With the emergence of artificial intelligence and AI chatbots, it can sometimes feel like humans are set to be outmoded by machines. However, those fearing the viability of humanity in Lausanne have been given a crumb of comfort, after a team of runners were able to outpace the city’s metro.
To celebrate the 30th anniversary since Lausanne was named the Olympic Capital of the world, local authorities held the "m2 Challenge" on June 20. As part of the event, teams of relay runners raced against the m2 metro line between Ouchy-Olympique and the terminus in Croisettes.
To beat the metro, runners would have to cover 5,6 kilometres and 300 metres of altitude in just under 19 minutes. Naturally, to do this each runner formed part of a relay, running between 60 and 100 metres to the next team member. To make it a real race, the local public transport provider, Transport Lausanne (TL), put on a special service that travelled the route at the same time as the runners.
Of the three teams that ran the race, members of local Lausanne sports clubs and academies were fastest, managing to beat the train by 2,5 minutes with a time of 15 minutes, 35 seconds. The second team made up of TL workers, members of the International Olympic Committee and officials from the local council came second with a time of 16 minutes, 24 seconds.
Finally, a youth team of 14 to 17-year-olds also managed to beat the train with a time of 16 minutes and 30 seconds. The special m2 train brought up the rear with a time of 18 minutes and six seconds - though the train did stop at the 14 different stations on the route.
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