The morning times., 1896-05-11
To WHEEL SAFELY IN STREETS.
Mind These Directions and You VIII
Avoid Many Accidents.
Non JoTG, Press

Nearly all accidents in cycling are avoid
able. One has only TO know how to ride.
In Paris and London there have been seri-
Gus and mortal collisions between bicycles
and other vehicles, and wheemen and Pc
tFastriaDs. In each city the government
haS had to impose penalties for certain
careless kinds OF riding, and to formulate
rules for the protection of life and limb
in the streets. These rules chiefly consist
in suggesting TO cyclists ways of improving
their riding-the management OF their ma
chine particularly.
In Engla I'd and Germany the law is to
turn to the left and keep TO the left side
of the road alwa US. They must not ride at
a pace exceeding eight miles an hour. In
the event Of any neglect OF these dlrec-
tions measures are a once taken ia prose-
cute offenders. In France the rule OF the
road is to keep 10 the left, too: but in he
United States everybody turns to the right.
Some excellent advice on how 10 avoid
accidents in street cycling has been pre-
pared b. the director of the Palace OF Sport
of Paris. 1t is summarized in the follow
ing paragraphs:
Never ride at a pace which will not
permit an easy and immediate dismOunting Z
from the machine when desired.
Keep al ways thirty yards from vehicle
when riding behind one, and from thirty to
forty-five yards should be the interval
when riding in front Of one.
Never sound your bell when approach
ing a person from behind. This only
frightenS or diScOnCcrts n pedestrian, and
he never knows which direction to take
the chances are much in favor of his tax
ing the wrong direction. 1t is the business
OF the cycIist to keep out of the pedestrians S
way.
IF the pedestrian is In front and CON-
ing toward you and seems not to know
which direction to take, then dismount at
once rather than run tie risk of an accident.
Never get off the machine, when riding
in the streets, from the slde-always slip
Off from behind and keep the bicycle in
motion all the time and remount without
stopping. You never know what may be
behind You. and a short stop may be the
cause of a collision from behind.
when You mount be sure TO go to the
curbing on the right hand side and mount
from the right-hand side of the bicycle.
Never look behind you on any account
vehicles coming up behind you will be
guided by your movements.
Never pass in front OF carr at right
angles-you don't know what is on the other
side.
I'm approaching side street intersecting g
the one you are on at right angles, go
slowly and keep to the right
"One must be careful about children and
dogs. Shout at the dogs so as TO frighten
them away but children must be told
which way to run.
IF the road is slippery with mud or
water go slowly and take large turns
when turning from one direction TO another.
Don't keep behind cab; turn to the left
and pass and get ahead OF it, This is more
agreeable and safer. Avoid, in this way,
getting hemmed in by vehicles.
Gross tram-rails at right angles.
Don't try to pass at right angles in front
of cars or trucks. Go behind them. "
Bicycling accidents owing to machines
slipping seems to be increasing in mum :
| ber. If bicyclists who usually sit upright
in their saddles when Che roads seem slip
perry would lower their handle-hars about
| an inch and a half or two inches, and so
stoop slightly forward, these accidents
would happen less often. Eight times out
of ten the hind wheel is the first TO sitp
hut the further forward the riders body
is bent the more his weight is thrown upon
the front wheel and, therefore, the less
likely is the machine to slip up.