New-York tribune., 1896-05-08
WOODRUFF ANSWERS POTTER
THE PARK COMMISSIONER SAYS HIS
ACTION WAS ALL RIGHT.

NO PRECEDENT ESTABLISHED BECAUSE IN No
OTHER PLACE ARE THERE SIMILAR con-
DITIoNs-rEAMs MUST KEEP IN THEIR
PLACE AND so SHOULD wHEELMEN.
Park Commissioner Timothy L. Woodruff little
thought that his recent order closing Ocean PARK
way to bicyclsts would bring forth so mucn crit.-
cism from the wheelmen. He was somewhat net
tied at the remarks OF Isaac B. Potter chef consu
of the New-York State Division OF the League OF
American wheelmen. and yesterday made the fol-
lowing reply:
ION general principles, Mr.. Potter's attitude Is a
perfectly natural one because wheelmen DO not
want a precedent established which might eventu-
ally lead to their being deprived OF the use OF tne
roads through the parks and the parkways OF ths
and other cities of the State.
However Mr.. Potter and a few others who nave
criticised my attitude have lost sight Of the salient
features and conditions which involved In the
controversy growing out of my ordinance conhnins
bcyclists to the cycle path Of the Ocean Parkway
THE Ocean Parkway Is 210 feet in width. and Is
now divided into seven distinct courses. Two oi
these for pedestrians now being made available
by the construction of concrete pavements for the
entire distance from Prospect Park to Coney lsiaho'
The second two courses are known as the SIDE
roads They are each twenty-five feet In width. one
of them is being macadamized, and the other one
regarded and resurfaced. in order that the tfuchs
ard business wagons which by this same ordinance
have been relegated to these side roads may be aoe
auately cared for. Next come two cycle paths SIX
teen and eighteen feet WIDE respectively. both OF
which by the middle June will be In perfect condi-
tion (the old one to be improved as soon as the new
one can be used). Lastly comes the seventy-ioot
driveway the present bone Of contention.
"Jypon my assumption of the duties OF Park Com
missioner at once concluded that pedestrian'sm'
bicycling and the riding and driving OF horses con-
stituted three altogether Incompatible kinds OF
travel and Sc, to work to devise means for their
enforcement upon lines which would prove sat.slac
tory to all fair-minded people.
NEW PATHS BEING CONSTRUCTED.
ITO avoid the danger at the Ocean Parkway en-
+rance TO the Park and at the junction OF the East
ern Parkway and Flatbush-ave.. am having cycle
paths constructed which will make 1t possible for
bicycsts entirely to avoid both these places. am
constructing cycle path from the Junction OF
teenth-st. with the Ocean Parkway around the Dig
circle connecting with tho Old cycle path, SO as 10
avoid the necessity OF wheeling across the most
dangerous part OF the circle wnere the Vehices ana
trolley cars cross each other.
"The new cycle path will be connected with the
pathway that goes around the Flatbush-aVe sioe
of the Park without crossing the circle. and that
outer pathway OF the Park will be put in as good con-
dition as the new cycIinS pain ioI ""ee"e P1A
I'm view Of all that has been done and Is being done
interests
he sibiected 10 any criticism for insisting that the
main driveway of the Ocean Parkway shouid DC
left entirely 10 riders and drivers. nave not YET
heard any criticism except upon the ground pre-
sented In Mr.. Poter's letter which taxes exception
TO nv legal right to enact such an ordinance, ana
therefore refuses to acquiesce In the establishment
of a precedent which may work 10 the disadvantage
OF the bicyclists' interests In the future Dut, as
have said above this does not establish precedent
for the reason that other driveway such as tne
main road OF the Ocean Parkway has a pain on
both sides OF II exclusively for the use OF Dcycists
THE COMMISSIONER HAS JURISDICTION.
| THE Legislature last year passed an act giving
| the Commissioner Of Public Parks Of Brooklyn CON-
plete jurisdiction the kinds Of traffic on the
roads and roadways In the Park. and as this act Is
subsequent 10 the quoted by Mr.. Potter II un-
| doubtedly gives me the right have exercised.
II would like to know why a man has not got just
| as much right drive his horses on the bicycle
path the bicyclis has to ride his wneel on me
other way II have the right to relegate trucks and
business wagons to the side roads and exempt the
| bicycle path from the of horses and carriages
why have not the right to say that bcyclists shall
| confne themselves to the bicycle paths?
at Is well known that the main driveway mas been
used only by such bicyclsts were In training fol
| road races and preferred the heavy road to the
| cycle path, and who, of course went at hgh rate
| Of speed and by others who knew that they were
not allowed TO go as fast on the cycle path as II
| was their desire to CO.
II have for several weeks been observing the
travel on the Ocean Parkway, and did not promu-
gate these ordinances until after careful considera
] ton and study Of the subject.
II sincerely hope that position Will be respected
by all riders of the wheel who use the grand Ocear
within human power has been done for them: and
| that certainly the main drive OF the Ocean Parkway
should be left to the unmpeded use Of those who ride
| or drive horses"