New-York tribune., 1899-07-29
RECKLESS CYCLING.

The distressing accident which resulted In the
death OF Miss Adelaide Miller Is one that should
not pass unheeded by bicycle riders in our crowd
ed city streets. This unfortunate young wom-
an has paid with her life the penalty for reck-
lessness which Is so common, so unnoticed ana
so nnrebuked that doubtless she and thousands
OF others have habtually INDUCED in 1t without
realizing the extent Of their own folly. The
street railway motorman has much to answer
for in the matter Of personal injuries, ana Dotn
law and public opinion hold him to strict ac-
count for the degree Of care he exercises for the
lives of those who share the use OF the street
with him. But the motorman is helpless before
those who throw themselves under his wheels.
That is apparently what Miss Miller did. She
ATTEMPTED to ride along n narrow passage over
several tracks and then beside an iron fence,
between Il and 4 cartrack. 1t was distinctly
dangerous undertaking even with the exercise
of the most careful observation for the approach
of railroad train or trolley 1t was the ex-
treme Of careessness TO 90 there in headlong
haste without noticing cars until one was so
close at hand that attempts to get out OF the
way only added to the danger. No sane per
son would think of doing such thing If pre-
vaIing habit had not made taking risks on
bicycle alarmingly common.
woman who should attempt to ride horse
back in a narrow space between wall and
railroad tran or even to ride horseback down
Broadway at a crowded hour amid the trucks,
would be regarded as proper object for police
attention ANY man or woman OF ordinary
sense who. driving on country road comes to
a railroad crossing over which perhaps n train
masses once an hour looks and listens for dan
no iJord do hog n W
cars and trucks arc passing every instant as If
no had n whole desert of smooth pavement on
which his wheel could not possibly be over
turned and where he could not possibly be In
iured even If it was The nature of a bicycle Is
such that it is especially risky TO force 1t into
narrow spaces and among heavier vehicles. But
its very readiness to tip over It's unfitness fora
crush seems 10 urge cyclists to take special
risks I'm this particular The difficulty OF work
ing their way slowly through dangerous maze
tcmpts them to rush headong into the worst Of
the danger. Rather than dismount in difficult
position they dash over cariracks before cars
tley would not think of running in front Of on
foot. though there would be much less chance OF
their tripping and falling In front OF the wheels
than of their tire slipping at rail and throw
ing them.
The reckless bicycle rlder Is not only uah-
ger TO himself, but an annoyance and menace
10 others II may he necessary to apply here the
Paris rule that holds responsible ms public Of
fender the person who puts himself In the way
TO be run over. Nobody who goes through our
streets can fail to see that thousands Of riders
presume on their helplessness as IN excuse for
their recklessness. The fact that they cannot
handle their machines In dangerous spots. In
stead Of suggesting TO them the avoidance OF
those spots, seems merely To urge them there,
relying on the cry. Get out OF my way-don't
YOU see ! cannot stopF They throw upon