Pittsburg dispatch. [volume] (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, 1892-06-12
RIGHTS OF CYCLERS.
The L, A, W. Is to Condemn Pitts
burg Streets at the Coming Meet.
NOTES OF AN OBSERVATION TRIP.
The Best Asphalt Streets of the East End
Are Full of Pitfalls.
NO RED LIGHTS TO WARN OF DANGER

When the League of American Wheel
men begin discussion of the roads and
streets question at their annual session in
Washington this month, Pittsburg will
come IN for good share of the talk, and IL
will be critical rather than commendatory.
The L. A. W. is necessarily "good roads
organization" ard is doing a good work, in
the East especially. Here it has been in
active for some cause, but this year Pitts
burg will be given good place in the dis
cussion, and the force of the League will Ia
brought to bear on the streets of the city.
P1ttsburg does not compare with any Of
the cities of the country on the question of
good streets" says Charley Petticord, who
is the new L. A. w. Consul to succeed
Frank G. Lenz 'In Buffalo and other
cities you see men riding along with dinner
buckets on their wheels going to and from
work. Here it is impossible because of the
bad holes in the best paved streets, in
which a man is liable to be ditched at any
time.
Block Pavrmants Not Obj sctionabie.
"We don't object to block pavements, but
do object to all sorts of distractions on the
best streets, over which man is liable 10
tuml lie at any time, day or night. Acct
serious the city is liable to be sued, and
should an L. A. W. man be badly injured
because of obstructions or bad holes in the
streets. the whole force of the League will
be brought to bear in suit against the
city,"
Captain Culbertson. OF the East End Gym
Wheelmen, is an enthusiastic rider and L.
A W. man. He probably knows as much
about the pitfalls in tine streets as any other
cycler in the city. He, as well as many
others, has been reminded of them by num-
erous tumbles, none of which, however,
have proved serious Over the best East
End asphalt streets man must ride with
caution because of the holes or piles of rub
blsh. In some places there are ruts which
stretch clear across the street, which are big
enough to break buggy springs.
SOM of the Cyciers' Pitfalls.
Accompanied by Captain Culbertson, .
DISPATCH reporter took a trip over some Of
the worst streets to get an idea of tho
dangers attendant upon wheeling in Pitts
burg. Some OF the places are plainly the
result of negligence. They have been there
for months, with no lights and no attempt
to fix them. All along the Duquesne car
tracks there are holes into which a man is
liable to be plunged if he try to cross from
one side to the other. Some places have
evenly, leaving 1t as bad SIS holes would
be.
Near the corner of Ellsworth avenue and
Lilac street there is 4 ditch five inches deep
from the curb to the track wide enough to
ruin buggy as well as a bicvcle. Ali along
Ellsworth the street car tracks are hard to
cross on account of the holes along them.
On Baum street there are several holes
filled with broken asphalt, making bad hills,
h..- Co. O q
inches high. There are others, not so large,
but just as dangerous
The Approach to the Neslry venus Bridge.
One of the worst places was found on the
north approach to the bridge on Negley
avenue. The pavement Is sunken fully
three feet on the right hand side, not six
inches out Of the general line of travel
Should bicycle or buggy run over that
bank, the city would have big damage on
its hands, as nothing less than a miracle
could save one from serious injury. There
are also bad holes at the intersection Of
Negley and Center.
The sewers openings on Negley avenue
have caused numerous hard falls to bicycle
riders. One was measured and found to be
three feet wide, eight feet long and foot
deep. 1t is only 1917 feet to the car track
at that point. When it is little slippy
wheel is very liable to slip into the hole
and many a rider has had that experience.
At night, especially when a car is coming
along, rider is very apt to hug pretty close
to the curbstone and the result will be dis
astrous when he strikes one of those sewer
openings. A buggy is also in danger at
these sewers, and they stretch along all the
way from Center to Stanton.
Sand Heaps and Boards in tho Street.
On Howe street, one evening recently,
Captain Culbertson had the experience of
riding into big sand heap stretching out
as far as the street car track. Contractors
along the throughfare seem very careles
about boards, stones, etc, in the streets.
and some eylers not knowing this ride along
in the evening and find some very thrilling
experiences which they would like to avoid.
Otherwise Howe street is the best for
bicvclers in the city.
Of the other streets visited, the following
will give an idea of the condition:
Fifth avenue near Oakland terrace, O gut
ter from one side to the other, filled several
inches above the pavement with broken
stone.
Marchhand street Uttered with tin can,
sticks, stones and other rubbish.
Forbes street from Craig to Boquet, street
car tracks higher than the street.
Negley near Stanton, full OF bad ruts.
Ellsworth, q wagon rut runs several
squares, big enough 10 dumpa wheelman.
On one street was found a tree top, tin
cans aud dead chicken.
Morningside road is impossible e1cepts
very few weeks annually.
No Danger Signals Are Used.
None but asphalt streets are here men,
toned. While the wheelmen are anxious
TO have more streets paved, they are more
anxious to have those now paved kept
,lear of pitfalls. At none of the obstruc-
lions mentioned has there been a light.
Wagons stand in dark places along the
streets all night without danger signal to
warn away drivers or wheelmen. II the
rule OF having a red light out were strictly
adhered to half the danger would be
averted.
There are block streets and mud streets
which the wheelmen believe ought to be
paved. At present there is no good outlet
rom the northern part of the East End to
Schenlev Park The blocks on South High
and and Shady are very rough and furnish
miserable riding tor cyclers. There are now
nearly 5, 200 wheelmen in the city and they
,hink thew should have some benefits. If
he streets now paved are kept in condition
.hey would find no room for complaint.