A champion athlete beat a city bus in a race across the Spanish capital of Madrid in a stunt to encourage more Spaniards to abandon cars and public transport and take to their heels.
European 10,000 metres champion Jose Maria "Chema" Martinez notched up a comfortable victory over the red number 27 bus which had to contend with heavy traffic and numerous stops along its busy route to Madrid's central Atocha train station.
The 3 km (1.9 mile) race was one of several events to celebrate Madrid's Alternative Transport Week, aimed at easing environmental problems from the city's heavy traffic.
Despite wet conditions, scores of onlookers cheered on the runner, who won national acclaim after taking gold at the European Athletics Championships in Munich this year. The bus received little support.
"It wasn't a fair race for the bus... it had to stop and pick up passengers," the victorious Martinez said.
"It was a nice experience. I hope that this encourages people not necessarily to run, but at least to walk...rather than take the car."
A report by environmental group Ecologists in Action said that over short distances in central Madrid, bicycles were the fastest form of transport, followed by the Metro, then walking.
The car was the slowest form of all.
The group also said the car was the most expensive form of urban transport and the most environmentally damaging.
(Reuters)