New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1896-05-10
IN THE CYCLING WORLD.
RAIN NOT AN ABSOLUTE BAR TO THE
SPORT.

RAIN NOT AN ABSOLUTE BAR TO THE
SPORT
COMMISSIONER wooDRUFFs ORDER IN BROOK
LYy-RIpiNG IN THE EARLY MORNING
HOURS - wHEELMEN WELCOME
AT THE GARDEN CITY
CATHEDRAL
The newest bicycle project in this city is for
a path or rather. two paths. in Central PARK
lust inside the fence. and going all the way
around A person who happens to be an orhcer
of the League of American Wheelmen Is spon-
sor for the suggestion. That organization Is
in no way committed to it. and IL is sincerely
to be hoped that 1t will never be. Any EFFORT
to grab part of Central Park is sure to arouse
a storm of opposition 1t has been shown De-
fore that New-York holds the Park sacred.
Even The prosnect Of the Worlds Fair was not
considered sufficient to Justify even tempo
rarv occupation Of Central Park by buildings
The plan for a speedway stirred up a ire
mendous feeling. which eliminated In mass
meeting in Cooper Union. The Park was again
saved 1t is said that II would do little Marin
TO slice off twenty or thirty feet along the edge
of the Park. but this Is palpaby ABSURD.
Grass shrubbery and trees would have 70 go.
A lot of grading would be necessary, AT CON
siderable expense There would doubtless be
accidents daily as the paths would cut through
all the roads leading into the Park: The cross
streams Of traffic would require 'ne c a the
scheme is one which should be dropped. and
that at once.
If Police Magistrates were TO Impose much
heavier fines on "scorchers' the public would
be greatly indebted to them 1t seems that
many youths and men are willing to risk ~
or 81 fine for the sake of speeding beyond the
lawful rate especially az there so few BIZ
cycle policemen that arrest is unlikely. oll
any evening violations OF the ordinance may
be seen on the Boulevard. If the evil Is not
abatcd il would even be good plan TO I'M
prison the guilty persons. certainly thoSe
who refuse to stop when called on to do so by
a policeman and tauntingly challenge nm 10
race. deserve severe punishment
Bicycle-riders seem to be more and more disln-
cned to give up their avorite sport on account OF
a slight rainfall. Last Sunday furnished many
Illustrations Of this. 1t raned here in the course
OF the night and at o'clock the streets were
wet Yet wheemen did not stay In the house
but were to be seen by the dozen on uptown
streets number Of women were alec on their
blcvcles slight shower set In. but only few
of the riders scudded for home. The rest were
ont for their Sunday ride. and were not TO be
frightened by little water. For time the
downfall was heavy and then good many
sought shelter to await the end OF the rain. At
such times the granite pavements are much pei
ter for riding than asphalt or park roads Inc
water on them does not stand In pools. and one
can ride at considerable speed without being
spattered with mud. This fact made Fifth-ave..
between SiXtieth and Nnetieth SITS, a good
place to ride on last Sunday morning. Women
protect their garments by having mudguards on
their bicycles and do some men, but In
light rain even asphalt can be traversed without
ninging up much mud. OF course II Is necessary
to go slowly. The clean condition OF the streets,
however. has much to do with this.
The asphalt pavements In this city are in gem
eral in good condition. Repairs have been made
this spring in Eighth-ave.. Fffty-ninth-s and
Made lave. which have greatly subserved the
int'r rs Of wheemen. Others are still 10 be
made, however.
ITS funny about my mother" said young
woman. who resting a bench at Clare
mont She speaking to several companions
Would you believe 1t. for long time she
thought the toolbags which she saw on b.
cycles were to carry luncheon In? She wondered
why nobody went out even for a short ride with
out taking something TO eat along Finally she
asked me why the bags weren't made larger. be-
cause She didn't think they would hold enough
to satisfy appetite whetted by exercise. just
think Of H., And she so surprised when
told her what they were for
The theft OF bicycle from a man who was
riding in Central Park at 80 o'clock In the
morning calls attention to the fact that wheel
men are 10 be seen In the streets at radically
all hours Of the night. Many ride FOR pleasure
up to midnight. and others may be seen later
going home from work. The whose wheel
stolen while ne was looking for n nut which
he had lost is a postal clerk who works at night
Some employed the newspapers ride
home anywhere from . to o'clock and soon
after that early risers are abroad their
wheels 4 rider who often takes n spin soon after
Il hat rr.rt.f fe1 In
persons start out before Il o'clock one Sunday
morning in April he saw fully hundred in the
course OF short ride on the Boulevard and
Riverside Drive between $50 and u a. m. Cen
fury runs are sometimes started early ). 30
o'clock. and who are trying for a double
century get out Of bed at or 3 o'clock for their
days fun"
The tremendous extension OF the trolley service
makes IT extremely desirable that there should be
some way by which a cyclist could use II when
his machine Is injured. or for any other reason
he prefers being n passenger to furnishing his
own locomotion. few lines transpor, wheels.
some making extra charge There IT, how
ever. company In Southern Indiana. which
ries them gratis. at least ns many OF them as
can be hung on the hoops fastened 10 the outside
OF the cars for the purpose. bicycle Is so UNI
wieldy, however. that The capacity OF n car would
be small When the companies go into the ex-
press business n large scale as II seems likely
they will, the carrying OF bicycles will be slmp-
fed
The cycle paths now building In various parts
OF the State going 70 be direct benefit 10
the farmer and his family They will give him a
good sidewalk times when the regular road
Is deep in mud He will occasionally find II more
convenient to walk TO town or to a neighbours
than to hitch up his horse and drive over For
his children II Is an especial boon. as II Will give
them a dry road TO school. In this State the
farmer doesn't have to pay the cost OF these
tbs as the wheelmen meet the expense by
subscription. In New-Jersey the taxpayers may
vote money for building them.
race Of youth against age interested specta-
tors at Claremont few afternoons ago A man