New-York tribune., 1896-05-31
IN THE CYCLING WORLD.
SIDEWALK RIDING on THE KINGsBRIDGE
ROAD.
A PROPOSED oRDINANCE-AN ODD PETITION
YEARLY-REPAIRINGs PUNcrURED TIRES

THE UTILITY OF GETTING A NEW WHEEL
-REPAIRINGs PUNcrURED TIRES
-CLERGYMcN AND THE BICYCLE
The Law Committee Of the Board OF Aldermen
has before II ordinance introduced by MT.
Woodward. permitting bicyclists TO use the SIDE
walks Of the Boulevard Lafayette and OF the
Kingsbridge Road north OF One-hundred-ano-
ninety-second-st. until the roadways are repaired
Similar action has been taken In neighboring
towns when the streets have been torn up, but II
is possible that the residents Of that end OF Man.
haitian Island will raise objection to the adoption
OF this ordinance. IT is practically Impossible 10
ride over these two thoroughfares between the
curbs now, and the custom OF wheelmen mas peeh
10 keep to the sidewalks. Last year and early
this spring they did this without interference
from the police IL is possible that some officers
made objection but others certainly did not
Lately. however, the residents have insisted on
the enforcement Of the law and the police nave
driven wheemen to the street. Along the Kings
bridge Road sidewalk broken glass has has. been been
strewn in various spots. perhaps as mint that
II is no place for cycling.
The Boulevard Lafayette has so few houses
along it that there is grave objection TO the
use by wheelmen of the sidewalk. The scenery
is most delightful and the ride Is one of the
most agreeable in or about the city. Of course,
there are more pedestrians on the Kingsbridge
Road but the sidewalk is wide that there is
room for bicycles to pass them Indeed. regu-
lar cycle path has been worn beside the line OF
stone tagging. The worst feature OF II all ls
that IL will be several years before the road Is
placed in decent condition The Department or
Public Works announces that nothing will be
done until the Third Avenue Gable Company
lays its tracks here. and that will probably not
be for two years The Kingsbridge Road Is on
the direct line to Yonkers and forms the natural
route TO the Albany Post Road and the HUDSON
River towns While the Law Committee is con-
sidering this subject. wheemen are ADVISED 10
get off the sidewalks Of the Boulevard Lafayette
and the Kingsbridge Road the instant tney eaten
sight OF a policeman.
The contract has at last been let for repaving
with asphalt the east side of the Boulevard
from Ninety-second-st. to One-hundred-and-
sixth-st and the work is to be pushed with all
possible speed. Forty-fourth-st. is also 10 be
laid with the same material from Sixth-ave. to
Eleventh-ave. at once. This will give another
smooth approach nearly to the West Forty
second-st. ferry. The corresponding part OF
Fortieth-st is already thus paved Tne granite
blocks Forty -second-st. are uncommonly
smooth. but not as good for riding, naturally, as
asphalt.
The petition OF wheelmen to the Board of AL
dermen which received the Endorsement Of the
cyclists meeting in the Madison Square Gar
den sought the enactment Of ordinances which
would apply to bicycles and vehicles alike The
theory was that there Is a discrimination
against the bicycles OF course. no one will now
assert that bicycles should not have bells so the
petition means that vehicles should also have
them. There will be many. riders and non-rd-
ers. who would consider such proposition rank
nonsense. The city streets too noisy now
1t is painful even TO imagine every truck, de-
q
which the driver would ring constantly in
crowded street. OF course, the noselessness of
the bicycle is the reason for its equipment with
an instrument OF warning. 1t might be said
that cabs and carriages with rubber tires make
little sound. but the horses attached to them can
plainly be heard.
The present law also dscriminates between
bicycles and vehicles in permitting the former
TO go at a higher rate Of speed, 10 wit. eight
miles an hour Here, too, any change In the
ordinances to secure uniformity would have to
relate to cycling, for would urge that
trucks and light wagons should be allowed to
move at the rate of eight miles an hour. Con-
sequenty, the cyclists petition seems to mean
that there should be a decrease in the speed
limit of bicycles. OF course, 1t is a matter Of
general knowledge TO the average riders whose
wheels have cyclometers that ten miles hour
is an extremely common gait for bcyclists in
city streets and in the parks In short il is ap-
parent that the bicycle petition drawn up
with a lack of appreciation of what it really
meant.
Water Purveyor E. p North is a firm be-
lever in wooden pavements, and he made light
of criticism Of them written by a reader of
The Tribune The correspondent referring to
the block thus laid on Twentieth-st from
Broadway to Fifth-ave., says that II is ex-
tremely dusty. "the least puff Of wind raising a
regular simoon." and is so slippery when
sprinkled that horses are constantly falling on
II. It's curious" said Mr.. North. but those
were the very things said about asphalt when 1
laid the first of Ii in this city In 1879 There
were numerous predictions Of its utter failure
yet see how everybody wants 1t now Wooden
pavements are the pavements of luxury In Eng
land France. Germany and Italy and there is
no reason why they should not be equally a sue
cess in this country"
1t will be good to wheelmen who make
tours that asphalt route is to be laid from
Jersey City Heights to the Pennsylvania Ferry !
1t will be Mercer Henderson and York
SITS. and Will connect with the Hudson County
Boulevard.
After this l shall get a new wheel every |
year." said man who is now enjoying his Sec |
ond season of the sport Early In the spring 1 |
was in doubt as to the utility OF exchanging my |
old bicycle for 96 model although l should |
have had TO pay only S45 in cash. However my |
old one was in such good condition that 1 de- |
cided to keep II. Before long l needed q new |
pair of pedals. and they cost me 81. Then a |
tire wore out and 1t cost me $6 to replace 1t. |
My front tire is going and in the course of a |
few weeks l shall have 10 buy another / am
dissatisfied with my saddle and shall probably
spend 50 on one that suits me. l also want a |
wooden handle bar, and that will mean perhaps |
50 more. Besides my wheel shows some signs
OF wear. and cannot make II run quite as easy
as new one would. The changes in this years
model are not radical yet should have had the
benefit OF them If l had got wheel. Then
feel little out of date with last years BIZ
cycle. just as one would with silk hat that is
furalx halA l4n1x1 H.