Coloradoan staff

Can someone riding MAX reach a destination quicker than people using other forms of transportation in Fort Collins?

To help answer the question, members of the Coloradoan staff "raced" from the new South Transit Center to the Downtown Transit Center using different forms of transportation.

The goal was to see who can travel the 5.2-mile distance quicker while obeying all traffic regulations. All participants started at the same time.

At 4:08 p.m. Tuesday, business reporter Pat Ferrier rode MAX; Stephen Meyers of Xplore ran; Windsor Beacon reporter Erin Udell drove her car; and education reporter Madeline Novey was on a bike.

Following the race, the participants reflected on the experience.

Stephen Meyers

"Let's get real here. There was no way I could beat MAX, a bicyclist, or a car while running the 5.2 miles from the South Transit Center to Old Town. Unless I suddenly found some untapped elite running talent. My chance at an upset came and went early as Madeline Novey pedaled ahead on Mason Trail after we chit-chatted at the Harmony Road stoplight. Then I watched MAX roll though the Harmony stop without picking up or dropping off a single passenger. The race was over then.

At least the Mason Trail is downhill, right? Let's race again when road construction begins on College Avenue. Maybe then a runner will give a car a competitive race."

Pat Ferrier

"The bus ride was comfortable, I certainly didn't work up a sweat like our competitors biking and running. Being somewhat on the competitive side I was frustrated when people wanted on and off the bus...the nerve. They were slowing us down! I thought we might have a chance of winning but got slowed down as MAX lumbered through the CSU campus."

MORE: 10 events that helped shape Fort Collins

Erin Udell

"The drive from the South Transit Center to Old Town was fairly quick, with minor patches of heavier traffic and road work along the way. With it being a busier time of day, there were a good number of cars on College Avenue with me, but we all flowed pretty nicely until Laurel St.

With one lane blocked off for construction from there to Mulberry, traffic was down to one lane, which slowed me down considerably. But after that it was smooth sailing all the way to Old Town, where I instantly found parking in the Civic Center parking garage off of Laporte Ave.

In the end, it was an easy, air-conditioned journey that burned gas – not calories."

Madeline Novey

"The ride north along Mason Trail was brisk; definitely didn't stick to a leisurely, afternoon-bike-to-Old-Town pace because, well, I am a bit competitive. At times it seemed the bus would most certainly win, and we were neck-and-neck at the major intersection stops. But I was able to pull ahead at a few spots along the route.

The ride on Mason, north of Mountain Avenue to the Downtown Transit Center, was a bit dicey at times, keeping ahead of MAX and cars I shared the lane with. But overall, it was a good, flat ride. I'd definitely do it again! "

Results:

1st - Bike (23:30 min/sec)

2nd - Car (24 min - unofficial)

3rd - MAX (24:30 min/sec unofficial)

4th - Run (40 min unofficial)

Editor's note: Results of the race are unscientific. Due to technical and human errors, final times and speeds are approximated.

Map: