Some media outlets and Seattle voters have spread the rumor that if Mike McGinn is elected mayor, he will only use his bicycle for daily transportation. He said that's not true and wanted to set the record straight.

“Let’s put this story to rest,” said McGinn sporting a bicycle helmet with his two-wheeler at the ready with another day ahead filled with campaigning around the city.

“Even during my campaign I drive places,” said McGinn, a Greenwood resident. “Some places are too far to bike. But I do plan to bike when it makes sense. Short trips are often times faster by bike than by car. I started mainly for exercise. I discovered I really liked it, and saved money because I didn’t have to pay for parking and it's about as fast as the bus.

“But, yes, if elected, I do hope to bike as often as I can. You can just roll your bike on at a light rail stop, and also use those racks on buses. Of course there are some times you have to drive. That’s the way the city’s designed.”

McGinn also rides an electric pedal-assist bike.

“The electric bike gives me a lot more freedom,” he said. “I could bike around and get to events without being sweaty while going from event to event. Every once in a while some cyclist will say to me, ‘Hey, you’re cheating.’ The rider will give me a hard time. So, I have a stock answer, ‘I’m using a small electric motor rather than a large gasoline one.”

Mike McGinn enters a run-off election with Joe Mallahan in the Nov. 3 general election. Both beat Mayor Greg Nickels in the primary election Aug. 18.