National Republican., 1883-07-26
PEDESTRIANS AND BICYCLES.
Rules Suggested by n Prominent Wheel
iunal TO Avoid Accidents.

iunsl TO Avoid Accidents.
"The fact that bicycling has been greatly
in vogue here for the past five years with no
collision or trouble on the streets, until
within the last month, speaks great deal for
the mutual good conduct of both bicyclists
and public" said noted wheelman to u RE-
PUBLICAN reporter yesterday. Yet it will
not do to say that annoyances do not fire.
quently arise which call for the exercise of
prudence and forbearance on both sides. The
streets in Washington are regarded by chill
dren as their especial playground, and by the
adult portion of the community as choice
sidewalks. Hence even when the course
seems clear the wheclman is ever uncer-
tain when the enemy will appear.
This is applicable to adults, both
men and women, but especially so
to children. These latter recklessly and
often defantay throw themselves in the path
of the rider, daring him to advance. Some
of the bodeI ones lie fat on the pavement
| "iust to see the fellow take header" All
this is amusing enough to the youngster-if
! he escape unhurt-but it tends greatly to de-
stroy both the pleasure and profit of the
I rider.
Tho irregular movements of the pedestrian,
both male and female, are, however, even
more serious annoyances to the wheelmen
a small majority of cases man will keep on
his course when traversing street and leave
the thankful bicyclist to select his, but a
woman always goes this way and that, until the
lucxless riders has either to stand still or dis
mount. Then she decides promptly which is
her road and takes it at once Children who
are not reckless no sooner let a bicycist get
near them than they stand not upon the or
der of their going, but go at once, one way or
| the other, and two often both ways at once
Now 1 would suggest to the pedestrian, to
save annoyapces to him, the following rules
First--Neither halt, increase, nor slacken
your speed, but go onward at the same rate.
! On no account go backward
Second-Never change the direction of mo-
tion, but pursue it, if practicable until the
| bicyclist has had opportunity to pass.
| Third-lf about to leave the sidewalk for
| the pavement, and u movement indicating
this has been made, do not hesitate, but go
forward, unless the bicyclist is dangerously
| near.
Fourth--If two or more persons are stand
ing together on the pavement and bicyclist
is near they should not suddenly sepprate
without warning, nor go in different direc-
! tions.
Fifth-Children will be in great measure
"a law unto themselves" but parents should
instruct to never "dare" bicyclist nor
| cross his path when near for no care on his
part under such circumstances can always
avert accidents, either to himself or them
81 think" continued tho wheelman, that
the first two of these rules are of special i'm
portance. 1t is obvious that their adoption
will enable the wheelman to form just esti.
mate of the course or position the pedestrian
will take or maintain, and thus he will be
able to guide his machine accordingly.
need only say that the practice of racing on
the streets by bicyclists is to be condemned
as liable to cause accidents and obscure the
true objects of bicycling"