New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1894-08-19
WHEELMEN IN BROOKLYN
THEIR RIGHTS REGARDED AND THEY
FLOURISH Justify

SPECIAL CAR FOR BICYCLES ON ONE oF
THE ELEVATED RoADs-JUsrIcE ouIGLEY
STANDS UP FOR THE wHEELMSN
Brooklyn has long been known the City OF
Churches although Its claim TO that title has
been successfully attacked and can no longer
be considered valid. Who knows but that
now may become celebrated as the City
OF Bicycles? Despite the fact that Its sup
ply OF good streets for wheeling Is limited. and
although has probably more bad coobestone pave
ments than any other city In America, the NUMBER
Of bicycle riders In Brooklyn Is estimated at lo""
and provisions are made for their comfort and con-
venence that II Is safe to are made In no o'her
municipality IN the country.
New-York is now spending .arge sum in con-
structing driveway along the Harlem River for 'he
use Of men who own fast horses 50 as 10 AFFORD an
opportunity for speeding them. But Brooklyn ouiit
its great Ocean Parkway. which has been described
as the finest drive IN America more than twenty
years ago That Is speedway for horses 10 al
in,ens and purposes. and gives drivers fine chance
TO test the me,le OF their steeds stretching as II
does for nearly six miles almost straightaway from
Prospect Park TO the Ocean.
SPEEDWAY FOR wHEELMEN.
Now the Rrook.yn authorities have shown their
desire TO be up with times by providing speed
way for whee men. The cyclists have long had inc
use Of one Of the sidewalks on the Parkway COR
Boulevard II Is more commonly termed), the
ClrbstOres
nags;ones their benefit; Many riders prefer this
path to ;he main part of the drive. especially at
times when the after is ed with flying horses. as
Is Likely 10 be the on days when wheemen are
able to he out force. Now this sidewalk. which
lie. Oh the ives; side OF the main driveway and be-
tween that of the side roads which are
part OF the Boulevard. is being converted mo
bicycle road and Will be reserved for the exclusive
use OF wheemen Considerable grading has already
been done. and section OF the pathway mas been
completed tentatively, at least Various sorts OF
gravel have been used top fnsh win the pur-
pose Of having the wheemen OF Brooklyn test them
and determine which Is the best to be used When
finished this bicycle path vii; be five mics and
half In length. almost perfectly level and with Only
single turn and that long one.
II Is believed that no other city has undertaken a
work of this kind. so that Brook yn Is emphaticaly
''in II" from the whee.mens point Of view IL nap
pens however that the appropriation for this work
Is not sufficient complete the path. and so II IS
proposed call the whee.men and wherworneh
of the city make up what is lacking. The amount
required finish the work Is said TO be ABOUT
$500; hence a small contribution from each Of the
10000 bicycle riders would easily supply what Is
needed Undoubtedly the money will be FORTH
coming promptly. The moment the matter was
mentioned TO rider IN the course OF the iast
week he remarked that 10 would gladly give u as
soon as ne knew whom TO send IT, Doubtless
such disposition will be general. All the riders
q, the CITY will use this path more or Jess. and
there cannot but be a certain satisfaction in the
feeling of ownership in 1t which ali VINO contribute
will have for ali time TO come.
BICYCLES ON AN ELEVATED RAILROAD.
Another indication OF the interest In bicycle rid
ing fe.t In Brooklyn Is found In the action OK 'e
Kings County Elevated Railroad in deciding TO run
spec.a car certain of its trains for tn carriage
of BICYCLES The present intention is to operate this
car on Saturdays. Sundays and holidays 1t Is an
ordinary fat car with the sides raised and neatly
nan,ed Al around the inside racks for the sup
mort OF bicycles hav. been placed so as 10 prevent
whees from getting injured In transportation Each
wheel Is to be checked just as II II were trunk
and none will be delivered except TO the person nod
ing the check The charge for this service Will De
,an cer,s for each bicyco carried Bicycles Will be
taken at present only from Franklin and Nostrand
ayes 10 the city line, and on the return Trip al
whees will be unoaded at Nostrand-ave This IS
the beginning Of what will in all probability prove
be popular service
In Queens County there number OF fine
macadam roads. but TO get TO them from BrookFn
Is Ike passing through Purgatory on the way TO
Paradise As has been remarked before. Brook Fh
ought TO have at least one street running 10 'he
eastward put end kept in good condition for orV-
ing and wheeling but 1t has none and there Is no
immediate prospect that 1t Will have. To reach the
oood Queens County roads the bicycle rider must go
over four or Ave mics OF stone pavement which Is
not an agreeable thing for men. while for the aver
age woman rider II Is an almost impossib.e TASK
This viii, be obv!ated on certain days OF every
week. for the city line station Of the Kings County
road is within few rods OF the beginning oil Broad
way which leads directly into Jamaica and brings
all Of Long Island within reach OF the wheema TN
Saturdays the bicycle will leave FrankHn-aVe
at lOI5 1913 2l5 and AS. and Nosirand-ave. two
minutes later and the city line on the retur! trip
at H. l. 3 and $50: while on Sundays and holidays
the same trips will be made with an earlier one
.,art,np from Frankl,n-ave at Sis and leaving the
other end OF the route at 9.
The only dra wback the arrangement made by
this enterprtsng company In the interest OF the
wheemen Of Brooklyn Is that the bicycles are car
ried In open OF course II IL the intention TO
run the car only In pleasant weather for cyclists
as a rule do not venture when II rains; but In
case OF shower while the whees in transit
they would necessarily get soaked The company
would have done better. in the opinion Of whee.men
to provide box but at the same time they are
exceedingly thankful, for what the Kings County
people have done. and have no disposition to find
fault.
General Manager Gounde said TO the writer that
he had received numerous requests from wheelmen
that the company should do something for their
accommodation. and he had devised this plan In the
expectation that II would meet obvious demand
He would be disappointed II the arrangement did
not prove popular with wheelnen. but. Of course. II
they did ike 1t and did not make use OF the
car the service would not be maintained .ong or
course there Is a possibility that 1t will prove 80
popular that II will need TO be extended In that
case undoubtedly the company Will stand ready to
meet the wishes OF It's patrons
NOTHING DONE BY THE BROOKLYN COM
PANY.
Anthony Barrett vice-president OF the Brooklyn
Elevated Railroad Company. asked whether his
company had any intention OF following the example
OF It's rival In Futon-s His first knowledge OF the
Kings County plan came from .he interviewer. and
he expressed surprise learning OF the arrange
ment for running car for carrying bicycles.
There has never been a request made 10 this
pany," he said for such thing and have
not considered the matter at al. know that the
pavements out in East New-York very bad. but
they have TO be gone in order to get 10 the