The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1898-07-23
NEWS OF THE WHEELMEN.
Oy SURFACE CARS AND
CYCLERS LIABLE TO ACCIDENT.


why n brooklyn Man Does Not Use tho
Conoy Island Cycle Path on s~undny-Tho
Managers OF Linton Opposed TO Any
Special Agreement In the Race To-Day.
1t is hard TO tell whether the passenger who
allghts from AGAR without looking around or the
bicyolist who rides close alongside OF a rapidly
moving car Is moro in the wrong. The small
number of accidents between wheelmen and
car riders because OF this carelessness on the
part OF each Is astonishing. Conductors usually
warn passengers about to alight when there Is q
truck or other heavy vehicle approaching. but
they do not seem to think that the silent, swift
moving bicycle is worthy Of consideration. The
rumble OF the other vehicles. or their size. APP
prises conductors OF their near presence, but us
for turning their heads about and using their
eyes as n caution against cycles, It is
something most OF the fare takers do
not do. So far az bicycles are con-
cerned passengers leaving cars must look
out for themselves. 1t was probably because
this condition of affairs is generally recognized
that every observer seemed TO enjoy the dis
comlture OF q conductor on the Madison ave-
nue. line yesterday when he was struck by q
wheelman. and both received a lesson calcu-
lated to mako them more wary In the future.
The conductor had been on the front platform
and stepped off suddenly. with the confident
and easy swagRer that is born OF familiarity. A
rider who had been keeping right beside tho
car hit the conductor. and both went up in the
air. Neither was hurt and even tho wheel
escaped injury. but while the conductor was
sprawling on the ground his car went on. and
in order to catch it he had to get up and run
ahead without stopping to swear at the cyclist.
Tho Coney Island cycle path was a great
thing when 1t was first built and it still Is a
magnificent stretch OF wheelway. but 1t is the
last place l want to go on a Sunday" says q
Brooklyn cyclist who gets out on his machine
every day. THE reason 1 say this is because II
I go on the path 1 have to meet q lot Of young
| girls who have not learned to ride and n lot Of
old men who never will learn, and / would
rather encounter q locomotive than such per-
sons. The girls never should have received
permission toleave the bicycle academy and the
men never should have entered one. think
that any Of the cyclic paths is about the meanest
place In the world for riding. Give me the open
road that's rough enoughi in places to keep away
the dilettante and l am happy. The moro cycle
paths there are built the more clumsy and in
competent, riders are going to be encouraged to
go out and menace the life and limb of every
one on the road"
handy little device such as any one might
have made for personal, use had the idea oc-
western firm. 1t is designed for tho purpose OF
enabling a rider to clean a chain without re-
moving 1t or even getting the hands dirty. II
is q quarter circle metal case made to slip over
the sprockct. A clip attached to the lower tube
holds it firmly in place. By upending the BIZ
cycle this case becomes a trough very much like
that in which a Rrindstone r%evolves. This
trough is filled with gasoline and then by
turning the sprocket the chain Is cleaned about
as thoroughly as it could be by taking II of and
soaking 1t. The metal trough is. Of course
thin enough and sufficiently narrow to permit
the crank to pass over it.
It was not entirely. certain yesterday after.
noon whether the accident agreement suggest.
ed for adoption in to-day'S race between Mich.
ael and Linton will be. followed. 1t was pro,
posed that in case, either rider had a break.
down the race would be stopped and n new
the time of tho mishap. Michael and his man,
Secretary H.. L. Quicker of the National Track
Association. for which organization Linton is rid
ing. did not accept the terms. Quicker takes the
stand that any such condition is unsportsman
like. He claims that the only fair thing for botl
men is to ride the race where the chances of &c
cident are the same. Quicker argues that 1t Il
too easy for u man to cause an accident to him,
self when he is facing defeat. Any man. he de
clares. can break n pair Of handle bars or benz
a pedal or make q tire &c wrong whenever h,
desires. The proposition of calling a halt AM
starting n race anew he compares TO that o
one battleship ceasinR to fire whenever its emo
my got into trouble. Quicker thinks that Lin
ton will beat Michael and show himself to b.
clearly the faster man.