New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1895-05-26
TIE UHEEL AND TIE LAW

T, sneak plainly on n serious subject II rests
with tho bicycle riders u this city and rs
suburbs to determine and that tight speedily
whether they are to be regarded good citizens
or as outlaws. Men practically outlaws
who wilfully and persls,en,ly violate both the
letter and the spirit Of the law. We do not mean
e. intimate that all bicycsts. a majority 81
them. do So or are likely to DO SO. even to be
suspected - doing 50. But there IL no use in
DENYING that small minority. composed OF
careless or Uniformed. Or vicious persons. do
50 and do go increasingly Nor deny
that the exemplary majority are directly con-
cerncd with what these do. For tho misdcei - or
tho few bring reproach and hostility upon The
many: and In no possible way can The lawless
minority so promptly and eff"ctualy be brought
70 and KEEP. IN order as by the determined action
Of the law-abdng majority The latter cannot
therefore. be too strongly urged 10 exert their
influence in behalf Of IA general Observance OF
Just requirements.
In this city for example. there IL law for
bidding blcyclcrs TO ride more than two abreast
II is a sensible law and should be generally en-
forced on some broad uptown avenue. when
there IS little or no other travel. they might ride
= dozen abreast without harm to any one. But
~ late there have been some serious m!shaps
hecause on narrow and frequented thorough
fares riders disregardcd this law. The law re-
auires the sounding Of 4 bell or other signal at
street crossings. and the display at night OF a
light visible at a distance OF 200 feet. Both OF
,b.s. nrovis.ons are sound and just. and both are
often disrcgardod I'm many cases through an in
sane desire TO Tighten the wheel by the III most
nosslble fraction Of an ounce. Another require
ment Is that the speed In rounding street cor
ners shall rot exceed three miles an hour. That
may he deemed unnecessarily slow. But ten or
hon al
Is dangerously fast. The mandate keep to the
right IL also often violated; sometimes with
tragic effect II would be well II II and all the
rules We have cited were scrupuousy and in
varably obeyed.
I'm the suburbs and throughout the country.
not all these ordinances are In force. But there
ia one great law which Is too often violated.
That u.s. the right OF way OF pedestrians on side
walks and crossings The bicycle Is a wheeled
vehicle and has no place on footwalks. Out In
the country where the roadway Is rough. stony.
muddy or dusty and the sidewalk Is smooth and
hard the temptation for the wheelman to take
IN the latter Is very strong. II there be no pc
destrians In sight or II he be willing. en-
countering them. to give them full right OF way.
there seems to be no good reason why he should
NOT do 60 He might be breaking the strict let
tor ~ the law but not it's spirit. But the wheel
man who rides on the sidewalk and crowds pc
dcstr,ans off It violates both letter and spirit OF
rho law No ccnsurc can be too strong for him.
He makes Of himself a public nuisance. and any
nedestrian whose safety IL JeopardiZed or who
=. ,,.eommoded by him Is justifiable in using the
nx,romest measures 10 prevent or to punish the
outrage IN some suburban villages especially
ON SUNDAYS so many wheelmen have been guilty
q, mi, misconduct ~ to have Instituted some
thing like a reign OF terror among pedestrians.
In nAf a
We speak plainly on these matters because or
an admiration for and sympathetic interest In
bicycIIng. and an earnest desire to promote the
practice of it in every legitimate way. We ad-
wise every one who can do so, man. woman or
child, to get wheel and ride IT, Ana because
we regard the practice as so oene"'en'' ~ ue-
w~..,',, AID .o nra,seworthy, we condemn In the
strongest possible manner every abuse OF 1t that
tends to bring it into disrepute Already violent
hostility to bicycling Is cropping up here and
thsra Some of the "unco' Eud'-or p's-"eaueo