Pedal power beat petrol power in yesterday's Commuter Challenge as cyclists took on cars and a bus to race along two 12-mile routes along the A40 from Witney to Oxford.

Four cyclists, two cars and a passenger travelling on Stagecoach's 100 double-decker bus set off from Market Square, in Witney, at 7.45am.

Forty minutes later, two cyclists arrived at Carfax, in Oxford city centre, after riding along the A40 cyclepath, Woodstock Road and St Giles.

The car driver, Ted Dewan, taking the same route, took 54 minutes.

It took the cyclist in the second race along the same stretch of A40 -- going via the Swinford Toll Bridge, along the B4044 through Farmoor and Botley Road -- 41 minutes to get to Carfax. Thirteen minutes later -- also after 54 minutes -- bus passenger Graham Gough arrived.

Oxford Mail reporter Samantha Simpson, who took the same route by car, reached the city centre after 56 minutes. Commuter Challenge organiser Mark McArthur-Christie, who rode the first route, said: "The aim of the challenge wasn't to start a campaign, it was to draw attention to the fact that cycling is quicker and to show people it's not that hard.

"If we could get people to realise that it won't kill them to ride from Witney to Oxford, perhaps a few people will get their old bikes out of the shed and leave the car at home.

"And perhaps then we wouldn't even need to think about dualling the A40."

Mr McArthur-Christie, who rides daily from his home in Bampton to work in West End, Witney, and the Commuter Challengers were waved off from Witney by town mayor Steve Holborough and welcomed at Carfax by Oxford's Lord Mayor Bob Price.

Mr Price, who vowed to do more to promote cycling when he took the reins of office last month, said: "It's a great way to demonstrate the positive aspects of cycling."

Mr McArthur-Christie added: "All of the cyclists taking part in the challenge reached Oxford within about the same time, 40 minutes, which is very good considering people spend almost an hour sat in back-to-back traffic every day on the same routes.

"We hope this will encourage people to think more carefully about the way they commute. There are so many extra benefits to cycling."

New Lord Mayor Mr Price, who vowed to do more to promote cycling when he came into office last month, agreed.

"It's a great, fun way to demonstrate the positive aspect of cycling, and I would hope people take notice," he said.