Bikes faster than cars in Lynn rush hour

It's official - commuting into King's Lynn during rush hour is faster by bike than car.

In an experiment organised by the West Norfolk Cycle Forum today, pedal-power was pitted against engine-power on three routes into the town.

On two of the courses, cyclists arrived in the town centre well ahead of motorists who were still contending with early morning traffic.

Chairman of the cycle forum John Loveless said: “Cycling into town is pleasant, no hassle and it is speedy.

“The cyclists were going at the same speed as the cars even though there was not a lot of traffic, so the message is: more people ought to think about getting the bicycle out and checking out how easy it might be.”

The event started bikers and drivers from different points outside Lynn, all ending at the main post office in Baxters Plain.

On the first two routes, from the Norfolk Arena and Reffley, the cyclists got into the town centre nearly three minutes ahead of the cars.

The last course, from the Queen Elizabeth Hospital, Lynn, saw the drivers win by about a minute - but Norfolk County Council spokesman John Birchall said the time did not take account of how long it would take drivers to find a parking space.

Over the last 10 years, more than £3m has been spent on designing and building cycle facilities in the town, including cycle lanes and cycle-friendly crossings.

And at the end of last summer, a cycle route linking Reffley to the town centre was completed at a cost of about £400,000.

Mr Birchall said: “There are a whole bunch of reasons why cycling is good.

“Cars have to find parking spaces and you would have to pay for parking, and of course it is greener to go by bike.

“King's Lynn has got a particularly good cycle network.”

Riders and drivers set off from their routes at 8.30am today.

The event was held to mark National Bike Week, which ends on Sunday.