Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1883-05-16
10 the Editor Of The EVENING STAR

10 The Editor OF HE EvENISG STAR.
Owners Of bicycles who, as spring approaches,
seek relaxation from their labors at the close Of
The day upon the country roads. are often will
fnlly annoyed and occasionally forced into dan
Eerous positions by the reckless drivers OF fast
horses. The claim OF these men. when thew 90
% far as to give reason for their conduct In
that the bicycle has no right upon the highway
and therefore should be driven out. Upon
several occasions have myself been warned to
get out OF the way by persons coming from be-
hind ut high speed, when there was ample room
for three teams to pass me abreast, and twice
only escaped accident by yielding the whole
road.
Now. riders of the bicycle are gentlemen. and
whether members of clubs or not obey q set OF
riding rules which are a. well understood as the
rules OF the road among horsemeu- Some of
these rules are made purely i'm the interest Of
horse oceners, and which bicyclers are under no
legal or moral obligation to obey but do 80 from
courtesy and because they are gentlemen The
most important OF these is to dismount when
ever horse that the rider 10 passing shows
positive fright. and bicyclers generally are
known to respect 1t. i have seen fifteen mem
oers of club-some of them men thirty-fiye
years Of age-uismonnt and drag their wheels
en- from the highway to please an old country
warmer. whose horse was FESTIVE. and who feared
to drive by.
The bicyclers OF Washington are not bows but
q large percentage OF them are grown men
doctors, lawyers. scientific men, business men
men OF leisure-and gOody proportion, men
OF Families and fathers of half-grown children
Many have abundant means to own and keen
horses If they wish, but prefer the bieyc,e as
Offering superior advantages In the way Of
health; aud some own both horse and bcyele
1hey are gentlemen known and respected In the
community IN which they live, and as long as
they conduct themselves as gentlemen, obey
road rules and mind their cvn business while
riding their fay0rite steeds ths.y have as sure a
horses. ~
Every new thing has to 90 through stare
OF prejudice before il becomes fairly established:
and the prejudice against the bicycle In the
minds of the few arises mainly from the fact
thal some horses are frightened by it, The IN
FAIRNESS Ga this pTejudce-often denunciatory-
is shown by considering the fact that horses shv
al hundred other things every day, which are
regarded as a matter of course Then there are
many horses 80 nervous and s'skittish' that
they Will shy at ANYTHING. from piece of paper
70 al viii say darkey with wheelbarrow-
for while pause to think Of a suitable object
to name horse is prancing before such a one
In the street IL front OF my window.
Read what an eminent authority On road
laws says upon this subject in the Whselrnan:
Every man who drives hor runs his own risk II
S.y animal IN tie New o1 Sos II:
sh~s and animals ns e Saass must
the sS on 10r any yahs 70 The
hiinsen next beast. sfterward. This II the funda-
ehtsi rr1ncple which ancient the body of the
~" - has a. much right TO drive elephant camel
Se an As or an OK. as hiss to drive q horse. II AS
rs irig ntened es Be elephant, camel asa or OK
morn s no 9o.gauon TO 81 or to give As horse any
$50 an n, nsI Tie road Again: has . right to
ILL 1If1 as norse ohieess and may push handcart
tnu CIV paoy carriage, and G march a brass
Ssho; plaSlns down the road. and haul cisterinS
bet and bis h srs no on s sg the end q the shs
= best they can Now. Of all tue ons objects VII IN
horses sometimes shy at bicycle is TIE eyrieess -
least alarming. the least obstructive ana dang ms anJ
hcrses become accustomed 10 Il soonest and eas;ss
Indeed. the great majority of horses do not si q. -
even tho nrst tune they see It." so ~ -
Those who drive colts, or nervous aid badly.