How do Toronto's contentious new bus lanes actually affect commute time?

Toronto's contentious new RapidTO transit priority lanes on Dufferin Street have angered motorists long before they were installed along a 2.5-kilometre stretch of the artery last November.

But despite the grumbles of motorists, there's mounting evidence that the red-painted bus lanes are moving commuters much faster than pre-installation travel times — and even faster than a car in a head-to-head race.

blogTO put the controversial project to the test with a race from our headquarters in Liberty Village to a revered Toronto landmark, the Dufferin Mall food court.

@blogto Transit Challenge: Liberty Village - Dufferin Mall - Driving VS Bus 🎙️🎥 @antonwongvideo @seiyacreates 💻 @luiz.strina ♬ original sound - blogTO

It turns out that, while a car might get you to the site of Dufferin Mall just a bit faster, your inevitable search for parking will set you back a few minutes at the least. 

In the end, the new bus lanes really came through for the TTC trip time, while undoubtedly adding to the car's transit time. 

Perhaps it's finally time to retire the Dufferin route's mocking moniker, the "29 Sufferin'."