Bicyclist Beats Transit Rider, Driver in Rush

Call it proving the mettle in the pedal. A New York City bicyclist has bested a driver and a transit rider in a rush-hour race.

The cyclist made a 4.5-mile commute yesterday morning from Brooklyn's Fort Greene neighborhood to Manhattan's Union Square in less than 17 minutes.

Race sponsor Transportation Alternatives says the driver took 22 minutes, and the transit rider 29. The group promotes cycling, walking, and transit.

Another cyclist won the annual competition last year.

Transportation Alternatives says more than 130,000 people hop on bikes every day in New York City, which is working to become more cycle-friendly. Efforts include installing 400 to 500 bike racks a year and planning to create more than 400 miles of bike lanes and paths by 2009.