Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1897-03-07
Vehicles ns Personal Baggage.


iWaSnlngtOn PO5L.D
Among the movements made by Wheels
men IN various parts Of the country Is .
demand that railroads shall transport
their BICYCLES as regular baggage free ot
charge. Some OF the railway corporations
nave cheerfully acceded 10 this propose.
ton, believing that lt encourages travel
by rail. and that tho added cost or carry
ing the wheels is more than Offset by the
increase Of passenger traffic. In rev
States the LEGISLATURES have enacted laws
compelling the railroads 20 comply with
the demand Of the 'cycler3. In otht!
states similar laws are proposed. ana
Legislatures are giving them care4ul c0n-
siGeratiOn.
Ii was regarded as a great victory for
the wheelmen that the courts some years
ago declared the bicycle 10 o. venice.
{ and as such. subject 20 the rules OF ne
road. This decision gave the wheel mo
same rights that belong 90 any other
vehicle I'm rural and urban highways or
asked or compelled 70 transport carriage
OF any kind free OF charge. and some or
the railroad corporations urge that tho
same rule should apply 20 an sorts of
vehicles. An interesting incident IN thi5
connection occurred at Des Mlnes, li.t
the other day, when the proposition oe-
claring bicycles 20 DO ordinary baggage,
which railroads MUST carry the same as
trunks and satchels. without charge, was
before the House OF Representative. on
that occasion q member arose ana de-
manded that the bill be amended, so as
70 include baby-carriages. In explanation
he remarked that his mother-in-law l.Fel
In the country. and that she was iA5
pOssessOr OF a little baby, which emo
wheeled 10 the station IN a peramDulatof;
and that whenever she came % town ana
took the vehicle with her. tho "soul -
corporation" charged her p cents Tor
freight. Prom this gross ana mex
cusable extortlon." says a local chroN''
cler I'm tho name OF his oppIesss1
mother-in-law, the member cried Tor TO-
lief"
And why, II the bicycle be exempt fron
freight charges. should not tho oapy-ce.'
riage be thus fayOred2 And why ehcl--t
the tricycle., or any OF the various 0eFitta
that are propelled by their rltersf Wheie
IN the interminable list OF vehicles, QUIZ,
tho line 10 be drawn between those Nn..
must be carried free and those on WIG"
freight must be paid7 ..
Many Of the railway companies oDle-t
to the free transportation on me tioiIits
that BICYCLES cannot be packed Nhs
trunks, but require careful hanQhns ait
occupy much room. They say that exc
cars are needed for those vehlcles, ~.
they submit that 10 IS unjust 70 lmlos;
this additional expense on them Wll..-t
compensation. They urge furuer lA-'
such discrimination IS class legislation.
When wheels and wleemen were ~
I'm numbers the bicycle was seldom ~,
in baggage-cars, but now, when alilo.,
everybody rides the wheel. the stl-.,o1
Is decidedly changed. As we have e.t-.
some OF the roads find Il adyantlh, ~,
10 cater for the patronage or the ey..,.i
by carrying their vehicles free. CQu.lt..
ton for passengers may be depend n w.
TO insure liberallty on the part or mn
way managers. But there IS room ~
any corporation to accept vehicles as "a
sOnal baggage.