The Scranton tribune. [volume] (Scranton, Pa.) 1891-1910, 1896-06-06
BICYCLE NEWS AND GOSSIP.

The Green Ridge wheelmen. headed
by Captain Charles Corr. rode to Oily
phant Thursday evening. They were
entertained by the Suburban wheelmen
Of that town for a few hours. Light
visitors started home.
Chairman Gideon of the League of
American Wheelmen racing board.
dropped his AK on the necks of the
University Of Pennsylvania's racing
team last Wednesday, thereby declaring
them professionals. which prohibits
them from competing with amateurs.
One of the victims of this latest declara-
tlons of Gideon's is the popular Johnny
Corser, who rode with the Scranton
Bicycle Clubs team last season. Cor
ser is in fine form ana up to date, his
work this season has been Of the gilt
edge variety and the transfer into the
ranks Of professionals is a heavy blow.
Cause Of removal was expenses paid.
The bicycle ordinance was presented
to the select council Thursday evening
In slightly modified FORM Indeed SO
slight were the notifications. that 1t is
nearly as Objectionable as before. The
registration fee Is reduced from S.0O
to S5 cents and specifies that the money
thus obtained shall be expended in re-
pairing streets. Cycles must be equip
ped with bells and lanterns, coasting. or
riding with hands off handle bars is for
hidden. Speed is limited to eight miles
an hour, riding or propelling a cycle on
the sidewalk is prohibited. After talk
ing to many wheelmen on the revised
edition of the ordinance of which the
foregoing is the substance, the writer
finds that they all object to the clause
compelling them to register their
wheels, and also to that section which
prohibits the riding or propelling cycles
on sidewalks. They say that as regards
riding on sidewalks the ordinance Is
all right but the word "propelling" is the
source Of big "kick" as it prohibits a
rider from walking with his wheel on
the sidewalk. In case Of accidental
puncture for instance-which frequent
ly Occurs-and whenever rider, either
lady or gentleman, comes to steep
grade, so many Of which can be found
In our city, he or she (being unable to
ride) must walk In the dusty road, 1t
being q misdemeanor to walk on the
sidewalk with bicycle. Walking in
the road is disagreeable to anyone and
wheelmen are human. Another ques-
tion which Is agitating the cyclists Is
will out of town wheelmen, who pass
through this city daily, be liable to
arrest unless their wheels are regis
tered in this city. If so the registration
clause Is impracticable, and should be
stricken out along with the word pro-
pelling.'
An old lady visiting in Buffalo dur
ing cycle club parade seeing the sign
Of a popular Syracuse wheel reading
Dodge Bicycles" exclaimed: "Well
swan, If that amt good advice. amt
| done nothin else since l got here"
The officials of our cities seem to be
leaving no stone unturned for the safety
| of pedestrians from bicycle accidents.
The cyclist is compelled to have bell
| and lamp on his machine in most cities,
which Is no more than right. At the
same time when the pedestrian becomes
a bicycle rider what protection does he
| get? The lamp law" should work
both ways. Drivers of vehicles on pub
lie thoroughfares after dark should be
compelled to carry lamps. Its fact
that about 3 per cent of the vehicles,
ther than delivery wagons, ETC., have
side lamps which burn either candles
or oil, yet one Is seldom lighted. Every
bicycle rider knows how easy it is to
run very close to a wagon or carriage
after dark on some Of our streets be-
| fore seeing them. This Is especially
true Of the boulevards and In case OF
collision the wheelman is invariably the
injured person. 1t is a fact that q
lamp or candle on a carriage or wagon
| Is not at all troublesome as compared
to the trouble cyclist Is in, constantly
trying to get lamp that will burn
bright and keep light and at the same
time not get hot. and many other faults
which the bicycle lamp manufacturers
have not been able to overcome. A hui
man life is worth as much on bicycle
as off and 1t is time our law maker,
arrived at that conclusion.
The newest cycle organization in this
city, the West Side Wheelmen. is in a
Gourishing condition. They have moi
secured a club house as yet but have
several desirable houses in sight and
will be permanently located in short
time. The membership has already
reached the fifty mark.