The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1891-10-24
BIoYoLIsTs ON TIE INCREASE.
The wheslmen's Petition to the City
Council.


The bicycle is rapidly becoming one OF
Savannah's institutions, both ss a means Of
amusement and rapid transit. Between
seventy-fve and 100 machines are now in
use, aud the number is being added TO daily.
The big wheel is fast giving away 70 the
safety, y and the change is much more
pleasing to the eye OF the spectators,
because the riders have more
graceful shape than when estride Of one OF
the elevated machines Business men and
clerks are adopting tie bicycle as q means
of transit from their homes to their offices.
Morning. noon and night the machines can
be seen gliding along the streets toward the
business section, and the street cars are los.
ing many nickel in consequence Of the In
PRODUCTION OF the new locomotive power,
The Savannah Wheelmen, the local club
OF bicyclists, now has 81 members
and applications are being received at every
nesting. The object OF the clue is to sls-
vate the sport and inculcate a friendly
spirit among the wheelmen. Il is COM
posed of the best class Of young men. The
rules OF the club require every member to
have his machine provided with lantern
and bell 70 warn people 1t their approach
aud protect them against any possible acci-
dent in being knocked down or run over.
Every Thursday night the club has run
either to Thunderbolt or White Bluff, gen.
orally to the former place. These runs are
O means OF considerable instruction to the
wheelinen, and give them an opportunity
OF testing their peed. The ru to Thunder
bolt has several times been made In eighteen
minutes, and to White Bluff, nine miles, in
forty minutes. The expert riders in the
club have several times given fast horses a
brush ON the road, with the result that the
horses were distanced.
The club has petitioned the city council
for the use of the sidewalks Of the streets
west OF jefferson and east Of Drayton when
they are not in uss by pedestrians. Alder
man Bailey offered an ordinance at the last
meeting granting the request, and ir will be
acted upon next Wednesday night. Chi
| cage, Providence. Rochester. Buffalo, Tole-
do. Newport Utica, Newark, Washington
and other cities have granted similar priv
| ileges, and it is likely that Savannah will.
In New York ana all the western cities the
bicyclists are allowed the use Of the streets
at any time, and men, women
and children can lie seen running the
machines at all hours Of the day.
A member Of the Savannah club, In speak
ing of the matter yesterday, said the OBJ
lection put forward here is that the use Of
the sidewalks by bicyclists impedeS the
movements of pedestrians, but nothing, he
said, is ever heard of how the movements of
pedestrians are impeded by baby carriages
and small boys astrids OF vslocipedes People
wouldn't have to move any farther out of
the way for a bicyclist than they do for a
baby carriage or a velocipede. aud a man
handling a wheel Is always able TO handle it,
as general rule, to keep out Of the way OF
pedestrians.
The bicyclists claim that the exercise of
operating a wheel is much more exhila-
rating an rids on horseback. "Wben
man is tired, and his brains feels weary"
said one Of them, "not hing braces him up
a. spin on wheel The air gets full play
st him, and the movement Of the feet keeps
the blood in easy circulation. giving to the
rider refreshing feeling which is not
equalled by any other exercise.
The wheelmen areanxiously awaiting the
asphalting of Bull street to the PARK, be-
cause then they will have ono Of the finest
roadways in the country.