New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1895-09-15

the wrong side Of Ene road In fact he was near
the east curb a wheelman coming In the op-
pesite direction smash into the fellows front
wheel, striking Il from the side and not injurlng
his own machine q bit. When the road hog
got up and surveyed his bent spokes he was
tshtins mad. The other man insisted that ali the
blame was due to the angry mans disregard
of the road. and young woman Unexpectedly
took part In the argument She had seen the
collision, she declared. and II was entirely the
fault or the man who had kept on the left side
OF the street The crowd was evidently in SYM
patty with this View. and the in the dirty
sweater trundled his wheel Off 10 repair shop.
1t would not be easy TO say whether the collision
was an accident a deliberate attempt to break
cycl!st Of a bad habit Usually the road hogs"
are rough fellows. mounted on heavy old wheels
and Il isn't safe even TO demonstrate with them
unless a policeman Is nearby.
The question whether bicycles are to be treated
baggage by the land and water transportation
companies has not yet been authoritativey de-
cded though it is not unlikely that the courts
will soon be called on to answer 1t. At present
there is O decided lack of uniformity on the part
OF common carriers in this matter Only one of
the railroads running out of New York. II is be-
lieved. has determined to treat bicycles the
footing trunks and valises. That road
checks bicycle just as il does a trunk and as
sumes the responsibility for its safe carriage
precisely as in the Of other baggage-that is.
10 the extent of 81 pound. In the case OF light
bicycle weighing eighteen OF twenty pounds, the
liability Of the company is not very great, Of
course but the principle is the correct one. The
most absurd rule is that OF one Of the Hudson
River boat lines which accepts bicycles only as
freight makes a uniform charge of 80 cents and
takes no precautiOn 10 prevent wheel from be-
ing stolen further than to attach "A tag bearing
the owners name and destination. With the con
stantly increasing use Of the bicycle. II is obvious
that there should be- uniform rule of prac-
tice AS far weight IS concerned. a single pas
senger might take several bicycles without reach
oil. q
to be carried free OF course. they are COMPARE
lively fragile and would not Withstand the as
saults Of the baggage-smasher. and they cannot
be slowed away as co1pacty as TRUNKS
Referring to the fact that in the eye Of the
law bicycle is a carriage. a writer in The =
A w Bulletin" seems To hit the nail on the head
when ne says that bicycle when mounted is a
vehicle but when amounted II is hand baggage
and ne pointedly cites the case of the quckwitted
young man who escaped paying toll on certain
turnpike by lifting mis- bicycle on his shoulder
and walking through the gate while the tol-taker
gazei In Open-eyed aStOnishment and made no
efOrt To restrain MN. III seems tleal thdt lir
young man had much right 10 carry bicycle
In this way the neighboring farmer would
have 10 walk past the tollgate with bag az
apples rake on his shoulder. II Is true that
on the highways the bicycle is a vehicle and
entitled the same rights that other NeA!cieS
have. But II is more than a vehicle or. rather II
differs from all other vehicles. There Is steadily
growing demand for the transportation ~ o-
cycles on boats and trains. and il Is the duty ot
the carrying companies to meet II. Not lmprop-
ably special bicycle cars will soon be demanded
on suburban trains at least on Saturdays and
holidays " hie the wheel has 10 some extent III
terfered with railroad travel. II mas at the same
time increased IL, and the large number Of Di-
Cyclers who wish 10 make use OF trains Tor longer
or shorter distances deserve TO be treated with
consideration. The example set by the one rail-
road referred to ought to be followed 10y the
others without waiting for a judicial decision 10
determine the exact status Of the bicycle as oaS-
gage.