New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1895-09-08
NEWS OFTHECYCLING WORLD
THE QUESTION OF TRANSPORTING
WHEELS BY TRAIN

THE QUESTION OF TRANSPORTING
WHEELS BY TRAIN
DIFFERENT RULES BY RAILROAD AND STEAM
SHIP CoMPANIEs-LABoR DAY CRUSH ON
THE KINGS COUNTY ELEvATED-How
CYCLISTS LOSE THEIR WAY.
some Of the interesting club runs arranged for
to-day are as follows:
Riverside wheelmenmNewburg and return started
Peduod Whee,men-Coney Island; leave clubhouse
No 20 East Nineteenth-st., at 9 a. m.
Roya. Arcanum Whee,men-Hempstead, L. l.;
leave Clubhouse, No. 1854 Bedford-ave., Brooklyn at
Yorkvle Observation-Disclosures S l.. leave club
Harlem Wheemen-R dgewood. y. j.: leave club
house, No. Il West observation-disclosures fourth
Falcon wheelmen-Clfton y. j.; ieave clubhouse,
NJ S9 Manhattan-ave.. Brooklyn at a; m.
house, No. Sal Lexing on-ave, Brooklyn, at "a m.
New-York A: c. Vince men-Travers Island; leave
wheeery, in West Sixtieth-st az 1890 a. m.
Kings County Observation-Disclosures Beach; leave
clubhouse. in Bedford-ave.. at $50 a.
Monarch heelmen-Tarrytown. leave clubhouse.
Knickerbocker wheelmen-Rockaway Beach; leave
Past.me a. c. Observation-Disclosures y j.; leave
grounds siSty,sxn-st and avenue A. at 10 a. m
800 West Fourth-st., at a. m.
The bicycle lamp offers an attractive oppor-
tunity 'or the inventor. Much trouble has been
caused by lamps which go out on the most trivial
provoca ton. and leakness Is also a frequent at
tribute. OF course there are lamps which give
entire satisfaction but not every rider is blessed
with such belonging. For an ordinary night
spin. however. the present lamps serve we'll
enough but on a tour especially If 1t be Of any
length. they are far from perfect. Experienced
wheelmen are likely to take their lamps with
them on trips lasting several days. even If they
have no intention Of riding at night. The I'M
Certainties OF wheeling various and
merous and an unexpected delay may make it
desirable to do a little travelling after dark. The
lamp runs many risks in baggage cars Its ex
posed position makes il liable 10 knocks and
blows. Baggagemen often lay wheels fat on top
Of trunks. and then the oil is likely to run out.
This happens from time to time, but the b.
cyclst is not so much inconvenienced by this ac
c.dent the owner Of the baggage which the
oil may happen 10 run.
Perhaps the solution of the problem will be
electricity. An electric bicycle lamp has already
been made; it is said TO combine the elements Of
c)mpactness. simplicity and lightpess, but has
not yet come into extensive use. One wheelman
suggests folding lamp. in which big candle
should be used instead Of oil. Some such ar
rangement is employed by canoists This lamp
could be tucked away in the luggage carrier I'M
Ill wanted. II would give sufficient light TO be
seen at distance Of 200 feet as prescribed by
the city ordinance. and would be less odorous
and far more clearly than the oil lamp.
II is likely that the big railway companies will
in a year two join in adopting uniform rules
for the transportation of bicycles personal
baggage Most wheemen would agree that this
article should be regarded just a trunk is, and
be carried free. but charges are made by most
railroad and steamship companies 1t is a curious
fact that corporation which last year ex
acted one cent mile for carrying bicycle now
makes no charge II insists only on the signing
of a release from all claim for damage. Another
big system, which last year gave free transporta-
tion..DOw charges a moderate fee On some fer
ries the wheelman pays no more than pedes-
TRAN; on others he and his contrivance are
classed a vehicle. On some of the roads which
require payment for bicycles there is a minimum
charge Of 25 cents. and this is sometimes more
than the passenger himself pays. Thus two
young women who were caught in the rain and
rode home in the cars had to give only 10 cents
each for their own tickets. while their wheels
cost them just two and half times as much
One argument for the free carriage Of wheels
IS that the sport leads 10 great deal of travel
by train which would not otherwise take place.
Even If man plans to wheel all the way to his
objective point and home again. he is often COM
PEELED to take train. He may injure his wheel,
be caught in a storm or be delayed in some other
way. so that he must have recourse to the steam
cars. Besides on most long tours. the train is
taken part Of the way, either to avoid bad roads
or 10 reach beautiful scenery without delay.
Thus one wheelman reckons that last year he
spent $50 for railroad fares while on wheeling
tours not one cent Of which he would have spent
had he not been a cyclist. Therefore ne thinks
that It would be only fair that his bicycle be
transported free.
The Tribune has been urging the need OF sign
posts at every crossing Of roads. but occasionally
gldeboards get the wheelman into trouble.
There is an unreasoning truthfulness about
their directions which may be disastrous. The
cycst wants 10 know not only what road leads
TO HIS destination but also what road is the best.
II is always well therefore, when in an unfa-
milar district. to supplement signboard direc-
lions with other knowledge Thus cyclist pass
ing through Englewood on his way 10 Teaneck
comes TO a point where the road forks. The
gudeboard blandly informs him that the right
hand branch will bring him 20 Teaneck while
he must follow the other to reach Hackensack
This is literally true. but If he turns to the right
he will have to founder over two miles OF SAND.
much of IL unridable Should Re disregard the
guldeboard and keep to the left, he will strike a
good road to Teaneck. \ similar experience mas
been met with by riders on Their way TO tne
Delaware Water Gap from Port JerVis beyoha
Busnwlck there is a branching OF the ways, ana
the sgnpost tells you that the left FORK leads 10
the Gap SO It does. but !; also iTads TO some
Of the worst riding imaginable Inc mus are
steep and rocky and when the cyclist Is able 10
ride he is jounced and iolted until he Is glad to
have 10 disnount as to Walk up NH Had
he known the way he would have kept along the
mali road several miles fLrtber and would nave
had excellent riding until he had 10 Dranch OH.
These Instances could be multiplied lhey tedch
the lesson that for the cyclists purpose sign
boards are not an ideal source OF information
The same criticism could be made OF some hu-
man beings natural form of question is' Is
this the way to -" The countrymah VIII