Bicycles Beat Helicopters and Cars in Sao Paolo Race

Planes are always faster than bikes, right? Not necessarily, according to the results of the São Paulo Intermodal Challenge.  The competition,which was inspired by World Carless Day, asked entrants to get from the starting line to the finish line through rush hour traffic in the city using the fastest mode of transportation possible.  People took to the streets–and the sky–in cars, bikes, motorcycles, wheelchairs,  and helicopters. Guess who won?

A bicyclist scored the fastest time in the competition at 22 minutes, beating the helicopter by 10 minutes and trouncing both the car and bus, which clocked in at 1:06 and 1:11, respectively. Such drastic differences may seem extreme, but Sao Paulo is one of the most traffic-ridden cities in the world, with inhabitants spending an average of three hours a day in traffic.

Taking a bike may not always be the fastest method of transportation, but it can handily beat four-wheeled vehicles in the most clogged cities. All of which means bike paths and improved bicycle laws are not just important, but necessary for the well-being of citygoers.