Meet the Toronto runner racing every streetcar in the city
Mac Bauer is fed up with slow commutes, and is working to prove that the sidewalk is faster than the tracks
Which is faster: running or taking the streetcar?
Earlier this month, Toronto runner Mac Bauer gave up on the city’s streetcars and laced up his running shoes, aiming to settle the ultimate debate. So far, the runner has taken on three of Toronto’s eight streetcar routes and is undefeated–but can he keep up his winning streak?
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Bauer’s friends have stepped up to help his pursuit; they ride the streetcar to allow him to track the vehicle’s location as he runs. And yes, to answer your question, Bauer is following all the rules of the road–stopping for streetlights, no jaywalking. The unique feat has garnered tons of attention–he was even featured on City News.
How the challenge came about
“This came from a rough year of running and trying to come up with something to keep me motivated and excited to get out and run,” Bauer told Canadian Running. “It also came from just the decrease of speed and quality of the streetcar. Previously, they were such a fun form of transportation but recently they no longer feel safe, and with the population of the city growing and congestion getting worse, the speed and reliability is horrible.”
The routes, so far
Battle 1: 509 route
Bauer’s first race was along the 509 route beginning at Exhibition Park and ending at Union station–a 3.5-km journey. But a rust buster wasn’t even needed; according to his Strava, he crushed the streetcar by more than eight minutes, clocking 13:11 while the streetcar completed the trip in 21:32.
Battle 2: Bathurst route 511
The second run began at Bathurst Station and traced 4.71 km down to Exhibition Loop. “Wasn’t even close,” Bauer wrote on Strava. He completed the run in 18:13, while the streetcar took 25 minutes. In the 31 C heat, Bauer’s friend, who rode the streetcar, arrived “a lot drier, but a lot slower.”
Battle 3: Spadina route 510
Bauer’s third and final battle so far began at Spadina station and stretched 3.56 km to Queen’s Quay. Even after tackling a hefty set of stairs to exit the station, setting him back at the start before catching nearly every light, the runner’s 16:20 final time still beat the streetcar.
The toughest route
Bauer plans to tackle the 514 route next week, then the 505, the 512, the 501 and finish off with the 506.
He predicts the St. Clair (512) or Queen St. (501) routes will be the most difficult. “St. Clair will be difficult because of the speed of the streetcar having its own lane,” he said. “And Queen will be hard based on the distance–it’s around 24 km.” The 501 loop stretches from Scarborough to Humber College, approximately 1 hour, 45 minutes by streetcar.
Should Bauer take on the subway next?
