New-York tribune., 1895-09-19
RTCYCLE DANGERS AND SAFEGUARDS.

4 considerable number OF serious accidents to
bicvclc riders, and a few that were fatal. have
recently been reported in the papers. and the
natural consequence Is that we hear good deal
said about The cxtra-hazardous nature OF the
new vehicle Of diversion and convenience Buy
# would be well for those whose disposition Is
70 condemn the bicycle on this account to re-
member certain facts. In the first place the
comparative novelty Of the thing lends special
interest to all occurrences ont OF the ordinary ID
which It plays part, so that they are more gen
orally noted by news-gatherers than other Incl
dents Of similar character which merely repeat
long familiar experiences. For the same reason
accounts OF them attract more attention and pro-
duce more talk and thus their relative signifi-
cancc Is likely TO be exaggerated In the public
mind. An extended and somewhat excited dis
cussion Of the dangers Of the bicycle, leading TO
numerous stern parental decrees Of prohibition,
T. not inconcelvdble. whereas nobody would
dream Of starting crusade against the use or
horses
II ought to be borne in mind, moreover. that
gross careessness causes large proportion or
the accidents for which the wheel Is held re-
sponsibe by thoughtless persons. In The case OF
the bicycle the venerable proverb that familiar
Ity breeds contempt is at least partly reversed
The rider who has become proficient only on the
smooth and unobstructed floor OF the hall where
he has taken lessons Is pretty sure to llnderrafe
the cmbarrassments which be must encounter In
n public thorOughfare. Nor does he compre-
bend the capabilities Of the vehicle which he has
found so manageable He does not appreciate
the speed which 1t will attain on n sloping sur
face and the difficulty Of bringing it under con-
trol when II has once started 10 run away. Per
haps he has desired to be thought smart and dis
corded his brake, or in some other way has In
yitcl disaster as, for instance, by making his
early public appearances in crowded street.
II oucht 10 be said at once that n novice has no
moral right 10 ride In "A crowded street for he
inevitably puts not only himself but others In
peril. Nor is the exhilaration OF coasting even
ON lonely road justiiable In his case. For that
he should wait until he has thoroughly mastered
an art which often seems easier TO him than 10
the expert.
II NAV properly be added also that even a skill
ful rider who does not keep himself Informed or
the condition Of his machine may become the
victim of an accident for which he will not be
otherwise at fault. An unobtrislve defect IN
bicycle loose nut for example. may be
bad ucfpct ana Ip;lu 10 sPTlOuS I'SullN <hH'
this suggests rather disquieting forecast 1t
is reported that preparations are making to put
large supply OF bicycles on the market next
wear at greatly reduced prices. Without exact
knowledge of the matter, we are inclined TO
think that a thoroughly trustworthy machine not
only could be but is sold now at reasonable
profit for considerably less than 500, which has
been the standard price this year for most OF the
favorite wheels; and we have little doubt that
improved processes will lower the cost OF pro
ducton hereafter. Then probably competition
will do It's natural work and the price Will fall In
spite of combinations to uphold II. But cheap
ness which only slgnIfcd inferior materials ana
poor workmanship would be- exceedingly mis-
chievous. There are some signs, we think. that
such an era may set in next spring. and II manu-
facturers are determined to Introduce 1t they
will probably succeed. But we should hope that
Il would not last lcrg. 1t would inevitably be
marked by a great increase In the number or
accidents for which the victims would be less
responsible than those by whom they had been
Iplulp1