The San Francisco call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1895-1913, 1895-08-18

ing the advent of this condition of our city
streets certain in the near future. There
are enthusiasts also who predict that in
New York it will not be many years before
lightly built elevated structure will be
run through the streets on the water front
for the exclusive use of wheelmen.
If separate thoroughfares of any kind
are set apart for this use, the result will be
a considerable loss of income to the street
transit companies. 1t is fact that many
trolley lines running between Western
cities and their suburbs have suffered seri-
bicycle, since thousands of persons travel
to and fro between their offices and their
homes on wheels. But while the transit
companies have been injured In this way,
the whole country has been the gamer by
means of the widespread demand for good
roads which the advent of the bicycle has
aroused. Many States, led by Massachu-
setts and New Jersey, have taken up the
subject seriously and Systematically, and
the next few years are certain to see great
progress made in this direction.
Massachusetts in 1893 appropriated $780,
600 to be expended by highway commits
sion in scientific bodybuilding, and about
forty sections of such roads are now under
construction. New Jersey has spent many
thousands of dollars in the same way, and
its number of good roads is increasing
year by year, each new one being the most
persuasive kind of argument for others.
The recent Legislature of New York State
recognized the needs OF wheelmen more
specifically by passing a bill authorizing
the construction of bicycle roadway upon
the top of the Croton aqueduct, running
for forty miles through a beautiful part OF
the country north of the city.
An interesting effect of the new order of
things is the revival which has been started
in the old wayside tavern business. Within
"a M forrr %nrr.
comfortable inns spring up along all
the roads which are suitable for bicycle
riding. The wheelman cannot carry much
luggage, and is especially unable to find
accommodation for food. His ability to
travel easily fifty or seventy-five miles a
day makes comfortable lodging places at
night and comfortable eating places by day
great desiderata along his pathway. There
are old inns within radius of fifty miles
of New York City that have known scarcely
| more than customer week for years
| which are now overrun with wheelmen and
| are adopting themselves rapidly to the new
situation. Good inns, like good roads, will
| add immeasurably to the attractiveness OF
|. the country and will spread love for
country life among the jewellers in cities
which will be in ali ways benefit to us as
| q people. 49,
| The bicycle is, in fact, the agent of health
and of wider civilization. 1t will give
than their fathers have had, and it will
bring the city and the country into closer
relations than have existed since the days
of the stage-coach. What the summer
boarder has been doing for the abandoned
farms and deserted villages OF New England
the wheelman is doing for regions sur
rounding our great cities. He is distrib-
uting through them modern ideas and mod
ern WAYS of living, and is fructifying them
with gentle Installations of city wealth.
! Above all, he is teaching their people that
sure way to prosperity lies before them
| in the beautifying of the country in which
| they live, and in the preservation OF all its
attractive natural features.