New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1897-04-28
SELECTIONS FROM TIE VAIL.
THE BICYCLE: ITS USE AND ABUSE.

THE BICYCLE: ITS USE AND ABUSE.
To the Editor Of The Tribune.
Sir. Your leader on Two Evils Of the Streets IL
well timed bu, arc you not rather lenent to the
players Of baseball in the public streets?
have used bicycle means of locomotion for
tventy-nine years and have ridden daily 10 and
from my business and used IT on every possible oc-
cason 70 carry me whittier ] had TO go in falr
weather and l say unhesitatingly that properiY
used IL is as safe mode ot conveyance as any ana
very hea;hful and convenient. There Is NIUE oan-
ger Of the bicycle rider who obeys the rules OF the
streets and uses his wheel legitimaely running INTO
erybodv: tho real danger is rather the reverse In
my daily ride TO my office Of three and half miles
I counted one morning last week thirteen persons
who deliberately began 10 cross the street without
looking either 10 the right hand on the left ana TINS
IN The crowded streets OF New-York One man was
reading a newspaper. another was paring MS mans
with a knife and q young girl was crossing Deau
Mans Curve reading book, and rang my bell
three times and was within three feet OF her before
she raised her eyes
on the other hand two things occur TO me- Is
tho bicycle q toy and the streets OF New
York a playground? The law, believe holds that
a bicycle Is a vehicle. Is there not statute that
saws that vehicles not allowed 10 !olter IN 'he
streets? Then why are boys and girls allowed "
do stunts" on their wheels In places like irving
Place and Gramercy Park. TO the danger OF thein-
selves and others? have ridden in crowded cities
batw.en 20 900 and 60 900 miles and. so far, have
never run into anybody or anything, but nave
had some narrow escapes from being Knocked over
by the baseball and hockey hends ana inc u'ch
riders 1t seems TO me that they constitute the
dangerous element and ought TO be suppressed
Your remarks on the erect attitude are also just
and | can thoroughly indorse them. was much
struck by lady remarking 10 me the other ia!
that she had been out riding with man iIlendi
who SAID he surprised 10 ma her aItcl az
his time riding with brake. and was ashaheo
Of her; that AFTER rldins 4Or 50 sos siie 0e" ~
take that he objects to be gained IN r5dng
bicycle are % To sg5 fF rom % U9H paoe least posi-
Die fatigue. and C) TO obtain pleasGraoe eAt oisu,
can BE- best obtained II at the Same ume tho rider
IS made comfortable on the wheel ana a3 n1as
PRaSHi q from aHG the eS S Of the
that there 1. n third object in riding wheel ana
tnat is 10 show off 10 the populace at iaiSe W41s
a wonderful rider one is. and how nne it must look
to see man ana mIc tbroDh tn. Crowded streets
Of great city without brake M I5,I ,Su ~
go a little further II would look sti more won
derful 10 ride without u handle rms can DO cone
WSe can The mi" messenger boy TO show how
well he ride he takes hls HANDS on n1 h mem
gazes at you he passes. seeking Jour aohi'i'-
or. having removed the brake and the a handle ne
from the achnS roc a 6 To sks off the the
wheel of direct actins machine Wny nS' Duy bs
rick %aGhne a PRESSES seye that 40 very large
ccntage OF the accidents are du' 10 this 'hi"'u@
ton OF riding without Drake; l., ...oo On s,o,
good rider IN going down 6l. because NO can -, 81,
We brake with his foot If he wishes Nnere tne
brake comes in handy Is 10 save yourseH rom
being knocked down by fool who rnshes a ,hot
ihc load or out from behind q venicIei Witnout
looking where he is going or 10 save yoursen IRON
benp run down by carriage, the driver OF WHICH,
Without any warning whatever, turns ms norse
upon you; or save yourself beinb run so ps G e.
~ ,hese "show or riders. who are deinonstratime
10 those who look at them how wonGerlId,Sg
tbey can ride witt out their hands In crowdco
s1reset md sud6enly come across a stone end GlVe
sv.erve which nearly upsets them ara Wouia
on his proper side TO save your scI lroni III III
ming into little boy who insists on JuimPnh rom
ward off tho sidewalk: or 10 save your SCH Iloin s
Knocking down the young lady who Sou 10 IN
10 be riding coberly along tho street Dut NJ ~ III
reality cutting circles for the beneh1 or tno o.
stsnders who may be admiring her Skull ~ 10 rns
Yourself from the roller-skatcr, wno WIN ~ 5s
ano legs swinging Mt risht angles 20 ms oo"'
seems 10 occupy twenty-five feet or space .,,,
When 1, ce he demonstrated thnt the man Will
out a brake can pull no his bicycle as quickNX as
tho man with brake # will surely DC Ile
10 discard II. H->''-"''
NewY York. April 20. lSs'