The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1890-09-21
CITY FOR BICYCLISTS
IN ROCHESTER, N. ", THEY HAVE
THINGS THEIR OWN WAY.


Chief Riders-About 400 Women and
Girls Own MachineG
most forcibly from the very moment Of his
arrival there is the large number Of bicycles
in the streets. His second surprise comes
when he notes the varied sorts of people
who use the machines. Finally he is as
tonished TO see women Of diversified ages
and conditions upon wheels-not half a
dozen or score Of women. but literally
hundreds of them. Occasionally one will
meet in block more men and women en-
bicycles than Cd foot.
Even in the most crowded business streets
of that busy city three or four bicycles viii
pass any given point inside Of any quarter
hour Of tie day and not occasion the least
comment A visitor in Rochester, who re-
Gently stood in Main street, nearly oppo
site the city hall-as crowded spot As any
in the city-counted eleven bicycles inside
of twenty-five minutes. And this was be
tween 2 and 3 o'clock in the afternoon,
when traffic was at its height.
The Rochester bicyclist exhibits q degree
of confidence and nerve in the middle OF a
street full OF cabs, carts, trucks and horse
carts that would paralyze New York wheel
men he glides along in the middle Of the
street, turns out Of the way of an approach
ing horse car, ducks under the nose Of a
cab horse and gets in the wake of a car
riage till he sees an opening, when he
skins around to one side, takes a long
chance with q truck which comes rafting
down q side street. and so, lodging and
turning, squirting and Stacking up, break
ing over An open or hiding behind . cart,
he wiggles up or down the street and out
of sight, beating the pedestrians on the
sidewalk and getting much the better OF
passengers in the street cars.
BUSINESS MEN RIDE.
The men on most Of the bicycles wear no
knickerbockers, flannel shirts or bicycle
caps, and sport no badges or colors. Their
sober business suits, their sedate air, their
preoccupied faces, all show them to be
business men on business bent. Ii is fact
that hundreds of the most prominent bust
ness men of Rochester owners, brok-
ers, bankers, lawyers and Wholesale deal
ers In many lines Of trade-go TO business
in the morning regularly upon bicycles,
and use their wheels constantly during the
day. A walk through any business street
in business hours shows dozens Of wheels
upon the sidewalks resting against the
outside walls Of Offices.
Oftentimes three or four bicycles will be
seen outside single door. and IL is not I'M
common to count dozen or more wheels
awaiting their riders in a single block.
Their owners are either the proprietors Of
the establishments or business men who
have called there to do business with the
house. They think no more Of leaving
their wheels outside than they would Of
hitching their horses TO posts in the street.
Clerks also use bicycles extensively, and it
is said that nearly all the reporters own
machines and use them in doing their
daily assignments.
In the residence quarters OF town. also.
it is common to see bicycles standing ont
side the doors of houses. Girls use them
freely, and when they run in to have q chat
with a friend they leave the steel steeds
outside. A reputable bicycle dealer in
Rochester told the reporter few days ago
that there were at least 1900 bicycles in
daily use in that city, and that large pro-
portion Of them belonged TO business men.
He also said that there were a good 900 lady
riders in town.
1t is by no means an unusual sight TO ses
afew ladies riding cycles in an eastern iowa
or suburb, but it makes an eastern man
rub his eyes 70 walk in any well paved resi-
dencs street in Rochester on any pleasant
afternoon. Most of the girls are young.
say from 10 TO 10 years old, but there are
also many whose ages entitls them to be
called young ladies', and occasionally vorn-
en- approaching middle age Sometimes
half q dozen or mora win gfids rapidly
along the smooth pavement in a merry
group.
GIRLS RIDE FREQUENTLY.
Some are evidently ont on errands, from
the businesslike way they steer n straight
and rapid course, but most OF the girls arc
riding for pleasure. Now and then you
come across pretty group in the middle
of roadway, several bright faced girls in
airy bicycling costumes, standing and chat
ting gayly while tAeC lean upon their
wheels. The girls seldom II ever venture
upon the business streets They stick 20
the residence avenues. where roads are fine
and smooth and traffic is light. But they
do not lack in skill, nevert heless, rs IL fire.
quently noted when girl il seen 70 glide
nimbly out Of tho way OF IN approaching
vehicle, or circle in front OF n trotting
horse. Rochester horses, by the way, ap-
pear to be thoroughly used 20 bicycles, and
seem to fear them no more than they fear
ordinary vehicles.
But the most peculiar feature OF the
bicycle riding there to O man from an
eastern city Is TO see bicycles upon the side
walks. Even country places Of some size
in our Neigh borhood. as Orange, for in
stance, have law compelling bicycliSts 70
keep 70 tbs roadway. In Rochester thsrs
is more bicycle riding upon the sidewalks
than in the roadwa-a Pedestrians seem
10 think nothing Of having Big wheel
como gliding noiseiessly up behind them,
and whisk past 50 Close thai TIA wind u
makes fans their faces. There 10 no oTdi-
nance regulating the speed OF bicycles upon
the sidewalks, but apparently by common
understanding tho ridsrs move lsisurely
When they want to speed they turn into
the road
Police officials say that very few aeci- |
dents result FROM the universal bicycle |
riding. Nearly al ri6srs use wheels Of the
safety pattern, AID 81 are Ikllful in their
management Tiers ara almost 10 ordt |
nances regulating their uss, and every rtrest
In the entire city - open % them Ia snail
portions Of Eve % tie uaoE, crowded streets |
bicyclists are prohibited from using tbs
EidewalkG Ctbsrgige Iasy hAvs tAingB al !
their own Way.-Ssu IoEx San.