Bicyclist Gary Eckstein, 45, travels between home and work over the Brooklyn Bridge. More New York commuters are opting for just two wheels. And while there is a certain safety in numbers, they must navigate anarchic traffic conditions. (Carolyn Cole / Los Angeles Times)
A man carries his bike as he approaches the Brooklyn Bridge for his commute home. The number of cyclists in New York City has grown by 75% during the last seven years, and many are middle-aged. (Carolyn Cole / Los Angeles Times)
Gary Eckstein and his wife, Amy Cohen, take their children, Sammy, 7, and Tamar, 9, to school in Brooklyn before embarking on their 35-minute bicycle commute into Lower Manhattan. Its a beautiful way to start the day, Cohen says. (Carolyn Cole / Los Angeles Times)
A morning commuter traverses the wooden planks of the Brooklyn Bridge. Many New Yorkers find that -- besides being good exercise -- bicycling to and from work has economical and ecological advantages. (Carolyn Cole / Los Angeles Times)
