New York's Suburban Bicyclists

"It was 7:30 a.m. on a humid Monday, and David Muller, a doctor and a suburban bike commuter, was sweating his way to work. As he rode along the George Washington Bridge and into Manhattan, Dr. Muller, 44, seemed indifferent to the low roar of rush-hour traffic. He was halfway from Teaneck - where he lives - to Mount Sinai Medical Center - where he works - and was happy to be on his bicycle.

'It's free, it's good for the environment, good for your health,' he said, beads of sweat collecting under his helmet and underneath his backpack, about 5 miles into his 12-mile ride. 'And it's a little dangerous, so you get a little thrill at the beginning and the end of each day.' He also gets satisfaction from beating cars across the bridge. 'I love it,' he said.

Five minutes later, another commuter pedaled along. Henry Minnerop, a partner in a Manhattan law firm and '70-plus' years old, said he drives each day - year round - to Englewood Cliffs, and then bikes about 12 miles into Midtown. 'I park my bike in the garage I used to use when I drove in,' he said before riding off. 'There's a gym in my office. I shower and come out looking like a lawyer.'"