In a stunt run to mark the arrival of rental e-scooters in London, radio station LBC pitted one against a black cab and public transport to see which form of transport was quickest.
Three reporters were tasked with getting from Barnes to the other side of Hammersmith Bridge during rush hour.
This would in another time mean little more than a quick jaunt over Hammersmith Bridge. However, its closure meant a more circuitous journey of around four miles.
Despite having to walk for a stretch of his journey on and around Putney Bridge – due to the London Borough of Wandsworth not yet being involved in the trial – e-scooter rider Theo Usherwood was quickest with black cab rider Matthew Thompson second.
Usherwood explained: "Hammersmith Bridge Road is closed just before The Old City Arms, so Matt's cab had to pull up at the closure sign, at which point I scooted past to win the race."
James Gooderson meanwhile was forced to report from “a purgatory of traffic” while travelling by bus – still a couple of minutes from the finish.
If you're travelling in a city, and your time is important to you.
— Pedal Me (@pedalmeapp) June 7, 2021
Motors are almost never the right solution. https://t.co/IbksG30Zn8
