Rise in Bikers Pushes New York Towards Cycle-Friendliness

"Only a decade ago, the few bicyclists who tried to wedge into traffic were seen as interlopers, scorned by city drivers and pedestrians alike -- 'granola eaters from a fringe movement,' said Paul Steely White, executive director of Transportation Alternatives, a leading bicycle advocacy group."

"But with rising oil prices and heightened concern about carbon emissions, riding a bicycle no longer seems quite so silly. The number of bicyclists has grown by 75% during the last seven years, according to the city's count."

"Soon an ambitious city plan will make it possible for riders to traverse Manhattan via dedicated bike lanes and circumnavigate the island along the waterfront. Sheltered bicycle parking and thousands of new public bike racks are already in place."

"'It's a new paradigm for biking in New York -- a feet-first approach,' said Janette Sadik-Khan, the transportation commissioner who has overseen a $1-million safety campaign that included handing out 10,000 bicycle helmets."