New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1894-08-20
BICYCLE-EJDING ~ BROIDWdY
MUCH DExTERIrY REQUIRED TO THREAD ONES
WAY THROUGH THE THRONG OF VEHICLES
AND THE CROWD OF PEDESTRIANS.

AND THE CROWD OF PEDESTRIANS.
Riding a bicycle In the crowded part Of Broadway.
say anywhere below Union Square Is by means
an easy task. naturally 1t IS not attempted by
any expert and experienced whecimen. To
look at one OF them gliding along and threading his
way among vehicles OF all descriptions does not
suggest the amount Of sHh which he IS really cxer
cleng, though it does. of course frequently excite
wonder and admiration. Especially are these emo
tons awakened In the novice al riding, for he can
to some extent at least, appreciate the difficulties
and dangers inseparabe from propcllng whee! In
the c,tys most frcquentel thOroughfarc.
TO such All observer the whee!man going mp or
down Broadway with seeming nOnchalance, despite
cable cars trucks. express wagons etc. etc. seems
engaged In a performance that IL a verItable work
OF art He and his machine appear 10 belong to-
gether-to be parts OF piece Of mechanism. He
Is alert to take advantage Of any opening In the
crowd of vehicles ahead that promises to enable him
to get ii little farther sh!s way. For him the
cable cars. with their resembling gOngs. have no
terrors At times. when closely pressing a that
hats. ne seems almost 10 come 10 dead stop him
self but in some way he continues to maintain his
balance without touching foot 70 earth. and at the
first opportunity he Is going ahead again az speed
that threatens to bring him Into instant and violent
contact with the heavily laden wagons that block
up the roadway. Deftly he squeezes through a
passage barely wide enough for pedestrian to enter
with safety and IN moment he Is several rods
away
There is nothing which the wheelman In Broadway
likes better than to find Il clear stretch OF the
track for some distance In front OF him. With "A
dextrous swing Of his hande-bar ne turns his pneu-
matte tires upon the cabe-Sot and has a perfectly
smooth and even roadway for little while. 1t can
be only short time al the best In lower Broadway
during the hours of daylight. but In the evening In
that part OF the street and at all hours uptown the
bicycle riders eager TO seize every opportunity
that IL offered for riding the cable groove.
The wheclman who ventures In Broadway IL
alert He has little time TO look at the scenery"
Not only must he be steadily on the lookout for
vehicles, but AT every crossing he must watch
keeny for people foot-oftener than at every
crossing in fact, for at any point men are likely TO
cross the city's great artery.
You may think 1t strange" said one OF these
riders yesterday, but IT is nevertheless true that
on broadway find It less troublesome to avoid the
ard trucks than 10 steer clear OF the people
at the crossings. You count on car truck
every time: that r.. after a little experience you
perceive instInctivey when they going to stop
you approaching a much-used crossing. like
Fulton or Chambcrs-st You measure the distance
accurately with your eye and decide that you can
slip through at certain point-that is, you can
do II all the people the crossing keep moving
Then two OF them see you coming toward
them and feel bound 10 get out OF your way; they
stop, or perhaps step back foot or two All your
calcua tons have been upset, and you have got TO
use all your dexterty TO avoid collision with some
body II people would only realize that the cyclis
Is looking out for them we'll as himself and go
about their business there would be no trouble.
II certainly is odd that the pedestrians In Broad
way are a greater annoyance to the wheeman than
the infinite variety vehicles; and they fancy they
are doing him favor when. In truth. II Is quite
the reverse"