Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1898-02-19
S o NE CYCLE CHAT

In the cycling fraternity no one thing has
created more discussion than the four-inch
drop Of the handle bars, and probably no
other thing will arise in the near future,
except possibly the matter of taxing BIZ
cycles. to cause so much, trouble. The &C
ton of the clubs of the city in holding a
meeting, and adopting concerted line of
action, and calling upon the Commissioners
during the week, is frequently commended.
While nothing definite has resulted from
the conference, yet there are indications
that something will result. The club men
attribute their success to simply one thing:
They did not go before the Commissioners
TO demand the revocation of the obnoxious
regulation. Instead they put their side of
the story in good form and had bicycle
there to illustrate what they regarded as
an injustice. The Commissioners met them
more than half way. AS of the Com
nlssiouers remarked, he believed that the
clubs contained good riders. The regula-
ton was not made to work any hardships
against them, but simply to prevent reck-
less and dangerous riding. AS it was i'm
possible to make regulation which would
discriminate, the fcur-inch drop regulation
was made He did not think that the club
riders were responsible for the reckless rid
ing and the large number of accidents
arising therefrom.
The action of the clubs in sending repre-
sentatives to the Commissioners las been
criticised by some, because they did not in
sist upon the extension of the concessions
which the boa I'd expressed Willingness TO
| make, so to include all unattached riders
THIS criticism is hardly just. The clubs
met for their own interests, and the repre-
sentitives before the Commissioners were
instructed to lCok after the interests of the
club members first.
The difficulty In granting permits to ride
through the town on club runs with drop
bars will be to know where to draw the
line. Under such system it is an encour-
agement for the organization of new clubs,
and likewise a good boom for the member
ship of existing clubs. OF course, with the
issuance of such permit, as now contem-
plated, the Commissioners will hold the
officers of the clubs responsible, and any
violation may be punishable by a revoca-
ton OF the permit. This would make the
officers Of the club careful CT the privileges
granted them.
The new police regulation. which will go
into effect March l. compelling all vehicles
in motion after SHUTDOWN to carry lamps
has stirred up hornets nest. The local
business men are Directing strongly to the
measure, and added to their strength are
the protests Of many farmers and people
living in the suburbs. At the twenty sixth
annual convention Of the farmers of Mont
gomery county last week at Sandy Springs
Md, the matter was brought up. A COM
mittee was appointed to wait upon the
commissioners dShlllR lHeIl 10 eAeIupt
loaded hay and straw wagons on account
of the liability of the load to catch fire.
The impression seems to prevail that the
regulation, if not repealed, will be amend
| ed so as to make certain exemptions.
On the other hand the cyclists are put
| ting in some objection to the regulation,
! inasmuch as they claim its provisions do
not go far enough. The matter in ques-
| ton provides only for lights within the
city limits, and has nothing to say regard
! ing the county surrounding the city which
| is included in the District. This they
! claim, is the very territory that should be
| lamps in the city there is no difficulty at
! all in getting out offthe, way of vehicles.
| 1t is out on the roads that the seriousness
Of the matter is msae appar aren't, where no no
| right on top of rioer before he is aware
| Of it's proximity. 81 ~
It is interesting toifottue the reports that
are filed with the police department by
| those who are unfortunate enough to lose
! their mounts. 1t is a 'common thing for
the value of the article to be magnified,
| and 1t is also getting TO be quite COM
| mon thing to elabofAtena little in describ-
| ing the manner in which, the machine was
| stolen. Nine times out of ten it happens
that the bicycle is stolen wnlle no one Is
| of a more daring robbery. There are a
number Of reports on record where riders
| cain to have been knocked from their
| mounts and the wheels stolen. One re-
| mort that was filed around the first of the
| wear has been cleared UP as follows:
| Ont in East Washington bicycle rider
| entered a saloon and called for drink. On
| account Of his condition he was refused.
The rider left the place in anything but an
! amiable temper. Those inside in looking
| out saw him making vain efforts to mount
! his bicycle and ride away, but it was a
| difficuIt matter for the man to retain his
own equilibrium. much less endeavor to
steer a bicycle: Seeing ms predicament the
wheel at his place until the man called for
| II. The rider consented to this and the
| machine was taken inside and left in the
! room. The owner did not put in appear
ance the next day, nor the day after. A
week went by and the wheel stifl remained
| unclaimed In the hope that the rider
! 11nuId show up the saloon keeper LAT ~