Mark Malkoff sits on his big wheel - New York, NY - Apr 6, 2011 (credit: Peter Haskell / WCBS 880) Mark Malkoff sits on his big wheel - New York, NY - Apr 6, 2011 (credit: Peter Haskell / WCBS 880)

NEW YORK (CBSNewYork) – If you thought crosstown traffic was bad, a Queens comedian has gone to unusual lengths to prove that it’s true.

WCBS 880’s Peter Haskell: It Was The Big Bad M42 Bus Against Mark Malkoff’s Kid’s Big Wheel https://newyork.cbslocal.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/14578484/2011/04/haskell_slowbus1w_midday_110406.mp3

“I almost never take the bus anymore because they are way too slow here in the city,” Mark Malkoff says in a video posted online.

Malkoff came up with a unique way of testing his theory: racing a bus across town in a child’s Big Wheel. Malkoff selected the mile-long stretch of 42nd street running from 10th Avenue to Madison Avenue.

Click here to watch the video

Wearing a reflective vest and helmet, Malkoff set off on his big wheel, which was kitted out with a video camera. Another cameraperson wearing a reflective vest ran beside him to capture the action.

In the video, Malkoff appears to beat the bus to Madison Avenue by one minute, 38 seconds. The bus took 14:20 to get across town, the Big Wheel 12:42.

However, it was an effort.

“My legs are in so much pain,” Malkoff says.

The video comes on the heels of New York City Mayor Michael Bloomberg’s administration proposals to alter traffic patterns along 34th Street. The proposals were spurred by a desire to speed up buses there.

In December, the M42 bus received the “Pokey Award” for the second year in a row making it, again, the slowest bus in the city. The annual report from the Straphangers Campaign says the bus recorded an average speed of 3.6 miles per hour.

What do you think? Could a Big Wheel beat a crosstown bus? Should more be done to ease traffic in New York City? Sound off in our comments section.