Commuter of the Month: Hugh Markoff
By Cindy Arlinsky

Age: 49
Occupation: Options Trader, American Stock Exchange, Lower Manhattan.
Home: West Village Manhattan.
Number of years bike commuting: 25
Why: Its always been better than any other way to go to work... - or go anywhere, for that matter.
Getting started: I biked in college. When I moved back to the city my wife said, "Why not continue? We could probably do it here?"
Current commutes: 2.5 miles (12 min.): West Street to Liberty Street.
Bike: Three year old Trek road bike.
Clothing: Work attire (Shirt and tie, khakis, sneakers.)
Helmet: Never. It would be uncomfortable, though I don't really know. I'm not convinced they increase cyclists' safety.
Lock: Cheap Lock.
Theft: 5 or 6, including one I was ready to junk.
Parking: Bike room in the famous (now defunct) Harry's restaurant, at the back of my office building. At first I used an outdoor rack near guards, but theft was a problem. Then an indoor stairwell, but the fire department hassled us. So the company put a rack in front, near the guards, with TV cameras, but theft still occurred. This space opened up when Harry's closed and it's great.
Advice for winning indoor parking: It's a sales job like any other. Be persistent
Number of co-workers you've convinced to bike commute: I haven't been as successful as you'd expect. Everybody's afraid of traffic, but embarrassment is probably a factor, too.
Number of co-workers using bike room: 10 regulars out of a potential 1000.
Seasons: All year long.
Weather: Snow's OK. I won't bike in heavy rain in the morning but will after work.
How to improve your commute: Cops should stop ticketing cyclists. It's irritating.

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