The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1899-09-01
NEWS OF THE WHEELME EN-.
CHIEF ENGINEER MARTIN REPORTS
AGAINST A BRIDGE PATH.


mitteo Of Cyclists Is Impra cticRble AS II
Would Add to the COngeHted Condition
of Travel mt tho New York Terminal.
Chief Engineer c. G. Martin OF tho Brooklyn
bridge has made a report to Bridge Commits
sionor John l.. Shea in which he decides that it
Is not feasible to construct q cycle path over
the bridge. Tho organized wheelmen ofgreater
New York were anxious that separate path
should be constructed. and they furnished
Commissioner Shea with plans which they
deemed TO be practicable.
Mr. Martin says: AS the terminals are tho
only points OF difficulty will confne my re-
port to that in New York. 1t proposed to
pass along tho south side OF the New
York station cross the south roadway.
and descend to the level OF the bridge
roadway by means OF n stairway passing
underneath and practically parallel with the
stairs now in place alongside Of the Pulitzer
building. and TO reach Park Row by crossing
the sidewalk at the foot Of the stairs men,
toned
Such a stairway as was proposed would
eneroach upon the bridge roadway. which in
my judgment should not be permitted and
also in my judgment 1t would not be advisable
or permissible to add to the already congested
condition Of travel on the sidewalk at the foot
OF the Pulitzer building stairs by the intro
walk at right angles. In addition to the DIM
Guilty which bcyclists would have in crossing
the sidewalk, thronged as it 10 with pedes-
trians. they would. as soon as they left
the sidewalk. meet a real danger, as they
would have to cross the line Of vehicles ap-
preaching the bridge roadway from Nassau
street and lower Park row. rs we'll as the
several lines OF cars passing in both directions
OH Park row.
since. in my judgment the obstacles to a
bicycle path at the New York terminal are in
surmountable ii is unnecessary to say any
thing about the Brooklyn side / am clearly
OF the opinion that 1t is not feasible to construct
a bicycle path over the bridge"
The joint committee Of cycling organza-
| tons. representing the Associated Cycling
Clubs OF New York. the L. A. w.. the Good
Roads Association and the Associated Cycling
Clubs OF Long Island. met yesterday to find out
| the status Of the project to build cycle path
! on the BroDklyn Bridge.
The committee had been waiting two months
| to hear from Commissioner Shea. and did not
| know that Chief Engineer Martin had made
| his report. SO in the absence OF Information it
| was decided to write the Commissioner re-
| questinG an immediate answer to the plan
| submitted The report OF Engineer Martin.
| printed above will save the committee the
| trouble Of writing.
About as many entries as nre made for the
| famous Irvington- NJ illburn race have been
| received for the road race to be held on the
Goney Island Boulevard cycle paths on Labor
| Day. The number received is about 100 and
| insures tho event being a nue contest.
| and not a series OF disastrous collisions and
falls. When the race. was first proposed there
| was talk OF seven or eight hundred entries md
| the report spread that this number were in
hand: This erectually scared the racing men
who foresaw in fancy hospital at every hotel
| along the course, and they did not enter. For
while 1t was thong hit that the exaggerated
| talk Of the committee had ruined the race. but
| best. II there had been even 300 entries acct
| dents would have been numerous. As It 10 the
| race will he big one wi it'll probablyfeu mishaps.
by Chairman Fred. Gerlach. Of the l.. A. ".
| racing board. as his alternate for referee has
| declined to serve and Frank /. Prial has ac-
| cepted. Prial, so far as the W. G, A. and /. A.
| neutral with l.. A. W. leayings. Prial has an
| nouncad that the race will be started promptly
| at 10 o'clock on the morning OF Labor Day and
that all protests after the race must be made
| to him at Bader's before IL: 80 p. NJ.
| The authorities OF Hudson county. n, J.
have had gang Of men and two steam rollers
at work on the Hudson county boulevard for
| two weeks putting it in shape for the twenty
| five milo rond race to be held on It Labor Day.
under the auspices Of the Associated Cycling
| long been neehed. and will cause the road race
| to be blessed by riders in general. There have
| been l75 entries for the race, among them
some TTe-known cracks rack Of II the highway such,
| New Haxen: J. r. Dubois. Of Brockton; A.
Michael: and J. W. Higgins, JERSEY City, and
| y. J. Gillon. Wilmington. Del. An innovation
| course Of two surgeons from tho First Aid to
the Injured Society Of the State OF New Jersey