New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1898-09-11
EMBRACED By THE PUBLIC.
BICYCLING WELCOMED BY THE PEOPLE
ALI. OVER THE WORLD.
IMMENSE STRIDES IN POPULAR FAVoR-THE
CYCLE-FATH QUESTION AND HOW 1T Is
HELPING To BUILD BETTER
ROADS THROUGHOUT THE

CYCLE-FATH QUESTION AND HOW 1T Is
HELPING TO BUILD BETTER
ROADS THROUGHOUT THE
The evolution % the bicycle furnishes rather
Interesting study. When the wheel MAS first intro
duced IN this country it was called "boneshaker.
and the seems now 10 have been just right
TIE machine solid and heavy ard the dys-
pepic could not ride one for any length Of time
without being cured OF his disease or being killed
There was no halfway re suit.
4 singular coincidence with regard 20 the bicycle
Is that its evolution has been different from that
Of other things In the bicycle We find that it was
when FIRST introduced low-built machine, some
what Ike the wheel OF to-day IN general outline
and conformation hut. Of course. extremely crude.
Then changed to the high wheel. Ordinary.
and now has been evolved hack practically n fire;
principles with tho rider the ground In
other words. the hicyc,t when first introduced
had low frame. then f. went NJ INTO the air AMI
then came down again.
In rcalii, II was a little bit Of rubber and cotton
fabric that made tho bicycle the wonderfully
popular machine IL IL to-day or course the b
cycle had more less popularity during the
hgh-wheo! epoch, but the great restless public did
no. take "a II until the Introduction Of tho pneI.
matte tire Then people recognized that IN tho
bicycle they had steel horse which would carry
them quickly from the ho' city into the begulling
country; stccd that was fun Or health-giving
exercise. They recognized also that The bcvclo
was mighty good business vehicle. !; did
have to no f'd and stabbed ana Groonod. \ we'll
known manufacturer. I'm speaking Of tho matter tho
other day. said he hcleN ed that half the people
Of the United States rode bicy clos ard that ne fe
sure tn" proportion OF riders would be greater I'm
another year
CHOCK-FULL or VIRTUES
II only half Of the virtues claimed FOR the bicycle
are true. then the man who furnished the first
wheel ought TO have a monument erected to hts
memory IN the chief city IN every nation the
face OF the globe Physicians all over the world
almos; Invariably advise It's use. except in cases
where organic troubles make robust exercise un-
desirable Cases are record where the use %
the wheel has made fat lose flesh and has
mnde lean gain tissue when this phase OF
the case was mentioned 10 a Well-knoUn physical
director recently he was not at all astonished
ooh. that Is simple enough" said he. The
bicycle does what systematic outdoor exercise will
do for anybody. Hcalihful outdoor exercise. taken
I'm moderation. viii in time bring the person 10 his
her normal condition. and that Is moi her lat
nor lean. II is only natural that II should reduce
flesh in one case and add il In another.
THE popularity of the bicycle has caused the
organization ~ associations which do much to
promote tho sport and recreation. refer to the
League Of American Wheclmcn and the National
Board Of Trade o. cycle Manufacturers. Each is
powerful and wcll-ncanins organization. md
each I'm a., own field does a grea, deal Of good
Tho League " American Whcclmcn s for the rider
- tho wheel aud the National Roard Of Trade Of
cycle Manufacturers looks after tho trade ond
entirely 50 far the THO organizations have worked
in harmony"
WIDE REACH OF THE / IS
Tho League % American Whoemen has done 4
splendid work as Is illustrated rs the fact that
f, has m.mhorship OF nearly ninety thousand
and that u,mber may be doubled In another year
IL President potier's ideas are carried out Good
roads form the lighting plank of tho organization.
and while if continues control the cycle racing
u tho country there Is chance that. AZ the next
National Assembly Of tho association 20 bc held
In February. may conclude 10 give up tfe control
% racing - some other organization President
Potter says he believes that OF The large
number ~ mon who went TO ne front in the war
with Spain probably % per cent we're riders @, tho
bicycle He links that between eleven thousand
and twelve thousand OF the soldiers who humblcd
tho pride Of the spanihrds were members % tho
League Of American Whoclmen.
Tho year has not been a good one for the manu-
tacturer for many rearons. The var formed one
reason and he wholesale Introduction of cheap
wheels made mother. Many ~ the concerns which
put shoddy wheels on the market have been swept
under and the trade looks better FOR IL There
remaining - fhe sort. but n Few
months viii them going also
cycle racing this year. and FOR several years for
that matter. has not been entirely satisfactory.
The game has outsroeu rs swaddling -coth hes. and
II cannot be- governed now on tho same lines that
served 20 suffice when It vas In s infancy. II Is
10 longer sport IN which only Tho member of
bicycle clubs take interest The public ~ largo
patronizcs the tournaments. and thc bnm~ 'oopcrs.
Taylors Mchaeis. Lintons and GARDENERS are rs
well known to-day are 20" Ruslos. Joyccs. Jen-
uingses. DUffys and Deahaniys ~ the baseball
tho wheel this year and America leads IN most Of
them. u does In almost every Other sport
CYCLE PATHS AND GOOD ROADS
When Two cyclists arc gathered together.
next 10 settling the point TO which make Of
wheel Is the best. The cycc-path question probably
attracts the most attention and arouses more inter
est than any other
Arguments Tor and against paths ar" many, and
good ones are presented from both slides The
opponents OF cyclc-path building invariably bring
UP the evil effect OF class legislation. Nehemcntly
they declare that the building of cycle paths Will
only result In the loss ~ the cyclists right to the
usc Of the highway AMI byways WIN tears In
his eyes the opponent ~ cyclepath building pictures
the degraded position OF the old-tine cyciist lie
tells YOU how cyclists were driven Of m sidewalks
and arrested when found on the rond"ny-- Win
indignation hc explains mnui"ly how IN" cyclst ~
twelve years ago had 10 appear before an exami,-
ing hoard. was made To mount ana dlsnl"ih'. tln"
fast and ride slowly, turn corners ana MAKE qurH
81 10 s. az he passed tn" examination property d"
was allowed to purchase n tin tag or lead badge,
which hc was Obliged 10 wear rs iog docs N tnesc
more enlightened days. and then me opponent o,
paths tolls Of the Liberty bill that opened TO al
yehS S wheaer re-. s of All TS Sbc %saf
THE CYCLE-PATH OBJECT-LESsON.
Historically this is Interesting and no enthusi-
as,ic. cyclst can listen 10 thcse reci,als without
helng strongly moved. He feels blush ~ shame
nj the mention ~ the tin tag on = string. and he
feels II he Is public spirited cycIst. debt OF
gratitude 10 tho men who fought for "heemcn
rights and pushed through the Liberty bill y" nd
nlrca the man with a veterans hadge. md wishes
he might wear also but fails 20 SCI no"
those rnorses Of history lessen the force of tho
arguments for the building of IN" cycle pain, or
vyhv OF necessity the building Of paths would aoro-
cato the cyclists right any part OF any ROAD
vav The progressive cycist sees ahout MN cycl'
n1fn rs built by private subscription and by stat,
county or town authority. he secs something more
as wcll-h. see. times when necessity haS com
-,1A b. hIIll snlll