The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1895-12-08
A BICYCLE ORDINANCE.
"HLLLNEN SYTRRED UPOyTR TnY,
QUESTION ~ RTCHNOND.
The Matter VIII be Carefully Considered
In ommittec-A New Road Record
Between Ashland and Richmond.


GUESSING the proposed bicycle ordinance,
and they fear that n the ordinance, as
presented to the Board Of Aldermen this
week. is passed that the usefulness
and pleasure OF the bicycle would be
greatly curtailed in this city.
The ordinance was referred 10 the
proper committee and viii have careful
consideration Tho League of Richmond
Wheelmcn are as DESTROYS Of having
proper ordinance as can be any other
class Of citizens. The necessity for any
restriction AT all BIS created by Jew
reckless riders and the law-makins
power should bc careful in not making
the large majority suffer for the sins OF
the few.
But a few years ago. in the slow. old
city of Philadelphia. the question OF a
bicycle ordinance came up. and one was
passed. declaring in six separate para
graphs. six different conditions under
which "A bicycle Is nuisance. IL IS 10
be hoped that Richmond VIII not prove
as antiquated. not TO say offensive 10
large class of very law-abidug citizens,
yet i'm the ordinance presented last week
az some of the provisions of the re-
markable law referred 10 above.
IL DOLLARS AND Cr.NTs.
Al the lowest calculation. there are $500
bicycles Ina Richmond, the lowest aN-
erage value of which is $50 each making
O total Of Sl,2.JO0 invested IN bicycles IN
Richmond-.a sum- that would buy all
the carriages and buggies In Manchester
and Richmond. and perhaps go "a Ions
way towards paying Tor the wagons,
too. They are ridden by every class, ana
are being used IN business IN many
different ways. where speed and quick
ness are required 10 limit this speed TO
six or eight miles an hour would be
going backwards IN the march Of pro-
eress. and would greatly retard their
use IA Richmond.
ONLY EXPERTS CAN RIDE SLOW.
None but expert riders can maintain
a perfect equilibrium going at a speed
OF six miles an hour. Ten miles an
hour is ordinary travel for bicycle, and
fifteen miles an hour would attract no
attention at any time OF lSroad street.
in other words. bicycle gets over
ground more rapidly than the unaccus-
toned eye can teli, and this very iea-
turo Of rapid and easy moving is the
good and chief virtue OF bicycle. Lamps
and bells are more senimen-I IMAM
us.fin and there is strong doubt IN the
minds of all whcelmen If they have any
practical value. BELLS rarely last long,
and quickly get out of ORDER and lamps
will keep lit only ON smooth streets 10
equip all the wheels in Richmond win
aA"f'"|'f
is "A matter not 90 bc looked on lightly.
stop the coasung and reckless riding IN
the city's streets. and the summum
honum Of a bicycle ordinance viii have
been attained.
Wv LOCAL RECORD.
Mr.. Malcolm Poatross. of this city, es-
tablished a rcc5Td between Ashland and
Richmond on the 19th OF November. Mr.
Peatross left Ashland at precisely !
down the railroad 90 Taylors Crossing
from there he took the road to yellow
Tavern. and then down the turnpike to
Bacon's Quarter Branch bridge. where he
arrived at 1868 +. NJ, covering the
distance 81 eig11een miles IN forly-sN
minutes th-ty-three seconds.
Mr.. Pealross was unpaced. but had dou-
bic tiife-keepers MIR Acre ho.-ng the
watch az Ashland. and Mr.. Nanderslice
al Richmond This is the first time
record has been made between Ashland
and Richmond.
THE BEAUTIFUL SNOW.
The hearts of many of the cyclists
sank when they saw the snow on tue
ground last Thursday morning. Inc
prospects were that cycling would have
to be- abandoned for some time. But
the snow has gone and bicycles have
again taken 10 The roads. and the enjoy
ment OF the wnir of the wheel continues.
Hon. T.. ". Saunders the handsome
and popular representative from Frank
lin. is a devotce o T.ie wheel. and brought
his mount TO Richmond with him.
DENTAL NERNINE.
The bicycle b. probably not panacea
Tor an human Ills. but IL has many uses
from the point on view OF health. one
OF the newest Is described by a man who
has lately gone TO his dentists number
Of times awheel Everybody" he says,
who has ever sat ln dentist chalr
a aNItsa Nit NfU
ensues, even Dr. the operation submitted
10 IS not specially painful There is
something about the grinding and whiz-
King and hammefing and the strain upon
the face muscles that sets ones nerves
on edge. ana the feeling does not pass
away. In my own cast AT least, untl
some time after the visit is over The
best autidote i have discovered is the
wheel.
dentists Office 1 nnd that when / 90 out
and mount / am able 10 get my equilib-
rum restored much more quickly IMAM
n walk or get into car and try TO
svad. 1 don't mean 10 say. OF course.
that a spin on "a wheel will cure a raging
toothache or anything OF that KIND, our
can bear witness 10 its cfhcacy 10 TOM
Ing up the nerves after Trying scahce
with one OF those necessary enemies OF
nanKind-the dentist ...
YOUNG MEN CONTROL THE TRADE.
A feature of the cycle trade is that
rnore than any other business. 10 Us in
Che hands OF youns men. IL is primary
De- sport SIS seldom suggested 10 tAe
thousands OF 'cyclers who make mp the
great world OF wheels. All branches OF
the business-thc manufacture, sale ana
use Of the wheels in the hands OF
young men, IL Is noticeable al home.
In this city The companies that pro-
duce the wheels. the mechanics that
make them. the statesmen on the roan,
racing men. repair men, retailers, ana
the men who write the cycle news
If The average Of the ages Of these
men were tCSen. 10 would bc found that
no other business OF the same proper
lions can show so much youth. There
are interesting reasons Tor this. The
Immense growth OF cycling has been
within the last five years, though IL had
been gathering its forces for ten years
previously. None of the men have thus
had an opportunity 10 grow old In the
business And the manner in which the
cycle business started is a story OF young
manhood
THEY WE'RE RIDERS.
Every one OF thc local cycle dealers,
for instance, was once prominent merely
as a rider These are young. energetic
ana .nterprising men IL was their en-
terpYise that made them pioneer riders,
and their pluck Ia those days that Kept
them ct e. These same elements OF
enterprise and pluck csrried them INTO
tho business. Fresh IDEAS, habits ana
rnethcds OF business were demanded by
the rapidly-growing cycle trade. ana
these your men were well calculated 10