New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1898-02-22

THE ROAD NOT COMPIETE-THE
PUBLIC INTERESTED.
| Louis Rosenfeld. the senior Consul of the
New York Consulate Of the League OF American
Wheelmen IS not given to discussing in public
his views relating to cycling affairs, but when
ne was asked the other day if the Consulate hal
any plans for this year lac said
YES. we are rapidly getting into working
shape Last year we succeeded well. indeed, but
it was owing largely to the great labor Of a few
men, who having taken charge Of the depart
ments saw the work through. his year We
gain by experience. Take the Streets and High
ways Committee. for example. Instead of the
chairman sacrificing all his time to the subject
| as last year we have divided w the Boroughs
OF Manhattan and The Bronx into districts, each
| one Of which will b. IN charge of a member OF
| the Streets and Highways Committee. He III
turn will select from among the l.. A. W. mem
bers residing In his district many assistants
as he may think necessary. These will report to
him by mail as to the state Of the streets, etc.
These reports will be investigated and justified
complaints forwarded to the chairman, who Will
allot them to the particular member OF ne com
mittee In whose department thcy belong We
will nave separate members in charge OF the
work belonging to the various city departments.
so that we can expedite work. For instance.
one member will be expected To- look after the
work belonging to the Police Department. an
other the Board Of Health, another the Depart
ment Of Public Parks, etc"
From your experience in 1891. do you antic
pate that your work will be effective"
Il have every reason to think So" replied Mr.
Roseafeld. "Our experience thus far mas been
that the authorities willing to grant our
reasonable requests. ana we make II a point
never to ask anything that is not reasonable.
At present. however, the departments are not
yet in working order"
How about the Central Park shelter for WON
en and children"
THAT matter is in a splendid position The
Department of Public Parks has given it into
the hands of rs architect. and MS plans will be
acted upon. II VIII be comnodlous building,
with every convenience for women and children.
bicycle racks and toilet facilities. and will be an
ornament 10 the Park.
How do you find the ordinances work which
the Consulate had passed"
so far they work well. but We cannot say
that they have been fully tested or even put in
force as they should be our Rights and Privi-
lcges Committee has the matter i'm active con-
sidcration. We find that the rule requiring
business wagons to carry lights is not enforced
as ii should be- Before the riding season opens
the rules will be enforced. We have had 2O0Uu
copies Of the rules Of the road printed for dis
tribution. Some rules proposed 10y US were no.
adopted Since then cases have been tried i'm
courts which affirm the rights which wanted
established 10y ordinance. such the right Of
way Of pedestrians over all vehicles while on
CrOsSWaks.
"ThA public take good deal OF interest III
our work but We find it difficult to make them
understand the nature OF our work and the limit
OF their rights Thus we have had frequent com
plants from League members regarding wag-
Ons. carriages. etc. using the asphalt strips and
requesting that these be allotted to the use Of
cyclists only. In some cases they suppose that
they now for the use OF cyclists only. This
rs an error We cannot ask that any part Of
the public highways as existing shall be for the
exclusive use OF cyclists, and AT the same time
assert, do. and are entitled to do
that bicycle has the right to go anywhere that
any other vehicle may go This is not consistent
and tends to weaken position. Primarily
asphalt strips were put down for sanitary rea
sons that they would be of use to cyclists was a
collateral reason for their creation"
The Consulate is quoted as being averse 10
unlimited speed being allowed on the proposed
cycle path on the Concourse. is this so?'
The Consulate looks with apprehension on the
use Of the only exclusive cycle path in the Bor- |
oughs of Manhattan and The Bronx by scorch- |
ers as a racetrack Such path should be safe |
for all cyclists. and as II will he a main thor |
oughfare all cyclists going over the Concourse |
Will naturally be confined to the cycle path |
where such exists, and be kept off the carriage |
road. Therefore. II will not De a safe road for |
women and others who satisfied to ride at |
speed Unfortunately the dividing |
line between liberty and license Is very fine, and |
the liberty 10 ride At any speed would degen-
crate into the license Of a hoodlum in too many |
cases"