New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1896-02-11

BICYCLIsTS BEFORE THE ALDERMEN
LAW COMMITTEE.

SEVERAL, PROTEST AGAINST THE PROPOSED Or
nrSANcE REQUIRING BRAKES ON THE
WHEEL. AND OTHERS SPEAK FOR IT
MAGISTRATE wENTwORTH's LETTER.
A small army of b!cycl!sts appeared before the
Law Committee the Board OF Aldermen IN 'he
civ Hall Yesterday afternoon at the hearing OF the
.onosed resolution TO compel all riders of wheels
20 use brakes on them when riding In the ely
s,reets Alderman Ware presided at the hearhs'
and there were several women among ''e oppo-
nents OF the bicycle brake
T. B. Tnsdale. of the American Cychst Federat'on'
was the FIRST speaker. He denied the power OF the
n,I,,oa n handle the subject of brakes. and
sa,d that the diversity of opinion as to what con-
stituted a brake great that 1t would occupy
the remaining of the Board OF AIder"eh ~
hear the evidence that could be submitted on 'he
different styles Of brake.
Lawson \. Fuller said the brake was unneces-
sarv as 1t would do no good and was more oiihcui'
~ nse than the pedal. He has been driving lor
wears and bicycles had never frightened MS horses'
More accidents had been caused. he was sure D!
babv carriages and by goats than by pcycIes' ho
considered that the Aldermen had as much ris"'
10 command peculiar style Of dress Tor "o'ne'!
iaors 90 they had 10 prescribe peculiar style OF
riding. ,,..
J,,lan B. Schoepe OF the Schoepe Bicycle CLUB OF
Zoo members claimed the right of every riner 10
choose for himself how his bicycle shouio DC
equipped. 49,.
W ]. Oppenheim asked the committee where they
derived authority to deal with such question, and
Mr. Ware answered that the authority was assumed
under the Consolidation act. giving the Alueiihe
power to regulate the use Of streets ana highways
( Solomon OF The Herald presented a peu-
ton against the ordinance signed WIN ho.e ..'
200, names c. c. Fitzpatrick. a one-egSed rioei
W p Pittman c. W. Coleman, w. j. Mccormack
and NJ L. Bridgman also spoke against the proposeu
ordinance J. &. Hurley, secretary OF ''e NS0'e N0r
NJ the sth Battalion, y. G. 5. ~ " presented resO
,u,,ons from the corps condemning the ordinance.
before calling on those in favor OF the ordnance
70 sneak. Alderman Ware instructed the clerk 10
ad q letter from Magistrate Wentworth, the real
,x,ra,or of the ordinance, which was in part as
follows ,,s, ,a.,s
That ordinance not aimed at skfu l,a riq p
S,,t AT sIich performers l am. want me Pu.
lie to be protected against me when am OUT L on on
the road on my machine sn IN moi When turned
loose upon the public highways or phat they ought
a,'a az AFRAID Of me That not such an on
rageousy poor rider that Is gross e
me u 40 not think that the city ought to be held
responsible in damages for permitting me 10 81 'p'
Blu, can't stop my wheel when s S.nsnd das eg BY
backpedallng ought bb not oft .T can't help
H. and then brake will save my NE ana pernS y
sGme a Hds think me Snsy
Where yet remains the impress OF my oo UScr I I
oaSKed e siory 70 one OF the best wheemen in the
cs,s he said "Of course. you couid nor stop E >,
.aaiiy von should have begun at the top OF me MI
Tha.s the story. We do not want the Draks wiz !.
ma .art right al the top of the Hill. but wnen we
Te oot starr right That is the time we need tne
brake and every one who sees us co''''"s ''1'
III IT, g. question OF the greatest saiety vi tae
-, numher II is a situation where the pea
,hs Tew must yield to the necessitles o. .ie
s.a,S. where the addition or Inc WelsH. ~ - ~.
ill., must be endured II general saiely 70 tnet.Dy
oodanced. where special use must yieiG ~ .'e =.
eai average use when the pubic highways d.
appropriated
Than Jobn A. Amundson. IN favor OF inc oru
- asked the committee TO remember Una
.,harn are others" he said that he Knew OF
brake that was above the cr!tic SINS pun on
paanr ouw hut that even IL brakes were uhsisH,
eaaS ~ the 10000 people in New-iork de
rnarSed that all precautions De taken. H.. .,xu
%rs :, s Merry OF the WOmans CychsI AuA
,arv of New-York. interrupted MT Amun n ,, =
say TIA, she weighed 200 pounds ana that sne GU.
.sS, her wheel with her foot Cross-exan',eu W
Nr TYnsdale Mr. Amundson adinltteo .na. az, ' 10.
'nver ridden wheel He said he represented '''
non-rlders. II, .hor sna,Ler IN fayo,
NJ the ordinance. He said he represented ~ ~,
Metropolitan Association OF cycling Cluos' anu 'i IA,
The association had authorized him 20 suppoii s
nroposed ordinance The public hearing was clost,
after rather heated debate between MT Si ~
and Mr. Amundson. which eliminated In MI ms
dale offering a resolution that the Board OF Alnei
men pass an ordinance compelling all wheeled We
hicles I'm New-York be equipped with brakes.
Alderman Ware announced that II the Alderman
OF Mr. Tinsdales district refused to oner the reso
tuition at the next meeting OF the Board ne wouio