WASHINGTON — The Great Race went off on Tuesday to determine the fastest way to get from downtown Bethesda to downtown Silver Spring.

Jordan Cooper, a Democratic candidate for the House of Delegates, thought biking was the way to go — he believed it would be faster to ride the Capital Crescent Trail than to drive, or to take the Red Line. He also wanted to show that the trail would be a viable bike route even after the Purple Line is built.

So during Tuesday’s rush hour, he put it to the test — he hopped onto a Capital Bikeshare bike. Cooper’s campaign manager, Adam Beitman, got on the Red Line; Bill Jacobs, a Green Democrats candidate, drove.

Cooper won; Jacobs came in second. Beitman finished third.

The Democratic primary will be held June 24.

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