At the foot-and-bike path 15 minutes before the 1 p.m. football games, I did not see many people. There were several bikers moving swiftly — and dangerously, I thought — but they had full cyclist gear on. I also saw tourists and hikers enjoying a sunny day and a splendid view.
Then I spotted a man sitting on a low wall staring at his phone.
I was not certain what to say. Would he want to share his story with a stranger, particularly a reporter? I asked the man, Colman Cooper, if he had DraftKings, one of the popular sports betting apps. He said he did. I told him I was with The Times and interested in what he was doing for a potential article. He was more than just amenable. He was a terrific resource.
He told me all about how he had biked from his home in Washington Heights in Manhattan and had been doing it regularly for about a year. Mr. Cooper places modest bets (most of them in the $2-$15 range, he said), then cycles home to watch the games.
He said he had seen as many as 15 to 20 people on the bridge making bets, although at that moment he was the sole gambler.
At that point I knew I had a good story and emailed editors in the Sports department, who encouraged me to proceed. I returned to the bridge on Oct. 3, this time much earlier in the day, and with the photographer Emma Howells, who helped me gather information.