The evening times., 1898-01-20
THE TEST CASE RESUMED.
Bicycle Experts Do Not Agree
as to Drop Bars.
DOCTORS ON. THE STAND
The Testimony for the Defense Was
Soon in and the Medical witnesses
in RebuttaI We're Heard-A Letter
Put in Eyidenoe-TiIe Commissions
ers' Action Explained.

The bicycle handlebar test case was
given the right of way in the police
court this morning. Long before the
hour set for the hearing the court room
was crowded with bicyclists, profess
sional and business men, many of the
latter being present as witnesses.
The evidence this morning took a
wide range. including that of bicycle
experts and physicians. In reference
to bicycle riding, as in many other in
stances, the physicians disagree; ;ae
testimony of the physicians WHO gave
Evidence on the question being directly
contradictory.
The first witness for the defense was
Dr. w. B. Writ. He is CONNECTED with
the Geological Survey, and registered
physician; atso a member ana officer uf
the Capital Ri Club. He said the reg
ulation gives only a fancied security
to the public The law totally ignores
the build of men. The statistics are
against the new regulation and show
that the chances of accident to the pub
lie are 92 to 2. The upright position is
injurious to those suffering from GER
tain diseases. He declared a rider can
manage his wheel better with drop
bars"
On cross-eXamination he said that
trick riders of necessity use handlebars
which will revOlye above the frame Of
the wheel.
Assistant United States District At
tovney Pugh wanted the witness to tell
what kind of handlebars Michael, the
champion bicyclist of the world, uses.
The defense objected to the question
md h. l..
did not know what the suggestion for
the regulation came from the League of
American Wheelmen.
At the conclusion of DR.. Wirts tes-
timony the defense closed and DR..
Francis A. Sinclair, a practicing ply
sician. was put up by the Government,
in rebuttal of the testimony of the pre-
ceding witness.
DR. Sinclair stated that he rides with
an up-turned bar. 1t was attempted
to show by the witness that the riders
of up-turned bars can have perfect
control of their wheels. So far as
safety. a man riding in an upright po-
SitiOn would have better front view
than when bowed down, He had never
ridden drOp-bar wheel. but from OBJ
SerYation thinks that a rider will have
more control over his wheel in an up
right position.
DR.. J. r hewitt for the prosecution.
states that his experience is that he
has better control of his wheel with
an up-turned handlebar The drop
bar" obstructs the vision and makes
it more dangerous both to rider and
public. He was oollided with twice by
wheelmen with drop bars" He dis
carded the drop bar for the raised
bar for personal safety. He said he
never owned drop bar" machine.
DR.. Garnett l.. Hills testified that he
has lived in Washington for ten years.
He has been riding bicycles since 1879.
He said his experience has been mostly
with upright bars and he has had no
trouble manipulating his wheel with
safety. He has more control of the
wheel when he is in a comparatively
erect position. A very significant
point which has never been brought
out. the witness said. is the matter of
a brake. The rams horn" bar has no
brake, and the rider uses his toe
clips" as a brake. He did not have
sufficient experience with drop bars"
to testify as to the relative safety as to
both styles. When shown photo
graph of Tom Butler. who rides with
drop bars he said man in such a
position could see as far ahead as if
sitting upright.
Mr.. Charles A. Neal, a patent attOr-
ney, who has had a great deal of ex-
perience in bicycle improvements. was
called next. Il rode a doWnturned bar
for about four months. but md | can
control a wheel better with an up
turned bar" he said.
DR.. Walter W. Alleger. a member of
the League of American Wheelman and
a memosJ' uf commit C which went
before the Commissioners in reference
to this regulation, then was heard.
The regulation, he said, was first sug-
gested by Commissioner Black. who
said he had no objection to speed, pro-
vided the riders would sit upright. He
said that having no objection the pres
ent regulation was drafted by a special
committee of the League of American
Wheelmen, of which he is chairman.
Mr. Pugh also wanted to introduce as
evidence a letter written by DR.. Allie
ger to Commissioner Wight. Mr. Mack
all objected on the ground that the
League of American Wheelmen does
not indorse the regulation. DR.. Ale
ger was not present, he said, at The
meeting of the League OF American
Wheelme1 at which the new regulation
is said to have been in dorsed. He,
however had heard of it from MEM
bers of the League. The letter was fin
ally allowed tn be filed as evtdaucc.
The letter was IN reply 10 one from
Commissioner Wight to the committee
of the League of American WneeIrvn
asking for suggestions as to the best
police regulation to adopt to prevent
the evil custom of certain riders who
bend their bodies and heads to such
an angle as to endanger themselves and
others. The committee in response rec
commended a regulation substantially
the same as that in operation.
DR. Alleger then introduced several
pictures of riders using low bars to
show the danger in turning corners.
He. however admitted that il the rid
er was compelled to keep his eyes
straight ahead there could be no OBJ
lection to the drop bar" He also tes-
tilted that the arms are stronger when |
the muscles are extended than when
the arm is bent.