I don't know about black bears such as in the video, however grizzly bears have been observed sprinting at 35 mph (56 km/hr) for short distances. They have been observed to maintain a speed of 25 mph (40 km/hr) over a distance of 2 miles (3 km).

By comparison Usain Bolt, regarded as the fastest human ever, runs at a top speed of about 23 mph in the 100 m sprint.

Bears often look sort of fat, clumsey, and rolly polly when they are just hanging out in a berry patch. But then you see one get up and run, and they are just raw power and muscle. A most amazing animal!

I personally can beat those velocities easily, but I can do it only once, since I would need to do a free fall of at least 100 feet. Probably not a viable strategy.

I've only seen one black bear in the wild, and that was a trip to Yellowstone. I knew black bears could climb trees, but what I didn't realize was how amazingly fast they were at it. I saw a video out on YouTube a few months back where two guys where up in a tree stand w/bows when a black bear being chased by another decided to run up the tree they were in. The two hunters and bear sat in that tree for about three minutes, hoping that the bear didn't attack them, and bear trying to decide who was the worse threat.

The bear eventually dropped down out of the tree, and the chase continued.. but they caught it all on video. It was really amazing.

Rod

We had one run in front of us driving one time,came to drivers door and shot in front of car,I'd say doing about 20-25 mph? All I saw was this big butt wobbling left and right and he was moving.

Wife said I was amazing,downshifting,rolling up window and taking evasive action,all at once,I must have sprouted a third arm.