New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1899-08-24
CYCLING.
THE DANGERS OF THE BROOKLYN
BRIDGE FoRCIBLY ILLUSTRATED.
MEMBERS OF THE CYCLING ASSOCIATIONS SAY
THAT AS LIVES HAVE BEEN SACRIFICED
A wHEELwAY SHOULD BE BUILT
OR wHEELMEN KEPT OFF
THE BRIDGE.

OR WHEELMEN KEPT OFF
THE BRIDGE.
A trolley car has killed a wheelman on the Brook
Ign Bridge The fatal ending Of a tandem ride III
which Theodore Happen. Of Jersey City. was the
victim the one topic discussed where ru-
ers Of the wheel congregated yesterday. Among
organized wheelmen the case was discussed at
longth and the opinion was expressed frequently
that II the Commissioner OF Bridges does not act
Immediately It would be good Idea for the OIL
fcials Of the League of American Wheelmeh DIS
well as OF the local organizations to recommenV
that the Bridge be closed to wheelmen Il rear
ize," said well known wheelman, that such
recommendation would prove real hardship 10
many poor clerks and boys who are accustomed 10
ride their wheels to and from business still,
ride the structure during the busy hours OF
the day has become so fraught with danger that 1t
Is almost suicidal for men and women 10 try 70
the Bridge their wheels.
Now Happen and his comrade Mcbride, were
following the plan suggested by which they
could hope to get over the structure In saety-that
OF following in the wake of one car right across
the Bridge. BY doing this they did not have 10
dart In and out between the trolley cars and trucks
Still when the car In front stops suddenly and the
car behind does not. what chance has wheeman
for his life? None whatever. While 1t Is bad
enough to ride n single wheel over the Bridge IL
seems almost like inviting danger 10 attempt 10
ride a tandem the Bridge. know many peo-
pie who ride tandems, but they always walk When
crossing the Bridge. ! trust that the death or
Tappan will he the Of Fastening Engineer
Martin to make up his mind whether there Is to
be n wheeway over the Bridge or not. II the poll
ticians are not going to help the vince linen then
the sooner that the announcement s made onlclalIy
the better II VIII he for all concerned: For my
part-and there many moro who think as DO
believe the Bridge officials never INTENDED 10 nave
a wheeway on the structure. think that II would
he good idea for wheelmen to begin TO agitate the
scheme TO have asphalt strips laid 10 the various
East River ferries II this Is done they VIII be able
TO give the Bridge n wide berth"
At the offices Of the American Bicycle Comuany
Yesterday was said that the affairs OF the com
pany were moving favorably. but that nothing had
happened recently OF public interest. From Can
ada comes the information that another bicycle
and automobile trust has just been born at To-
rcnto. It is said that syndicate has bought the
plants OF the r. A. LoZler Company at Toronto
Junction, the Gould Bicycle Company, the Wei
land-V Company Of st. Catharines and the
Massey Harris Company. II is said that the terms
were cash. and that Senator Cox, Lyman ": Jones,
compose the syndicate. An application Will he
made TO the Ontario Government for charter.
The capitalization Is to be s6.O00OOo. II Is said
that Mr.. Massey Will be the president Of the com
binaion. II Is the intention of the company 10 go
into the business Of manufacturing automobiles at
Toronto and Montford. and also TO put bicycle
the market which can be retaed at such n price
that It Will drive the cheap American wheels out
of Canada.