New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1897-11-14
IN THE CYCLING WORLD.
dE NEED OF BETTER FACILITIES FOR
CARRYING BICYCLES ON TRAINS.


WHEELMEN AND DRIVERS OF HORsEs-TIrE EX-
PERIENcEs OF A. RIDER-REDUCING GRADES
IN QUEENS coUNTY-pANcER SIGNALS
WHERE CoAsTING is TO BE AVOIDED.
,Apropos OF what was said week ago about
the need of better facilities for carrying bicycles
In railroad baggage-cars. attention may prop
erly be directed to the methods In vogue on the
Long Island Railroad. A week ago fifteen or
twenty wheels were brought into Brooklyn by
the train which arrives shortly before o'clock
and handed out at the Bedford station. In
placing them in the crowded baggage-car per-
haps ten Of them had been set up side by side
as closely together as possible. and then the
others had been lifted bodily and placed on
their sides on top of the pile OF course many
OF the bicycles scratched. and where
lamps had been left on the wheels most Of the
oil had run out, not at all to the benefit Of the
machines further down in the pile. 1t is not
surprising that people with new wheels object
10 having them sent anywhere by train unless
they are Grated Wise riders. OF course remove
their lamps before putting their bicycles In the
hands OF the baggagemen. and take no risk
81 having them broken their contents lost
by leakage. The Long Island Railroad Company
has pursued so liberal policy in handling
bicycles-since 1t carried them free before the
passage Of the Armstrong bill-that 1t would
seem pre-eminently fitting that II should take
the lead In providing cars especially for this
class OF baggage, or at least in equipping part
II the regular Oaggage-cars with hooks or racks
tor wheels With the multiplication OF good
roads and cycle paths on Long Island, that re-
sion is bound to be more and more used ny
wheelmen and large numbers OF them will from
time to time make 90 the Long Island Rail
loads trains. The railroad ALREADY employs a
special agent to look after the interests OF
wheelmen. 1t should go step further and
provide special cars for the carriage Of bicy-
sles.
A bicyclist who has travelled several hundred
niles over the roads around New-York in the
asst few weeks says the result OF his OBJ
.ervations II should like to let the readers
II The Tribune know that as general thing
he drivers Of horses disposed TO treat
he riders Of wheels in the right way At least
hat has been my experience Since September
have made several trips, going in all direc-
lions from the city, to the distance of fifty or
sixty miles, and can say that have met only
,ne driver who could be termed a road hog.
It is my opinion that If wheelmen show proper
courtesy they will get the same in return, and
fear that good many riders have purposely
annoyed horsemen by riding close to them, or
some other way, so that cyclists have bad
7ame with many drivers ! have especially no.
iced this. When riding with my wife / in
Jariably-unless there is something in the cor
ition Of the road to lead to departure from the
7ehicle of any kind can fall in behind when
passing. Now. / have observed repeatedly that
when a wagon was coming toward US the driver
would make no motion toward turning out so
ong as we were abreast but just soon !
ell back to the rear and we were in single
lie the horse would be 'geed off giving us
DOM to go past comfortably In my judgment
wheelmen regard the rights Of drivers the
irivers will do their part. The one exception
occurred In q good-sized village. not far from
he city. and the driver was an old man IN some
tort of a business wagon. He was we'll over
,n the Ito HIM left side Of the road but dld
aot bulge an inch in response TO the continued
ringing of my bell: bat II was a macadamiZed
.oad and we had no trouble. though could not
resist the temptation to sing out and ask him
rhy he didn't take the whole road and little
more His answer inaudblc grumble
Ills conduct however does affect my main
suntenton, that the great majority OF drivers, as
81 have seen them, are not selfish and inconsid-
crate, as many cyclists suppose.
: From the village of Jamaica number OF fine
.oads radiate and large numbers OF wheel
men naturally find their way thither from all
parts Of the metropolitan district II they are
wise they will keep away from Jamaica a little
dtneer until the streets have been restored TO
their normal condition. or rather to the i'm
proved condition in which many Of them
oeing put Fulton-st. in that town has long
been the dread Of cyclists who have been forced
20 traverse II; but II is now being asphalted
and in spite Of the trolley tracks which run
through It, will soon be in frst-class shape for
wheeling. Pending the completion Of the i'm
provements. 1t is almost worth while to venture
INTO this village for the sake Of riding over
he newly macadamized Black Stump Road, be-
tween Jamaica and Flushing. The regular road
between these places is well kept, but billy;
especially going out of Jamaica Is there a
big hill TO climb. and on the return trip there
Is succession OF pretty steep grades. That
road built before the time of County En-
gineer Mclaughlin. whose aim is to bring all
the improved roads within his bailiWick 10 or
below 3 per cent grade. The new road
was constructed In accordance with this idea.
and is easy riding from one end TO the other
Of course there Is hill 10 go over. as there
IS anywhere on Long Island. In passing from
the south side to the north, or vice versa; but
the Black Stump Road has been improved on
up-to-date principles and affords a delightful
ride The best way to reach ii az present is 10
20 along Hillsde-ave until water tank is seen
On the left; the road passes just TO the left
OF the tank, and cannot be mistaken. II Is
perhaps half a mile longer than the route by
Flushng-ave. There is good scenery the entire
distance.
In New-Jersey, where unusually steep hills
abound in places, signs are displayed warning
uheelnen not 10 coast under penalty of a 50
6ne In other parts OF the country simple warn
lngs are given, and If any rider is reckless
enough 20 coast when he cannot do so in safety
he is at liberty to take the risk and the possible
consequences As q rule the coaster cndangcrs
no life but his own. One sign that Is well put
and sufficiently 20 the point is 10 be seen on
the road between Flushing and Rosyn, as the
hill leading down into ManhaSset is approached.
The hilI is about half mile long. with a double
turn near the foot. The sign reads Danger.