The Bossier banner. [volume] (Bellevue, Bossier Parish, La.) 1859-1952, 1899-12-14
ACCIDENTS 10 wHEELMEN.


riding sssss
a. 49,
The. 1nishaps to wh<elmen9and Pc
destrians on account of wheels gener-
ally begin in April and increase each
month until cold weather sets in. Dur
ing the last five years August has held
the record for inishaps in cycling. The
recklessness of scorchers, instead Of
being diminished by the heat, appears
to be increased, land with the temper
ature at 90 weN-meaning riders. also,
seem to be more thonghtless OF their
own welfare and that of-others than
they are in the spring and fall. In the
summer Of 1897 the list Of bicycle nccf-
dents was SO large that some riders Of
the .imid sort were inclined to condemn
wheeling as a dangerous exercise. In
August of that year more misfortnnes
of riders were reported in the news
papers than during any other two
months of the season. Apparently the
only explanation Of the fact was that
the cyclists were more enthusiastic and
less cautious then than at other times.
The cycling. season of 1899 has been
conspicuous for its comparatively small
number of mishaps. Judging from the
accounts in the daily papers and from
the observations Of wheefmen, not one
half as many fatal accidents have oc-
cnrred in New York this year as were
reported in 169S, and the infrednency of
minor accidents has also been notice.
able. There has been . decided sb-
sence this year Of wheel women who arc
likely to lose. their heads when in close
quarters, and little has been heard of
riders who used to mistake curbstones
and holes I'm the street for asphalt pave
ment. Butthe exceptionally good luck
Of the cyclists may be attributed to
some very good reasons A veteran
rider, who has himself been mixed mp
in several bicycle accidents, accounts
for the wheels exceedingly gratifying
behavior lately as follws:
Not since the bicycle first became
popular have riders exhibited 90 much
skill as now; skill not only in keeping
their equilibrium. but id avoiding other
cycles, and particularly in steering
clear Of street cars and four-wheeled
vehicles. Their ability has come, not
through any increased attention on the
part Of cycle instructors, but solely
through experience. OF course hun
dreds OF men riders have been added
to the ranks this season. but nine-tenths
Of the pedaiers to be seen on the streets
have ridden for at leaAt two years antl
have become pretty thoroughly ac-
quainted with their sport.
ut is true also that much of the good
fortune Of wheeImen has been due to
the fact that they have learned to com
promise, 30 TO say, with the drivers 0f
trucks and other vehicles. The iuhpxes-
sion which once prevailed among TIE
'bikers' that they alone were entitled
to the right Of way, has bsen <&S664ed
TO q large extent, and they silling
now to meet the drivers half way. k0n|
the other hand, drivers have idistov6ted
that they cannot bully and ffig hteik The
|.cyclists whenever they pleaAea md 1hat
the latter have rights in. which they
win be protected by the police. s
1s@Not the least plausible explnn6tionE
Of the seasons good luck ID ste AZ 4s4nd
in the circumstance that fully one=haH
Of the wheels in use to-day are equipped
with strong, serviceable brakes f3iich|
their owners are able to usg will Ael9ng
effect. While the absence Of brakes in
former years was responsible f0f hony
Injuries to riders, 1t is kingu1ar4 r41ta9 81
many instances fSwhere wheels; Nert