It takes Joel Pfeffer, a partner in the law firm of Meyer, Unkovic & Scott, a little longer to get to and from work these days, but he's enjoying the commute a whole lot more.

"I bought a bike last fall, thinking that if the buses went on strike, this would be a cool way to get Downtown," Mr. Pfeffer said.

There wasn't a bus strike, so the bike -- a hybrid between a road racer and a mountain bike -- gathered dust until May 1, when Joel began using it to get from his home in Squirrel Hill to his office in the Oliver Building at the corner of Smithfield Street and Oliver Avenue, Downtown.

It takes him about 25 minutes to get to work, and about 40 minutes to get home, since much of the return trip is uphill.

Since he started commuting by bicycle, Mr. Pfeffer has lost about 10 pounds, and says he feels more energetic.

"From time to time I've engaged in exercise programs," he said. "I've never liked them. This I happen to like."

When he started commuting by bike, Mr. Pfeffer's strength would wear out before he made it home.

"I'd have my wife pick me up at the [Schenley Park?] trailhead, or in Oakland," he said. Now he makes it all the way on his own.

He usually rides to work wearing an old pair of khaki pants and the dress shirt he wore the day before. His backpack contains clean underwear and a fresh shirt.

"The YMCA is two blocks from my office," he said. "I shower and change clothes there. I keep several suits in my office, replenish them on weekends."