The semi-weekly messenger. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1897-1908, 1897-12-17
Tlessengm.
THE BICYCLE

THE BICYCLE
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These are indeed parlous times when
Ixens to go about their daily business,
tn visit the sanctuaries of God, or to
attend to the social amenities of life
without being subjected to dangers Of
ten unavoidable. 1t is a singular circum-
stance, that all the five recent accidents
In the city from bicycle riding, were
produced by negroes. We do not know,
Ue do not suppose that in these in
stances of injury the riders deliberately
purposed committing the wrong. 1t
would be very greivous if this were the
case. We write now for the purpose
OF making a point, and in order to do
IT we must make a personal reference
t. ourselves. In the accident that be-
fell US, as is known, we were crossing
Market street with a friend, utterly OBJ
Wvious Of the near presence Of the
-EycIist engaged in a sort of John Gill
pin race. We heard the bell and being
next to the rider we urned facing him.
Now the point we wish to make is
This: but for the ringing Of that bell,
sxe. would never have been hurt. We
rvere ignorant of the presence of the
rider until the bell rang. But for the
ringing of the bell we would have
PASSED beyond the dangerous point be-
fore he could have reached us possibly,
swiftly as he was riding. We are graf
flied to hear that Rev. DR. .Hoge had a
brief communication in the Messenger,
suggesting that the bell be removed
from the bicycle. Our late experience
leads us to endorse heartily this timely
suggestion. If the bells were removed,
the responsibility would be placed
where it belongs, upon the men VINO
bicycles. 1t has been suggested, as
we hear, by some one, that pedestrians
hereafter in Wilmington, carry a Ian
tern, in order hat the bicylists may
see the walkers and not run full tilt
into them. Some men of fiercer temper
and more ~pugnacious bent might sug-
gest, that in addition to the lantern,
each pedestrian carry his revolver in
his hand and when the knight Of the
bicycle, in spite of lantern, seems bent
TO make direct headlong into him, that
Diogenes might pop away and make
an example. Reckless riding has been
carried already quite too far. In some
cities, all riders are required to go at
r. very slow pace at crossings. We
learn that in Philadelphia no one is
allowed to ride more than six miles an
hour. and all bicycles have breaks. If
breaks were required in Wilmington
and te bells taken off, there would be
less danger no doubt. We heard an ex-
a~erienced bicylist say that he found the
Tight he carried was sometimes blind
ing to him, so that he failed to discover
h object ahead of him. Let the city
regulations governing in this matter be
strengthened and enforced.
All good citizens should feel it a duty
TO report all violations of the ordinance
without fear or favor. Recently w
were going from our home to the Office
after breakfast and while walking Oh
Nun street between Third and Second
II stalwart rider on a bicycle Whlrlet
10y us to our great surprise and con
sinued his rapid speed in all probabilit.
eo Front street, keeping we'll in tn
side walk. He had no bell and mad
no sound, and therefore he whizzed b
MS without any knowledge on our par
that he was in a hundred miles Of u:
III he had rung his bell as he was rid
ing SO strangely on the side walk, w
should have been alarmed and possibl
would have striven to have gotten OF
OF his way. We do not know the ride
nor do We know the two other Vlolate1
of the city ordinance whom we hay
seen. Not very long since, a lady
this city at a special place, got out
the street car, and would probabl
have been killed on the spot, as a neg
rider came swiftly close up to the CO
as she descended. A gentleman WI
took in the situation, promptly reache
out and drew her back, but not in tin
70 save her from a severe blow upon tt
4.ar which necessitated the service of
y,hysician. This riding close to tt
car We have often observed and
ought not to be allowed here or in ar
city. A friend of ours, the very mig
after our own hurt, came extreme
near being ridden over by a bycllst al
barely escaped by his W effor
Doubtless many such experiences cou
sys ascertained by inquiry. How lor
shall all this continue?
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