Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1891-07-11
From the New York Tribane. Today.

From the New York Iriban-. Today
The news of the killing o. a venerable clergy
man in Washington by a careless bicycle rider
calls attention anew to a matter Of serious pub
lie concern. Doubtless the bicycle is a praise
worthy invention. Ii il useful as a means If
conveyance. Ii affords excellent health ri, ing
exercise. And to both sexes it gives fascinat-
ing and eNhIlarating opeR-air sport Ne are
gad that the privileges of the streets ana parks
have been extended to tine wheelmen. ana that
bicycle riding has become 30 cOmiaon every
where. And it is largely because W. do Lot
wish to see the practice brought into disrcpute
and placed under annoying restrictions tina. we
urge upon ALI who indulge IN a. the need of
scrupulous care 10 avoid infringing upon tn
rights or endangerlng the safely of Others.
That such care il NOT always exercised l. only
too painfully evident. In this city there T.
perhaps, more Of II than else where. aud little
compliant is 30 be made OF The cunGGct #
wheelmen. In Brooklyn. whore bicycIe riding
is even more popular than here. there seems ~
be a minimum of care and maximum of rsrs-
lessIess. No one can the way In which
some wheeimen dash at full speed through tae
streets and perks without a weii-founGcu feel
ing of apprehension. On an asphalt paved
roadway n rubbei-tired wheel II uUiseicss. IL
gives no warning to the pedestrian of lie ap-
proach. let many riders go ~hIriing along
over crosswalks and around corners
at full speed. They ring no bell,
they sound no whistle. they make nc sig
nal Even IN the evening dusk they display
no lantern light Generally. OF course, they
keep lookout and avoid running against te,,-
pie. But many pedestrian has only saved
himself from serious harm by sudden aud ca
IRENE agility. anu many others have received
serious nervous shocks by having a fiving
wheel and Its rider rush past them IN the ,isI Il,
without premonition, and unperceived untli
within arms reach. There are Important
thororghiares which pedestrians Who are 10y
no means timid or weak-nerved dread ~
traverse, simply because Of the reckless, dan
ge.ous riding Of the wEe. linen.
Not all bicycle riders are SO incousiderate. Of
course, and We do not Elcan TO place the stigma
upon them an general But the minority, who
do oiieno, are numerous enough Laake their
practice a serious evil. il is an abuse that
should be checked FOR the sake OF the sport and
that must be stopped for the sake OF public
safety. Ii Is not too much 10 ask that al
bicycles after dark should be provided
with lights, and that Mt crossings aud
corners Of frequented thoroughfares bells
OF warning should be sounded. 1t is nos
unreasonable to demand that on crowded city
streets wheelmen should not exceed a certain
rate of speed. They should remember that not
only have pedestrians rights which they are
bound 70 respect, but that the rights OF pc
destrians outrank the privileges OF any wheeled
vehicle, be il bicycle or ice cart. We should
not like 10 see repressive legislation directed
sense and taste ought to suffice to check this
our streets and park walks must be made safe.