Jody Rosen is a contributing writer at the New York Times Magazine and a bike nut who has just published a rousing (and sometimes arousing) book called “Two Wheels Good: The History and Mystery of the Bicycle.” Today, he takes us on a rollicking ride through the two-wheeled revolution, revealing the surprising ways bicycles have shaped the world in which we live.

This and That:
» Download the Next Big Idea app
» Learn more about Transportation Alternatives
» Check out the plans to build pedestrian and cycling bridges in NYC