New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1897-07-14
BICYCLES IN CHICAGO.

A correspondent Of THE Chicago Evening
Post" has been visiting this city, and after be-
ing here ten days writes back to inform his
anxious friends that he has not yet had
.harbreadth escape from being run down by
"a bicycle" This he considers so remarkable
that he produces a column letter to show how
much better they do things In New-York than
in Chicago. He Is impressed by the fact that
we have bicycle ordinances here and enforce
them. that neither cyclists nor cart-drivers talk
back" TO policemen who call their attention to
the rules Of the road, and that policemen actu-
ally do their duty Of protecting the life and prop
crty Of average citizens instead Of spending
their time in the service Of corporations
The Chicago man says that when he is at home
somebody yes Hi, there and, taught by hard
experience. he makes jumps rvalling those OF
an bodied kangaroo and gets off with his
life. When he reached New-York he was sur
prised to hear a gentle tinkle some distance
away and discover a bicycle coming toward
him. The wheelman slowed up and guided his
machine by the traveller with such regard for pc
destrian rights that the visitor was inclined to
regard the incident as a special courtesy and
return formal thanks He has since discovered
that such consideration Is the rule, and marvels
greatly. In Chicago the bicycsts run the city.
while here the city runs the bicyclists More
over, the NEWCOMERS themselves recognize the
propriety Of regulations and cooperate with the
authorities in drafting strict rules, which are
rigidly enforced promoting in equal measure
the safety of riders and foot passengers. The
Chicago wheelmen laugh at the idea Of making
them respect anybody elses right in the road as
impossible Of execution and an imposition in
character. They want to race up and down the
streets in monopoliz,ng bands and tcrrorize the
town like cowboys.
This tendency is characteristic Of a certain
stage Of civilization 1t manifests itself here
now and then. as, for instance. when people
largely Of foreign origin unframed in the theory
Of American government. demanded that our
police should not enforce laws which restricted
the profits of their business That objection TO
obeylng law Is common in frontier commun-
ties. and only gradually disappears At GER
tain stage Of human development liberty to an
noy others is considered essential feature of
democratic institutions. If we are to believe
the Chicago visitor. the wheelmen of his home
are still victims Of that deluson, and, what is
worse. the public sentiment Of the town fails 10
work cure. We have our rowdies here but
in. the main reasonable conception Of indi-
vidua rights and duties prevails, and as a re-
suit wheeling is safe and popular pastime, in
diligence in which. instead Of developing loafer-
like and nconsderate qualities. as it seems to
do in Chicago. teaches selfrestraint. respect fer
law and respect for ones self. Many young
men who used to spend their leisure in Geness
or something worse find health and discipline
and good things to think Of on wheel Chi
cago should try to make the bicycle teach po-
likeness instead Of lawlessness