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Beat the Commute: West Philly Runners are racing a car and bus in rush hour traffic

May 28, 2015

You probably know the feeling. Sitting on a bus or in your car during rush hour, you gaze out the window and say to yourself, “I could probably walk home quicker.”

BeatTheCommuteFlierWell, an intrepid group of runners are going to test that theory tomorrow. Only they will be running, not walking. Yep, at 5 p.m. tomorrow runners will meet at the Philadelphia Runner store near 37th and Walnut to race a car and a SEPTA bus, which will traverse rush-hour traffic on the Schuylkill Expressway, to the Wissahickon Transportation Center between Manayunk and East Falls – some 6.6 miles. First person there – whether driver or runner – wins. UPDATE: Indego, Philadelphia’s bike share program, has also announced its participation in the event.

West Philly Runners (Facebook page), the group that meets at 45th and Locust for weekly runs every Wednesday at 6:30 p.m., came up with the idea and got SEPTA onboard. You may remember a similar event last November when a group of runners “Beat the Bus.” West Philly Runners was behind that one too.

This is super short notice, but if you are a runner, there are still some spots open. Go here to register. SEPTA is supplying tokens to get runners back to West Philly and Philadelphia Runner will haul your stuff to the Wissahickon station. We also hear that there will be a special deal on Yards beer afterward at City Tap House.

If you are not up for the run, you can cheer the runners on as they head out by stopping by the 3700 block of Walnut St.at 5 p.m.. Runners can pick their own route, though the two suggested routes go near the zoo and along Martin Luther King Drive (shorter, but harder) or the Schuylkill River Trail (longer but a little easier).

Our money is on the runners, unless of course the car is a taxi.

1 Comments For This Post

  1. Miguel Says:

    You figure in rush hour traffic on the freeway, that’s an hour drive, experienced runner does about 6-7mph – should be a really close race. Of course, you’re a sucker if you take 76 when all the other roads are loads quicker

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