New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1896-03-01
IN THE CYCLING WORLD.
rNrERNEcINE DIssENsIoNs DO GREAT
HARM.
.r.~y PROJECTS FOR PATHS FOR wHEEIMEN-
OBJECTIONS TO THEM ROAD IMPROVE
MENTs IN BRoOKLYN-wHAT BAD
HIGHWAYS co:


MENTs IN BROoKLYN-wIiAT BAD
HIGHWAYS COST.
The time has come when the wheelmen must
ron,blne their issues If they wish to accomplish
any real reforms. few years ago when the
riders Of the wheel few and far between,
they stood together one nan. AT that time
sn injury or insult 10 one an injustice to all,
hut the times appear TO have changed. With the
wonderful increase in the cycling industry petty
1ealousies have cropped up and, unfortunately
some Of the cycling associations are practlcaiiy
entagonistic TO each other. This has been shown
recently in this neghborhood in marked extent
Uheelrnen have become 50 numerous that II
they stand together they have an excellent
chance to get their rights, but if they squaoble
on every point at issue they Will be able to ac-
compsh little That uncalled-for difference al
Albany last week between the representatives Oh
the Cyclists Federation and the Newly rk state
Division Of the League Of American W hee.ihen
will do the cause much harm unless the FORMER
organization repudiates the action OF us coil''ii'-
tee Much more depends on the passage "a s s.e
Armstrong baggage bill than some uA.niI ~!
cyclists suppose. If this State decides that u
cycles. when accompanied by their o"leis. az aui.
be considered as baggage. other Sla'es az 49,
20 follow Its example. The CYcls's 80. go 80
As a purely local organization OF about lOui aIHl
dred or five hundred members II cannot aiIV'u
70 antagonze the League of American WIZ ~
men A large majority OF the ine4"oo' "a IA
Federation ara members OF the l. - w. ~
~ the two factions 90 10 war the l'Cal olsdll~a
ton could not withstand the preSTuiv ,or as r,s
length OF time. Another iooAsn ILL., 1un Aseori
made In Brooklyn some time ago l"o 49,
ated cycling Clubs IF Long Island maze o'eL
tures 10 the Good Roads Association win 'he - -
1ect of assisting the latter In Us Wolh. !he
Sooa Roads Association practically spurned the
proposal showing wish 70 90 an tne WI n 81.
and keep all the glOry. II Is beginning 10 aouh
as II all local organizations shOu'u NC NV
10 the National body.
While the League Of American Wheelmen is
making great strides in membership in the North
and West. little is being accomplished in the
Southern States. Few Applications are received
The South needs a nuInUeT OF t'e' sV'iN N''O' wa
euls like |. 3. Potter
Tho suggestion in this column last week OF the
Likelihood that the Boulevard and Central PARK
,vould be dangerously overcrowded with bicycles
IN the spring was emphasized on last sunday
morning and afternoon. The charming day
brought out hundreds Of riders and their favorite
thor5ughfares were filed 10 the point OF neon
venience. What will he the condition on pleasant
Saturday afternoons and Sundays IN May ana
June is matter Of unpleasant speculation
good many men. and also women, have ac-
uuired a deal Of mechanical skill by caring for
their own wheels cleaning the bearings ADJUST
ing the parts mending punctures, etc some De-
rpn 70 ride with the intention Of leaving all this
20 club employe TO the agency where they
bought their wheels. but sensbly determined
later 10 learn how themselves. An accident may
occur many miles from a repair-shop, ana then
the inexperienced man may find himself helpless
Resides II YOU clean your bicycle yourself, you
may be sure that the Job is carefully done. one
club member became mistrustful OF the men VINO
were hired to keep bicycles in order wnen ne
%haf,, hoe
his wheel home and kept II there after he saw
them knocking handle-bars loose with mallet
which they piled with the vigor Of boer-makers
A new rider might make bunders in taking his
bicycle apart and putting 1t together again but
he will find 1t advisable to learn now 10 90 these
things There are some persons, 81 course VINO
have not the slightest knack for all this. one or
them in Central Park confessed that he ddnt
even dare screw nut tight, but would rather
walk TO the club 10 which he belonged 70 have II
done II his saddle came loose. or anything OF
the sort happened. he never tried 10 fix the thing
himself He had never blown UP his tres. re
wasn't sure that he could and anyway ne WASH
going to try except In an emergency.
Plans for cycle paths are now occupying much
Of the attention of wheelmen. This subject is
being agitated in various places; in some neigh
borhoods the project is merely for comparatively
short stretches Of paths. while there are also
under discussion proposed systems to join many
centres Of population. The cyclists Of New-Jer-
Il
1t is embodied in the bill introduced by Assem-
blyman Francis OF Monmouth County. Origi-
nally IL authorized township committees to eX-
pend one-ffth Of the road money for these paths
At the suggestion Of Chief Consul Robert c.
Gentle OF Elizabeth. and other representatives Of
the League Of American Wheolmen. II was
changed so that the appropriations for this pur-
pose should be Of specific amounts. If the meas
Ure becomes a law. advantage Will be taken Of ii
TO construct path five feet wide from Trenton
TO the seashore Eventually il Is hoped - have
oil he higbv If no Nauk cd
by these special roads. Mr.. Francis drives
horses. besides being wheelman. 1t is his Idea
that cyclists are often crowded TO the edge OF
the thoroughfares by vehicles and should have
field all 10 themselves. The taxes at Asbury and
Long Branch chiefly paid by owners Of hotels
and boarding houses. and they are anxious TO
attract wheelmen. 1t is declared that these
Noyagers are liberal with their money.
New-Haven wheelmen also enthusiastic
over these paths They want 70 lay one Of cinder
30 North Haven. TO join the track constructed
from Meriden and Wallingford by the wheel
1ren Of those places and even see visions OF an
extension TO Bridgeport and finally 10 New
York 1t is hoped TO have the frs; section In
ridable shape by May l.
Money is raising for several paths out on Long
Island especially for those to run north and
south and thus 10 connect the two shores OF the
leland Last year 1t involved walking through
several miles Of deep sand TO get from West
Hampton TO Riverhead. for instance: The Hud,
son Bicycle club IS willing to do It's share toward
q path along the Hudson from New-York to Al
bany and is seeking TO collect 5000 for the section
between Hudson and Stockport II certainly is a
discredit to the state that cycling along the Hud-
son is attended by so many drawodcks. me
wheelmen Of Buffalo are at Work securing Iuiius
for a path from TOnawanda 10 Niagara rams
the estimated cost OF which Is $1,000 Accounts
Of similar enterprises OF minor Importance come
from various quarters.
Opposition however has been shown even py
whesmen 10 the construction Of these pains
The most important objection is that they de-