Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1896-05-19
THE UNITED WHEELMEN,
Aims and Purposes of the Proposed
Organization.

EXPERIMENTATION.
The movement started a few weeks ago
fer the organization Of the local attached
and unattached cyclists has met with more
success than was at first expected, and
now it is believed that before the end of
the year the membership of the organlza-
ton will number two-thirds of the cyclists
of the District.
According to the report of the C Dmmittee
appointed to determine the ACCESSIBILITY of
forming permanent organization, five
reasons were given which briefly summed
up the advantages. According to the re-
port the reasons were:
First. To secure the enforcement of lust
laws and the repeal of all unjust laws in
regard to cyclists and cycling
Second. To influence legislation favorable
TO the protection OF the riders of the wheel.
Third. To secure better service and re-
duced rates at the hotels in and around the
District of Columbia.
Fourth. To encourage and control road
racing in the District.
Fifth. To encourage runs to neighboring
cities, and TO promote Intercourse and So
ciability among cyclists.
The first reason covers a multitude OF
things. 1t provides for the enforcement of
law which VIII benefit the cyclers. Ii will
mean an 3tten.pt to enforce the regulations
in regard to throwing glass in the streets.
Ii will also mean an argument for the ell
forcement OF the law in regard to vehicles.
Many of the accidents to cyclists are due
to the careless ness of drivers who viii
persistently drive on the wrong side of the
street, and in the ep0eaYor to get out Of
the way of vehicles running in both direc-
tons the wheeme2 sometimes meet with
an accident 1t will mean the enforcement
OF the regulation providing for lights on
carriages, the lack of which is not felt so
much in the city the roads at night,
when in the darkness IL is impossible to
discern vehicle until close upon IL. For
the repeal of unjust laws it will mean an
attempt to incl case the speed limit of biCy-
cles in the city. Under the police regula-
tons the speed of a bicycle is limited to
practically eight miles an hour, when vehi-
cles are Permitted to go at the rate Of
twelve miles an hour.
Under the second reason advanced the
association will endeavor to have laws and
regulations adopted which will more fully
establish and protect the rights of wheel
men. One thing which will be requested
will be the erection Of sign posts at the
crossings of all tie roads within the Dis
trict. These signs are much more mex
pensive than those used on the streets of
the city, end should be in position, not only
for the good of wheelmen, but for the BEN
eft of the general public. In cooperation
with the Maryland authorities, the scheme
will be EXTENDED, if possible, out in Mary
land. In addition TO this, there are num-
Der of other laws which can be urged for
favorable action, which will prove of i'm
mense be eft tC W heelmen.
ments with hotels. This means that the as
ISOLATION viii select some hotel at each of
the objective points of the trips Of local
wheelmen, and by throwing all the patron
age to one place secure not only reduction
in the general price but a much better SER
vice than II the patronage were scattered
among three or four places Even in the
event that no reduction he obtained a bet
ter service would be guaranteed.
The fourth reason refers to a long-felt
want, and will tend to elevate road racing
in the District. For some time the need of
such an organization to reguls te road races
has been felt, and season so much as
last year, when road racing received a Sc
rious blow through foul and tri cky riding in
two of the twenty mile races. With an as
ISOLATION like the United Vince linen in con-
troll, and the other clubs of the District
agreeing to abide by its decision a rider
found guilty of unfair work in road race
could be temporarily or permanently barred,
according to the nature of his OffenSC
The fifth reason is one upon which the
association is now working, and which will
tend to affiliate the wheelmen of Washing
ton with those of neighboring cities. BY
personal meeting and friendly intercourse
much good will result. More than this the
fifth reason provides for the promotion of
intercourse and sociabiity among cyclists
and this will mean one or more local runs
during the season, perhaps an excursion or
an entertainment of some sort.
The dues, as recommended by the COM
mittee on permanent organization, will be
"A
year, which will no more than defray eN-
penses. Certain restrictions, of course Will
be placed on the membership, so as to pre-
vent the admission of any Objectionable
persons. Female riders will be admitted as
well as the men, the idea being to look out
for the interests of all the members alike
The association will uphold the rights OF
the cyclists in court. A lawyer will be Sc
lected who will look out for the interests of
the organization, his fee to be paid out of
the associations fund. Should a cyclist be
injured or his wheel destroyed through the
negligence of a driver, the owner of the
vehicle will be requested to make good the
damage, and if this be refused the matter
will be carried to court. To prevent thefts
of wheels, it is contemplated to offer a
small reward, perhaps s. in each case for
the arrest and conviction of the thief A
| rigid enforcement of the law in this respect
would undoubtedly have a salutary effect
| upon the criminals of this class.
| The next meeting will be held Wednesday
evening at so 18th street northwest and II
! the constitution is presented by the COM
mittee appointed to draft such, permanent
organization will be effected. At any rate
| the arrangements for the Baltimore trim
will have been completed, and tickets for
| the occasion probably placed on sale at the