In rush-hour battle, the bike rolls on

John Boyle, who is, appropriately, the bicycle coalition's advocacy director, pedaled five minutes from his home in Burlington County's Edgewater Park to the River LINE yesterday. He folded the bike for the 30-minute train ride to Camden - and then cycled an additional 25 minutes over the Ben Franklin Bridge to Center City, noting the sun glinting off the river.

"Just a spectacular morning," Boyle said.

That, to Doty, illustrates commuter cycling's "most profound advantage." Practical benefits aside, he said, "if we had something to measure joy, the bicycle is going to win by leaps and bounds."

In all fairness, it must be noted that Minick, the SEPTA rider who placed third in the race, had a little bit of joy herself yesterday morning.

The ride took so long she was able to finish reading her Patricia Cornwell novel.

Bicycling to Work

Yesterday's race was part of the Bicycle Coalition of Greater Philadelphia's celebration of Bike-to-Work Week.

Related events

Bike films at International House (7 tonight).

Biking to the Phillies (6 p.m. tomorrow).

Bike-to-work event with Mayor Nutter (Philadelphia Museum of Art and other locations, 7:30 to 10 a.m. Friday).

For more information

Call 215-242-9253or go to