
To make your own bike-related climate statement in California this fall, consider joining Green America on the Climate Ride, October 2 – 6, from Eureka to San Francisco.
