The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1895-05-21
BICYCLING on SUNDAY.

II seems there are -wo requisites 70 ex-
cuse bicycling on Sunday. One Is the mo-
tive % the tEcycier and the other is Oh
servancs OF rule Of the road One may
be described, "a the language OF oscy-
cling preacher. as the duty 10 God and
the other the duty 70 man. This Is said
IN no spirit Of legity. The only objection
which could bs urged against bicycling
on Sunday would be religious one and
recourse - had. Tot IIuuaturaay. 10 the
pulpit for a rule Of conduct
Rev. Edward Uroyd. OF wLllimansett.
In me Puritan state Of Massachusetts, re-
gently used a bicycle as a text. coupled
with a verse from Job: Thou hftest me
up 10 the wind; Thou causest me 70 ride
upon It." THIS would seem to apply bet
ter TO a balloon than bicycle. but the
preachers ingenuity was equal TO the
emergency.
Happy Job" exclaimed the preacher,
riding on the wind. Let US find an an
alogy In the modern bicycle We are rid
ing upon the wind The pneumatic tire.
with its inner and outer tubes so ingeni-
ousiy constructed and so easily inflated.
stands as one of the grand achievements
OF the nineteenth century. Therefore feel
that the graceful and rapid rider Of to-
day actually belongs 10 realm almost
aerial. for ne rides upon the wind.
Take this beautiful wheel. the like Of
which I wish you all owned-this rub
Der bubble with Its steel wings; this SCI
It's unwear1ed pinions. and tell me is my
Eext out or place when say that what job
dia In his figuratiye escape from trouble,
riding on the air. the weary and confined
toiler at desk and counter and mill per-
forms when he shuts the door behind
him. comes forth into Gods pure air and
mounts his scientific angel for a buoyant
ride OF miles without care?"
On the subject Of bicycling on the Sab
bath. Mr.. Ufford said:
Il do not claim the authority TO meas
ure out 10 you an allowance for Sunday
indulgence. j am not dictator. but do
you know that .;od LOOKS at the motive
underneath your sweater. II you ask me
If I consider IL sin 10 ride bicycle on
Sunday. must ask you to state your mo-
tive for riding on Sunday. You must state
where you will ride and what company
you are going 20 ride in. Whether you
attend church In the morning and ride in
the afternoon as a great relief from the
busy strain and toll OF the week. or
whether you don your secular sweater
and ride all day for your own pleasure
and forget God"
The duty owed to man by the bicyc1er
is being defined by the state legislature
OF New York, and a writer I'm Lesies
Weekly urges that two things should be
insisted upon. That every wheel should
have a brake, and that the wheelman
should in all cases be the one to turn
aside. The writer says that 1.-The major
ity OF cycle accidents are due TO the rid
er's inability to command his machine in
stantly in emergencies" In some cities in
Europe no person is allowed to ride In
public places until he has acquired eff
cheney and passed a test.
The adoption OF a rule that the wheel
man is to be the one 10 get out of the
ROAD OF D0tn NenicleS ana pedestrians VIII
be an advantage TO the public and TO the
wheelmen themselves. Every one famil-
lar with the bicycle knows that ii can
be turned witls the greatest Of ease and
with the quickness of a lightning fash
Every rider knows. too. that If teams and
pedestrians go straight ahead and mind
their own business he can avoid them with
comparative ease Wheelmen who have
ridden In crowded streets find that their
chief trouble Is caused by people cross
ing the street who try 10 get out of the
riders way, regardless of the fact that
he Is carefully planning TO keep out of
their way. and would do so without diff
ficulty II they simply went along as If
he were not I'm sight By stopping. stand
ing still or stepping backward they may
upset his calculations completely. Let it
once be understood that wheelmen are to
turn out. and the chances of collision
would he small In the case OF practiced
riders. The !nfiiction of a punishment
upon whcelmen who cause accidents will
suffice TO keep reckless novices. who are
the moro daring as they are less expert
enced. away from from public highways.