Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1898-01-08
THE FOUR-INCH DROP

Probably no other order ever issued by
the Commissioners has created so much
CONSERVATION among the ranks of the
wheelmen as the order providing for Il
four-inch drop on the handle bar of every
cycle ridden in the District. After due
publication, the order went into effect as
a police regulation yesterday, and the
Wheclmen were all anxious to see a test
case made to determine the decision of the
judge of the Police Court on the matter,
before whom all cases will be brought.
The scope of the order practically kills
drop handle bars and places premium
upon those turning heavenward. Meas
ured from the saddle to the lower end of
the bar, the resolution prescribes, the
bars will practically have to be horizontal.
No tall man, under the new regulation, will
be able to ride a twenty-five or twenty
four-inch frame, because the bars will
have to be raised to almost a level. In
other words 1T looks though the new
regulation will practically drive the low
frame wheels out of the market.
For the benefit of those who may not
have read it, the regulation is as follows:
"Inasmuch as safety in passing with rap
idly moving vehicles requires that the rid
ers or drivers approaching each other shall
each he able to judge of the probable move
ment of the approaching vehicle, no cycle
shall be ridden on the streets within the
city limits with the lower end of the han
die bars on a plane lower than four inches
below the top of the saddle at its center,
and the rider shall at all times keep his
head in such position as to command u
view ahead Of not less than 800 feet
Despite the fact that The regulation is re-
garded as unjust by majority of wheel
men, 1T Is announced that the local division
of the League of American Wheelmen will
rot enter any protest against it. This ac-
ticn has caused more or less denunciation
to fall upon the head of the organization
ar some wheelmen Indignantly assert that
the league is responsible for the regulation,
in exchange for the consideration that the
Commissioners require all vehicles to carry
lamps after dark.
If the league does not take any action
the local clubs and other influential wheel
men may seek to have the regulation re-
pealed. or the grounds that it is an in
fringement of personal rights. While the
new law may be a bonanza to the bicycle
dealers and repair agents. these men do
not take as kindly to the condition of af-
fairs would be thought. While there
may be a brisk demand for new handle
ing OF old bars, the regulation may have a
counter effect in the sale of certain kinds
of bicycles.
In order to ascertain the sentiments of a
few riders on the subject, the following in
terviews have been secured:
Il think the new regulation an outrage
on the bicyclists CT the community" said
DIR. w. d. Writ, a prominent member of
the Capital Ri. Club. 1T is, in my opin-
ion, an infringement upon personal rights,
and the Commissioners have no authority
for the enactment of such a regulation.
They could enact law by which a person
riding wheel with more than a four-inch
drop could be held legally responsible in
case of a collision with a pedestrian or an
other bicyclist, but they have no right 10
say that only such and such a handle bar
can be used.
LAS physician I protest against the
compelling of riders to sit squarely in the
saddle. 1t will work more harm than any
thing else The weight of the body should
be borne a good deal by the feet on the
pedals, and by the hands of the bars with
very little weight on the saddle With the
up-turned handle bars the wrists are bent
and more or less cramped, but with the
drop bars the hand is kept straight, and
more power secured. OHe-half of the peo-
PIE in the city are going around with up-
turned bars, VINO hardly know the first
rudiments Of riding. The members Of our
club are all opposed to it. A law might
possibly be enacted in the shape of a DO
lice regulation compelling a person to ride
certain make or wheel. or prohibiting an
individual from bending or STOPPING over