New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1895-10-06
MR. SQUIER THE WHEELMEN'S FRIEND
HIS PLANS FOR IMPROVING THE CYCLE PATH
THAT FAD" REMARK

HIS PLANS FOR IMPROVING THE CYCLE PATH
THAT FAD REMARK.
Efforts have been seduously made In certain
quarters TO create impression that the Brooklyn
Park Commissioner Is hostile to wheelmen. II Is
rather strange that this should be the case, seeing
that without his co-operation-without his intia-
tive In fact-the famous Coney Island Cycle Path
would still be a dream OF the Brooklyn wheelman's
imagina ton Commissioner Squier is not a wheel
man himself but he is in thorough sympathy with
cycling as a sport and as means OF exercise and
recreation Some Of his friends are hopeful that
he himself will some day join the army OF riders.
and do not hesitate to point out to him the ad-
yantages which he would enjoy In the discharge or
his official duties II he able to visit numerous
points within his Jurisdiction by means OF wheel
of his own And they feel that IL he were TO
take a spin up and down the Coney Island path once
or twice a week he would not fail to observe Its
defects. when any exist. and to provide prompt
remedy
That the Commissioner takes keen interest In the
path and in the welfare OF wheemen Is evident
from the plan which he has formed for widening
the path In accordance with the expressed desire or
numerous bicycle riders who believe that with more
room on It the number Of accidents would be re-
duced. The width Of the path as first constructed
is feet For the greater part Of Its length
a foot and a half could be added to 1t on each sde
increasing the total width to seventeen feet. AS a
matter or fact In many places TiuerS Hot lnlEe-
quently out upon the edge. and the grass along
the sides Is so much to be OF no practical
value Hence the extra space might as we'll as not
be included In the path itself 1t happens, though
that the trees between the path and the two road
ways are not planted In straight line. and hence
an absolutely uniform width Of seventeen feet can
not be provided The probabilities however are that
the widening Will practically give the path that
width all the way.
adj he A % he Of
ducing the Grown of the path and giving It a
nearly level surface. The curve from one side to
the other has been considered disadvantage by
most wheeimen and as a rue the outside Of the
path has been little used and the gravel there has
not become hardened so that 1t could be ridden on
with ease. Indeed. a sudden turn into IT, with its
yielding under the impact OF the wheel. has given
more than one inexperienced rider tumble. The
crown was provided in order to secure good
drainage. but It is not believed 20 be necessity. At
all events. wheelmen Will have the opportunity to
Judge for themselves. on the block nearest the park.
whether they think the change an Improvement,
before 1t is carried further
1t is Commissioner Squier's intention to use upon
the part of the path the same sort of gravel
small Quantity Of Roa Hook gravel for the purpose
OF producing a somewhat harder surface. The color
dressing was first applied were satisfactory. but
the same cannot be said OF the gravel or broken
Not only did this cause glare that was not
agreeable to the eyes. but the dressing did not last
Almost af bare The Comm.sioners decision to return
to the original TOP dressing will give satisfaction
circles by the remark attributed to Commissioner
Squer that bicycling a Tad" I, is not true
that he ever made such remark. though what he
said might easily have been misconstruei by those
who were not listening closely What he did say
was that bicycling "as n fad would soon die out
and those who know him know that he meant
no reflection people who devoted TO the
wheel as n means OF exercise and pleasure That
he recognizes 1t as legitimate sport Is evident from
the interest which he has taken in the well,beng
spond 10 all reasonable suggestions.