On Friday 17 November we will know the answer because an event, the likes of which Swansea has never seen before, will be taking place with a bus vs car vs bike “Race Across The City”.

At 10.45am the three teams will be under starter’s orders as they race from Swansea University’s Singleton Campus to its Bay Campus to raise support for the Santander Cycles University Challenge crowdfunding campaign. 

A Swansea University electric car, a Santander bike and a number 8X First South and West Wales bus will be ‘racing’ from Fulton House  on the Singleton Park Campus to the finishing line at the School of Management at the Bay Campus.

The Top Gear style ‘race’ is being held to raise awareness and generate crowdfunding donations to support the bike sharing scheme competition. Swansea University has been shortlisted in the Santander bikesharing competition which will see two UK universities winning £100k worth of capital funding to launch the scheme. Swansea University must raise a minimum of £53,178 through crowdfunding donations between 6th November and 8^th December.

Local celebrities will be joining the teams as they battle it out for the winner’s rostrum. The participants are:

Team 1(Bus):

Kevin Johns MBE in full pantomime gear (performing in Aladdin at the Swansea Grand Theatre), Jayne Cornelius, Sustainable Travel Officer, Swansea University and a Police Community Support Officer to keep Kevin under control !

Team 2 (Car):

Leigh and Claire from the Wave, Nigel Morris (driver), Swansea University & Low Carbon Swansea Bay and Will Ponty, Student and ‘Cycle Champion’ for the bike scheme.

Team 3 (Bike):

Ben Sampson, Swansea University Sustainability team accompanied by Teifion Madocks, Swansea University Sustainability team and students from the Swansea University student road cycling club.   

Local businesses and guests have been invited to a networking event at the School of Management Atrium on the Bay Campus where they will be watching live GPS tracking of the event as it moves across the city. They will also have the chance to listen to live coverage on 96.4 FM The Wave and to cheer the teams on as they cross the finish line. The event will finish at around 11.45am.

For further information about the crowdfunding campaign and how to pledge go to  http://www.crowdfunder.co.uk/bikes4swansea

Swansea University is currently placed second but is being chased up the leader board. Keep a track on our progress here:  http://www.crowdfunder.co.uk/santander-cycles and encourage everyone to get us to the top of the table.

PLEDGE IT, WIN IT, USE IT !