New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1897-05-30
ASPHALT STRIPS UPTOWN.
STREET COMMISSIONER HAFFEN's NEW
DEPARTURE.
THE WORK IN PROGRESS ON wEsTCHEsTER-
AVE. AND THIRTY
EIGHTH STA CHARMING RIDE
TO FORT SCHUYLER.


TO FORT SCHUYLER.
An interesting departure in the matter OF asphalt
strips for the benefit Of bicycsts is being MADE III
the upper part OF the city. People on Manhattan
Island have been familiar for some time with the
strips laid on Madison-ave. and Hudson-st. THESE
strips close to the curbstones on both SIDES
Of the thoroughfares named, and. while they are a
great convenience, wheemen are frequently co'i-
PEELED to turn out on the granite pavements 10 se'
past vehicles standing in front OF houses ana Drawn
up close to the curb 1t has been supposed by some
that strips laid especially for the benent
OF riders OF the Wheel this class of people han an
exclusive right to them, and that IL was the pusi-
ness Of the police to keep other vehicles OH. Inc
law passed by the recent Legislature however, mas
no application bicycle paths In the streets OK
city.
Under the direction Of Street Commissioner Har-
fen experiments are being made on the upper Sue
OF the Harlem with asphalt strips some distance
I away from the curbstones. Such Strips are ~"
being laid on Westchester-ave and East one-huh-
dred-and- thirty eighth-st. On the last-haneu
street the work of putting down asphalt has JUST
begun, but on Westchester-ave conside'aoie p'oe-
fess has been made and part OF the strip VII on'
side was in more than week ago. Inc avenue
IS q wide thoroughfare, with double cartracK run
ming along the centre. A few feet OUTSIDE OF Ine
tracks on the north side. ribbon OF asphait Ne
feet wide has been placed. and a similar ripooh Is
to be put down the other side In order 10 cau'c
as little trouble possible 1t was ordered py no
Commissioner that the pavement on only one s'u
should be torn up at time $3.50
The ave,ue "a payed with granite blocks. These
are taken I'D for the required width. and then re-
placed to lie a couple or nches OF 50 oeio" ~
general surface. The depression Is then hiieu III
with asphalt which is made level with the granite
pavement The same course is being pursued on
Onebundred-an thirty eightt-st Riding over the
strip on Westchester-ave, where completed Is
easier than TO ride similar strip next 'he ouo'
since there Is little turning out, ana one mas ~
give no thought to keeping clear OF curpstoneo'
Observation-Disclosures Is unusually broad, ana there Is
plenty of room for vehicles drawn by horses WIN
ont Infringing on tho narrow space set aside Tor
wheelmen. r,,,
rbe asnhal. strips here Will extend from Third
ave- 10 Prospective. beyond which the avenue mas
a fairly good macadam surface. On One-hundred-
the strips VIII run from "iiis
ave 70 Third-ave. they would be carried over 10
the Madison-ave bridge were 1t not FOR the iac'
that west of Third-ave. the street grace mas Ho'
been established at the correct lever, ana IL was
thought useless 10 go to tho expense Oh an p I.,
ment OF this character with the certain prospee'
,hot tho entire pavement would have to be torn UP
| before long. ,,,o
with strips running to the Madison-ave bridge
| wi;lis-aya will be directly connected with MAI
haitian Island and the fine asphalt on "iiiis-a'e
brings one almost to the beginning OF inc ne"
e,r,ns on Westchcster-ave The last-named avenue
,o.d. d,rectIv TO West Chester village and the i'm
movement will be heartily welcomed by the large
numbe- OF riders who wish to reach the northern
part OF the city on the East Side In particular; Il
viii mako the lovely road on Throgs Neck ieau-
ing TO Fort Schuyler. more accessible. vi. ,oo,
For considerable number Of New;fork wheel
man this is already favorite trip 1t Is ceraniy Il
most delightful one Perhaps the best way 70 reaSh
West Chester in advance Of the completion OIL me
work Westchester-aye Is to go up % ,6S 6
ave- turning to the right at the 1901 Oh .ie I'M,
beyond the University, and just before IeaSIis
the Webb home. The first turn 70 me ies shn ~
| Road.
| T.. almost n direct route, with many charming
| turns and wndirgs. TO West Chester. ana IWo
miles and half further on 10 for. oc t, % hoa we
| rain they dry out quickly Those VINO prefer eau
s nm Jcrome-ave; that is certain TO be favore
route after Jeromeave Is ,he recent session
Fort SCHUYLER is n charming place 10 VISIT. aiDeit
the fort itself is hardly notable It Is Seen' o O.
| though to go down by the water-side where iaons
| 1eiand sound and the East River coaesce. 10 watch
the vessels passing in and out to gaze On me Gam
| ing waters and the green ana wooueu s" H y,
| ing Island To go there now one does not nave 10
| nsss outside OF the limits of New-York CITY, ana
The mart of Long Island on the opposite shore VIII
be included in the Greater New lor., ale f
tho boundary line of the bigger city runs through
| Little Neck Bay short distance east VI "'ie''
| Point. . Wee. ct.s+er nv West
| cbester-ave are warned TO make for the Madison
ave bridge from Willisave IL tney essay W Cios5
urconfortable riding on both sides of the river,
while the bridge Itself IL filed with cars ana otheT
vehicles az least weekdays II is possible TO 90
that way though. and after reachng one S @
ond .y,ontv-six: there Is asphalt all the way
| down RIt the route from one -hundred-and-
thirty fourth-st to One-hundred-and twenty,sixth-
| st should be taken only on compulslon by the
Siodiaonave bridge It is not an altogether pleasant
Journey but there will be great lmprovtemehh.
there as soon az the bridge Is made accessible by
| smooth pavements Mt both ehus