Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1896-01-25
The Bicycle as a Vehicle and the
Rights of the Rider.
COURrESIES 6F The ROAD
The Natural Prejudice Against
Reckless Riding.
HOW TO PASS TIE M S

In the eye Of the law the cycle Is a We
hicle within the meaning of the word as ap-
piled to carriages, wagons, ETC., and occu-
pies precisely the same place, as to rights
and privileges. as does a carriage or
wagon. Wheelmen have therefore, a right
to expect, although their expectations are
frequently disappointed, such treatment at
the hands of those who administer the law
as is melted out to wagon and carriage own
ers.
Wheelmen have, in some places, been
put to considerable labor and expense to
establish this fact, but have done SO with
uniform success, chiefly through the in
fluence of the League of American Wheel
men-wnich organization, realizing the NOR
al force of numbers, has framed and push
ed measure after measure for the enlarge
ment of the rights of bicyclsts. The pas
sage, long ago, of the so-called liberty
bill' in New York. is a case in point This
measure provides, In brief that no laws or
local restrictions shall be enacted against
the use of the wheel in the state of New
York that are not equally applicable to
vehicles drawn by horses. New York
wheelmen reaped the advantages accruing
| to an extent not anticipated. Central Park
was Immediately opened. The highways Of
the state were made pleasant to ride on,
because farmers and other drivers knew
| that the legislature had made wheelmen
their equal on the road. Before the for
nation Of the league the authorities Of
| Boston, Providence, Hartford, Brooklyn
| and many smaller towns had, in turn, de-
MED wheelmen the rights of the streets,
but they have been compelled to recede
| from positions not tenable in law or JUS
| ice.
Rights and Privileges.
In many localities wheelmen have been
| accorded privileges in excess of their rights.
| They have been allowed to use side-paths
and walks, to coast on hills within city
| limits, and to ride at high speed on crowded
| thoroughfares. Such concessions have had
| the effect of making them careless Of the
rights Of others, while asserting their own
| rights and privileges to the fullest ex-
| tent. They have thus intensified the preju-
| dice already existing in some quarters
| against wheeling, and have aroused the in
| tolerance of others whose rights have been
| infringed by reckless riders.
1t would seem, therefore, that mutual
| regard by drivers and wheelmen for each
others rights would have very harmoni-
| Gus effect, and to this end every rider and
| driver should understand and observe not
only the legal rules Of the road, but the
| courteses well.
Courtesfes of the Road.
| There have always been wheelmen who
had no regard for the convenience Of their
| fellow wheelmen, and doubtless always will
| be. In crowded streets, with wheels and
| teams darling in every direction, it is WELL
nigh impossible to strictly observe the rule
turn to the right" and wheelmen under
stand this.
There is no excuse, however for the many
| little discourtesies exhibited by some wheel
men; for instance, speeding around corners
| without considering the chances Of meet
ing another wheelman. turning short around
| in the street. without first looking behind
and speeding through crowds of foot pas
| sengers.
How to Pass Teams.
| It is the same on the road The law says:
| pass on the left a team going in the same
| direction as yourself" but some riders do
more than this. They come up suddenly
from behind and pass with rush so close
to the horse as nearly to strike it with the
| pedal, sometimes waving hand in its face
| or shouting 1t is a brutal thing to do ANY
horse of spirit would shy at such a shock
| and nervous animal is more than likely to
| run away. The writer has found 1t a good
| rule, in Httle-traveled country, to ride along
| side the team and attract the attention of
| the driver, that he may hold the reins tight
er. Another good rule, when the team is
| coming toward you, and particularly IL
| ladies are driving, is to dismount the mo-
ment the horse shows fright, and drop the
| wheel at the side of the road, standing I'M
til the team has passed. Such slight cour-
| tesfes (and there are many opportunities for
| the observance Of them in the course of a
seasons riding Invariably bring the thanks
| and good will Of the countrymen, and 1t
1
| allies in the good roads movement.
Common Sense and Kfndness.
The basis of good manners in bicycling, as
in everything else, is common sense and
kindness Armed with these the wheel
man need never fear that he will make any
breaks" on the road. In fact, the whole
manual Of cycle etiquette might be boiled
| down into the maxim, Use your head"
One OF the most important things for wheel
men to remember is that they should never
pass dismounted wheelman trying to re-
pair break. Get off, ask him what is the
trouble, and do what you can for him if he
| needs help. Some day you will be in the
just the degree to which you have given it.
Accompanying a Lady.
Bicycling is much in need of a set OF
rules for behavior, because of the pecu-
liar conditions under which the sport is
carried on Men and women ride side by
side for miles. and while woman ostensihly
puts herself on a footing with her escort
she is still the weak member of the firm
and needs a certain amount of help and
forbearance. One should never let his self
ish desire to plug" up a good hill, for in.
stance, pull himself away from the side OF
the lady, whose weaker muscles require
her to dismount humbly and meekly at the
foot and walk up. OF course you show
her how easy it is, and what strong rider
and wait for her, but it isn't kind. It's
lonesome walking hills alone.
The proper thing nowadays is to tow the
lady up ordinary hills, either with har-
ness, or by taking the middle of her han.
die bars with right hand and rushing
her wheel to the top. You can thus show
her how strong you are (and 1t takes quite
, a bit of muscle to do this), and at the same
, time deserve her smile of gratitude.
1t is the duty of the men to see that the
women get as much pleasure as possible
out of their wheeling, and it is also the
duty of the women to give as little trouble
, as possible. A dismounted woman by the
roadside should receive instant assistance
and a man stopping to help her should dis
| mount and uncover. 1t is always proper
| to speak to a wheel woman in distress
| without an introduction, but the rendition
of such services does not entitfe him t.
her acquaintance. In following a marrow
path the rule is ladies first, and leave
} good distance behind them" II lady.
wheel is SO damaged that it cannot b,
ridden, leave your own wheel with her and
take hers to the shop. Ride on the LIFT
. hand side Of the lady that you LILY have
. your good right arm handy to assist her
II you are left-handed reverse the rule
! These rules may seem unnecessary to som,
people, and so they are; but they are fire
! quently transgressed by men who consde
themselves worthy Of the title gentle