New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1896-05-10
4 PLEA FOR FAIR PLAY
wHEELMEN SHOULD NOT BE
PARK COMMISSIONER WOODRUFF
HELD BY BICYCLE RIDER.

xvtIrEINEN SHOULD NOT BE "nH
p,px COMMISSIONER WOODRUFF UP
HELD BY A BICYCLE RIDER.
To the Editor Of The Tribune. ,,..,,,s
S,s road under date of May Park Comnl's-
s,oner WoodrufYs regulations in reSar" 10 49,
on the Ocean Parkway. Brooklyn "n' "'.,a
ono Wish TO dwell on. to the effect tnat o'Vso'e'
- =, robihi,ed on the main driveway seems
49,. caused no little Indignation among ""e''
~ Fl, ,tfy OF the fact that state Id" o'"s'e
,h h,cvcle as \ vehicle. and as such' e"'4"e -
,ho ,ree and unlimited use OF puphc suee,s' ms
,avs parkways and drives in VIE" VI ms
w.. CO.. aryum.nt's sake. admitting that inc pro-
-, ordinance conflicts with the law" '"e WI"
PoSeu ,aa,,on the League of American Wheel
- hos ,aken the matter In hand, ana propose'
ling a test case In order TO eventuah' 'epe" ~
ha ' put does the end justify the means!
Az a vheelman OF Brooklyn and an L. ~ W. 80 n
har 7 was at first sight inclined tna' way
after looking more deeply into tue ii" &c.,
,ormed the opinion that this oralhance 10 ~,
~ oror one and even II II be Infringing on our
.ahts and privileges we should close our e'e' ~
I, and smile but say nothihs r,,. oo..n
" 80 go TOOL. at the facts in the case Inc Ocea"
PARKWAY is under the direct cohtroi anu 'up.
,on n. the Commissioner OF PARKS ""'' :, ,ona
~ Nv. ,u,o wears back, embodied stre'c" VI '".,N
10 SUM 80 and Ave and a half miles long. SUP
,,,,, into q grand driveway, several smaner 'oau'
D., heavy traffic and walks or pathways ior w..
,r,are Since that time however OWNS ~
rou,ny demands OF wheelmen the presen. ~ ~
oatb was built stretching from Prospect am ~
rorav IsIand-a grand roadway. IA feet w'ue.
.o.' o.. .,aars of tho wheel. II stands there
- ,,, a ,nodel in itself, the only one OF lts h"o ~
.S, oorrtrv and calls forth the admiration anu
praises Of all who have seen or useo It,
nath of the same character. Dut on ii"p''
"a rou, in course OF construction, anu than~' " -
indefatgabie efforts and the loyalty 10 I'm 80
Do
comnleted within six weeks inc mann u,'o
go ,uovs been used by drivers of pleasure ho' sea'
7, has been the custom to speed horses Oh ''''
road and this Is apparently lawru,. 4. "AS' Wv -.
fore been looked upon as posiuVeN a..
ride upon II astrlde wheel ana previous
buildng Of the cycle path whee"ie" W."
tho main road. preferrng a narrow iootpa'" y"
the side. ...a hsoausa
The cycle path therefore, was crea'eo BECAUSE
,hers WAS a demand for 1t; because riders oid not
care TO endanger their lives among large "u"De'
=, sreedv horses: because they did not want 'no
road ,. 90 mar
cent of the wheelmen use the cyeie PAIN anu
the completion Of the other Il Is sae 10 assert "a'
that will gather in the other per cent 49,, ID %
hand lie, us S SS % now d have
our roads exclusive Of others way not a1W dr 70
to have theirs? rhey are are eontinailY setting
forth the doctrine against the road hog, Let us
in this instance apply II TO ourselves men h ha'
Iihertv hill for wheelmen was enacted III was pe-
caHse we were r. stricted from roadways ,,
And what are horsemen's feelings 70 US , w.em
Movements as the present one holding forth Tney
,nust certainly be bitter with resentment; such ac-
Hons must cause prejudice. Whereas. II we appear
in accordance with each others IDEAS ana &c. III
unison it would be far better ana much '"o''
could be accomplished co,,s.,orar r..
Now a word in regard to the Commissioner: ne
has framed this. among other rules IN go0a fai.n,
hound by a sense OF justice TO all. lie mas seen
tbe wants and comforts OF wheelmen provided for.
and now wishes to do the same for horsemen 4
wheelm an himself and a member OF several wneei-
Ing organizations. he would surely be IN sympathy
ana act i'm accordance with them. In fact ne mas
proven so; number Of improvements. solely Dene-
Hcal 10 wheemen are In course OF construction.
due 70 his Efforts and will be completed In short
time 1t is to be regretted that this controversy
must take place and /. for one, am In strict ac-
cord with the Park Commissioner He must
certainly regard this movement with keen sense
OF Indignation and look upon II as gross IN
sIIt This case seems to be unprecedented, as we
have never had such a thing as special road Tor
wheelmen and, therefore. think the matter hinges
on the letter OF the law. technical point, more
than on principle. Be that as II may. II the point
in question Is won. q great many VIII regard IT as
q step downward for wheelmen. rather than an0tner
victory. JUN oMlIh
Brooklyn. May 4 l&A