New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1895-05-05
PATERNALISM IN BICYCLING
EXPERIENCES OF A WHEELMAN BEGIN
MING HIS CAREER IN MUNICH.


THE MAXIMUM or GERMAN POLICE SUPERVISION
AND THE MiSfMuM or RIDING -ENAMiNA'
rioNs AND DIPLOMAS ron wiiEEiMEN
American bicyclirts who are governed by reason
and n proper regard for the rights Of others nave
little cause TO complain Of the restrictions p'"c'u
around their sport IN most cities OF TINS co""'.'
Having won the right TO have the bicycle regarued
az a vehicle. with the rights and privileges OF
vehicle they are content to submit to the resuia-
| lions that the community finds II necessary 10
| make for the government Of all vehicles. Nheh au
ditional restrictions are imposed. however py 'ocd
authorities. which think the exceptional nature OF
the bicycle requires exceptional precautions TOT the
safety OF the public. they are likely to begin 10
kick" and demand that their rights be restored
But American bicyclists who have had experience
abroad especially In German cities. find that even
the most hnical and nervous American town couh-
cils ordinances breathe spirit or absolute freedom
compared with the intricate system OF hindrances
that the local authorities In many German places set
| round about the riding OF bicycles In their streets
A party Of enthusiastic riders was Willing away
| the tedium OF a rainy holiday afternoon the other
! day by exchange OF experiences. when the matter
| OF riding abroad came up. OF course the good
roads OF England and the Continent were discussed
| in all their aspects; bicycle symposium "oulu
ever be completed without that. When they had
praised 70 the envy and despair of the men VINO
had never been abroad. and who didn't see any
prospect OF getting there least not TIL their riu
ing days were over who had had the good or
bad fortune to live In Germany for considerable
time turned a little light the other side OF the
question.
| There are some drawbacks. even to riding on the
| sandpa perrd roads OF Germany" said he las my
| experiences as a resident OF Munich will show. /
began my bicycling career In that Bavaran capital.
and tell you that the li.c OF beginner there
is made n burden TO him. for a while, at any rate
Now. I hal always heard that tho German Govern
ment was a paternal government and all that sort
OF thing. but never fully appreciated the meaning
OF the phrase TIL had finished my course OF pre-
minary instruction in the bicycle nall. and was
thinking OF going outdoors for my first ride Then l
/ came ND against paternasm with a heavy thud.
! When preached my instructor the subject OF
going outdoors 20 ride he remarked with the air
OF doing mo e considerable kindness. that ne would
attend 10 sending my preliminary papers to the po-
lice didn't know what had TO do with pre-
l,mlnary papers with tho police. upon this occa-
sion anyway. though Notwithstanding hlameless
lie had frequently come in contact with them be-
fore In various places. under circumstances calling
apparently quite little FOR police Interference
generally. I'm fact. It seemed. for the purpose OF
being allowed to exist at all.
Well my Instructor sent ~ my papers. which 10
seemed were an application TO the Board Of Police
! Commissioners FOR the privilege OF appearing be-
fore them 70 undergo an examination. and his own
/ Enforcement Of my candidacy rs quiet. law-abd-
ing moral person. who had attained sufficient pro-
ncicncy on the wheel not To be menace TO the
! community. am rather timI and retiring and
averse 20 tho sharp and domnecrng methods OF the
German police and alarmed at the prospect OF
the ordeal which awaited me; but had seen people
riding tho bicycle In Germany. and was resolved
that II others could confront the police unscathel
and obtain the right to indulge IN the revolutionary
anarchists and generally suspicious practice OF hi
cycle riding. coul! 10 e. too. s. devoted myself
with renewed arlor 10 practice in the hall
1T Was well that I'D so FOR in day or Two
| received under a Government frank an Imposing
document from the Police Department OF the Ciy OF
! Munich Informing that VAS accepted as
candidate for bicycle riding. and summoning me 10
appear before the board on a certain day at "A car
tain hour certain street corner there 10 under
80 a trial OF my ability wn-elman. In fear and
trembling ! ,rundled my wheel thlthcr when the
hour arrived Of cours. II couldn't De ridden until
| had gained my diploma AMI there 'ornd about
a score % other uckless beginners. lkewis" fearing
| and trembling. and a highly uniformed onlclal !
Identified myself with 'papicre. the passport that
was 90 useful on many another occasion when Ger
man officials were to Doe impressed took my
place I'm the line Candidates were required %
mount, ride a block or two. turn around. ride back
| and disniount AZ examination i was pud-
ding as used 20 say n college. ana don't think
ANYBODY failed 10 pass with high mark. but the
| majesty ~ the law vinliclf"l AMI the safety
~ the common wealth safeguar,iei We each paid
tho Official nfty pfennec and after giving our
names and addresses went homo. In two OF three
mcn, q S oca dounen. rom The Poc Depart
ment one a long list Of rules and regulations
governing tho conduct 81 bicycstS IN Muni.h Inc ne
section ~ chief interest was that defining the I'm
is within within bicvcl"s could not b" ridden, on
studying my map. | found tn" ;orhiih.u dsirlr' m
Guided mos, Of the business portions 81 IN" city the
English Garden. large park. about corresponding
! 90 central Park IN size. and importance. ana the
| passage through certain gateway where. FOR some
| reason never could harm. hicvcsis w"r" "hig'~I
| 70 dismount. Tho English Garden was CLOSED -
| hcyc!sts bccaus" AZ o." time 'ne;nhrr OF IN"
| ROYAL Famiiy o. bavaria was riding therein Nhrn
| The bulky parcel also contained a carl bearing my
| name. a number AMI the ful title and seal 81 the
! Police Commission. This. Il was stated. sh9ulf
| always hay" upon my person 10 show to any police
! man who might choose to stop me- and demand 20
! clled steel plate bearing the same number that
upon the card which was to b. nxei TO The head Of
| my machine and which was 70 be- general prima
! facle evidence that | had been inspected by the
police authorities and had the right TO ride; though
II dld absove from The necessity of carrying
around the diploma Itself Last. bat not least.
demand for the remittance % two marks nifty
The thing that may surprise New York bicycsts
IL that these rules all strictly enforced was
stopped several times by policemen with demand
10 show card; and many "A time as unH1ttlngly
crossed the ieadlln".' having neglected 20 mcmor-
izr the streets forbidden 20 riders as thoroughly
the German mind demands. have poll "nlcn chased
, obeyed promptly; q doesn't pay 20 defy the German
| police
such u.s. or was few years ago. bicycling In
| Munich. II IN n" most paternal regulation OF the
| sport encountered. even in Germany II was
much simpler in Berlin: riding there was absolutely
prohibited except in the Thiergaricn. There
severe restrictions In all the large cities. one
imagine felt lost on my return 10 America, "a
could ride without having to think OF deadllncs
police credentials or anything but bell 10y day and
lamp by night. with the exuherant feeling that II
! wanted TO get killed on my machine there would
pcncd"
END or BROOKLYN'S LOAN EXHIBITION