New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1881-08-01
THE BICYCLE IN THE PARK.

PRIVILEGES ENJOYED IN BROOKLYN
JOHN Y. CULYER's OPINION AS TO THEIR EFFECT
ON HORsEs-TITE OWNERS or TRoTTISG HORSES
OPPOSED TO GRANTING BICYCLE RIDERS THE
USE THE Road.
John Y. Culycr, chief engineer and supeIin-
tendent OF Prospect Park, Brooklyn questioned by
TRIBUNE reporter last week concerning the OF
bicycles in the Park
81 have just received" he Rajd, "a communication
from the Corporation Counsel of New-York asking
to the effect of bicycles horses will tell you sub
santially what reply shall make. The Brooklyn Park
Commission has under its supervision Park and Bo-
levard drives COney Island Prospect Park
provision has been made for almost every kind or
sonable outdoor recreation. The parade ground. be-
sides accommodating the military organizations of New
York and Brooklyn, is probably the most extensive
ground for field sports, such football, cricket,
lacrosse, base ball, polo, etc, in the country.
Inc turf spaces are broad and capacous, and croquet
lawntenns and other similar games are freely per-
mtted everywhere, and the woods in daily use in
the season for pcnics by special permission. Drivers
and riders have been amply provided for, and when
bcyclers applied for their share OF privileges used
my discretion as to the extent of permission 1
should grant for the of the Park for their needs
They have been permitted to walks the Park
for years without restriction they have had the
OF the parkways, the principal being Ocean Park
way leading from the southwest entrance Of the Park
to the Concourse at Coney Island Upon the drives Of
the Park the bicycles not permitted to 60.
A great deal of the riding and driving is done by
ladies and children and other not very experienced
drivers, and our effort has been to make the Park
especially attractive and safe for this class Of visitors
Miss Porters death last fall due incidentally,
her horse being run into by O team, which, il was
claimed, had been frightened by bicycle. This
ourrcnce suggested some occasion for caution But from
my own experience in driving and riding about the city,
nnu SO many new ana outlandsh forms or vehicles adj
vertising signs, etc, along the street. to which
are FORCED to t maE one uses the
rights III the community The one serious objection that
ncr nave Of their MOVING s MRc is
unless some proper mode of signalling i
discover the presence the bicycle Until pa passes
ny Ss on T ike to Ss
trouble"
Of ben attached The bicycle found 70 particularly
orally as my observation goes, want all the road they
sss on ssr
daring and reckless driving and assumption of the
know from experience that they to turn out
New hage S yS to 40
and believe that most horses will easily become
Have You ever allowed bicycles on the drivesp
Only at times and temporarily At the time of the
siae allowed bicycles to 60 through on the west
% has been en- stated that Miss porers death induced
That is not Her death dd occur in the Park
oyton frightened by bicycle and Ta In one @ Of
70 sh na By pile Of rubbish %s
Portcrs horse. This resulted in her death. link
wagon or van would have frightened such a team as
easily the bicycle did have "A spirited horse of nv
own that does not notice bicycles but IL does shy 81
vans One question that the Corporation Counsel asks
his note is Have You seen horses shy at bcyclesf'
the Park and at the peacocks and at the sprnk ling
carts But don't kill rabbits or murder
our peacocks, and we cannot get along without our |
sprinkling carts.
But here's thing have seen I have seen fast
drivers come up at 24o rate. and brighten by
the suddenness OF their appearance Yet would not
like deprive Mr. Vanderbilt Robert Bonner OF the
privilege OF driving Maud g and St Julien. They have
rights ms well as bicyclers. IL you start from |
Fulton Ferry and drive toward the Park |
you VIII encounter junk-carts, bands of |
music vans, etc. and your horses must get used 10
them. In NewYork they became used 10 the elevated
roads and other things. When was In Paris, In 1878
saw bicycles used for messenger service the bou
wards, and they seemed to attract ones attention
things, and II we find no harm comes, extend priy
eges. The bicycle riders have the East Parkway ex-
tending to Bedfordaye. Its concrete |
surface. The fast drivers we ALLOW |
the use OF the Ocean Parkway any spnrd they like
What they have themselves they might reasonably pcr
mt others 10 nave We propose TO lei the people get all
they out OF the park. IL enough aud the peo
pie ought TO get the fun benefit OF H." ~
riders ."
Occasionally from a said old fellow accustomed TO
jog along at four-mie rate, whose Rip Van Wrinkle
emotions had been disturbed"
In conclusion Mr.. Culyer said with emphasis: az
would suggest that the SewYork Park Commissioners
learn 20 ride the bicycle themselves They would then
about Central Park than they seem TO know now"