The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1898-05-29
NEWS NOTES
FOR WHEELMEN.

There IL yet much complaint about a
few riders who pay no attention 10 the
rules OF the road and several nave peen
hurt. who had they been on their own
aide OF the road. would not have been
the cause OF these mishaps.
Richmond seems TO be the only place
in this country where not one cent has
been spent by the city on any cycle I'M
provement. The cycle leaders all com
Main that other places OF less than hair
the size OF this city have ten times the
number OF riders. Who will start some
improvement.
since 1850 the constant query OF the
cycling public has been what shall we
have new for next year This has oeeh
the cause of no little trouble, and worri-
ment to the makers, as they have need
cd IT more or less IN their strife not only
TO please the public. but to produce some
thing on their models which the other
makers have not.
This year has seen less Of the so called
talking points" which were said TO DC
theoretically correct and for the 5eneht
of the rider, than any previous year JIG
bicycling of the future and especlally
that of 90 will be more simple and at the
same time more perfect than any we
have ever had. The maker now sees
necessary
in all OF its mechanism that even the
yericst novice can manipulate It. This
will be carried out in the entire machine
even TO the smallest detail. simple
wrench will be furnished with which the
whole wheel can be taken down and ad-
iusted. The fastening Of cranks. seat
posts, handle-bars, etc, will be very
simple and at the same time positive.
There will be no tendency whatever TO
produce something for the very sake OF
advertising, but the whole effort will be
put forth to produce perfect machine.
The Northeastern Railway Company OF
England IS at last fitting racks IN It's
baggage cars for the safer handling OF
cycles. II is said 10 have been expert
menting for some time past and has at
last found a device suitable. Each car
will carry about forty machines.
In a recent article the Chattanooga
Tradesman compares the South with for
eign countries as n field for the sale OF
cycles 1t points out that in the eleven
Southern States there are fifteen cltlss
with a population of over 5000. lll8
towns with a population less than 1000
each. and 400 towns with a population
ranging from 1000 10 1000. In these
eleven states there are but 300 cycle
stores and forty of these are in Florida.
The population Of this area is 100000.
nearly three times greater thar that OF
Belgium. eight times greater than that
Of Denmark, nearly half as great as tnat
OF France. a third as great as that OF
Germany. while It is about equal with
that OF Spain.
The court holds that the bicycle is a
vehicle in the meaning Of the law, and
adds: 1T IS a vehicle of comparatively
recent use. and Is Of various construction.
Its safe use may depend greatly upon the
experiences Of the rider. as well as upon
the construction Of the vehicle. IL a We
hicle. such as that of which the defend
ant is accused Of riding. is ordinarily safe
20 persons travelling when used by per-
sons of ordinary care and skill I'm riding,
then there would seem TO be no necessity
for excluding the use Of such vehicles.
and the regulation by which they are
excluded may be said 70 be unreasonable
and 10 peratc 10 deprive the defendant
OF the lawful use OF his property"