New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1894-07-15
CARELESS BTCYCLE Riders.
WHY 10 NOT TIE POLICE INSIST on HAVING
THE LANTERNS LiGHTED'-oNE RIDER
RUS INTO ny ANOTHER


THE LANTERNS IfGUTED'-ONE RIDER
Rr'x INTo BY ANOTHER.
Il not the head OF the brooklyn Police Depart
mcnt aware that the members OF the force are ex-
cee1ingly lax in enforcing the ordinance that bi-
cycles shall not hc ridden after dark without
lights? ON any evening IT IS possible to See In the
streets frequenicd by wheelmcn. number Of
bicycles with lanterns with lanterns that shed
no light. In Prospect Park IT is different. The
park police are vigliant and active. and the man
without Hight Is speedily called 20 account So
we'll Is this Understood that not nfrequently hap
pens that men who ride NJ TO tho Park without
having their lamps trimmed AMI burning dsmount
AT the main entrance and light up.
The dangers arising from riding unlighted BIZ
cycles at night numerous. \ few evenings
ago woman crossing Throop-aye. soon after
nightfau hal n narrow escape from collision with
two rapidly ridden wheels. The crossing not
we'll lighted. and she thinks that only her white
dress saved her. that IS. made her visible to the
riders IN time for them 10 avoid collision. Had
they carried lighted lanterns. che would almost
certainly have them at some distance. and
kept out Of harms way. As II was she had no
warning OF their approach until they were within
"A few feet OF her. The ordinance on the subject Is
strict enough. Is 1t not the duty OF the police to
There is. too. a great deal of careless riding In
the city. even IN daylight and the riders seem
10 have no sense OF responsibility whatever. Re-
Gently an elderly man IN attempting 10 cross bel-
ford ave. was run INTO by one oi group or vince,
men who bore down ou him rapidly. lie was knocked
down and rendered unconscious. bat the riI"rs paid
not the slightest attention 10 him. The one who ran
into him mounted IA rapidly As possible ana rode
on AZ high speed along with his companions, being
anxious apparently only To g-t out Of the way Of
a possihl" arrest. and having no regard whatever
FOR the victim left helpless on the pavement
Some rilers also go out without either bell or
whistle 10 give warning OF their approach to people
An emp.o.c In one OF the city departments re-
Gently hal '' experience with careless rider mat
h. Nm a.. ,on forget Not long ago he pur-
chased "A %, 81 wheel and Saturday after
noon he took his nrst lous rle on IT, some part
he applied hs feet to the pedal III" wheel nid not
always respond IA II should. He was on his way
to his home near Prospect farh. hhNihk rrluiheu
from "A ride to Sew York and fonkerh II was al
most midnight when he reached IN" NH near NOUN,
Prospect Reservoir. and AS his wheel dd not Work
iust right b.. Jumped OF and started TO carry II
the hin and then mount again. As ne dld 40 ne
notice., two riders coming down the hill toward MIN
Win ali their might. with their heads down. and
seemingly taking IT for granted that the road
The man on foot that there was danger OF
k..n of As he was carrying his wheel n" was not
sure OF his ability 70 get out OF their way one Oh
Tho riders heard the shout and yeered on IN tine'
m. other cam, hlinIy on, struck IN" wheel or the
iioounted rider with grent force. damaging II con-
siderahly and driving the pedal against itS owner
icc In such "A way as 20 innct "A dozen bruises
from the knee down ana then took Il m.at IT,, IL
f,,e would have IT, he suffered no damage hlS"Il
and was able TO mount again ana go on without
iIsromfort The other man managed 4" get MN
relf and his damaged wheel home. II was 'hrrg
49, however before he able to go out, ana
,se,k before hls wheel was IN shdPr again y
course he has good ground Tor an acuo' nhn'i h
c"mnclci 10 pay for the repairs TO the damaged