The Houston daily post. [volume] (Houston, Tex.) 1886-1903, 1900-08-27
BICYCLlSTS' RIGHTS IN TEXAS
A BILIOUS NEW YORKER SEEKING
INFORMATION.
Attorney General Smith Furnishes
the Requested Data, Including
Some Horse Sense Advice.

Austin, August 26.--The following sell
explanatory correspondence will prove in
teresting to wheelmen and Others;
Attorney General, Austin, Texas:
Ennis, Texas, August 22.-Dear
sir--I write to you to find out what
the Texas road law is, or the rules of the
read according to law in this State. aad
think it best to apply to headquarters for
same
am in Texas on bicycle trip and ex-
pect to go through as far as Galveston and
return to New York City via Denison,
Kansas City, Lincoln, Chicago, etc.
Now / have ridden all the way from
New York through the States OF New
Jersey, Pennsylvania, Delaware, Mary
land. Virginia, Tennessee and Arkansas
and never had the least trouble. but when
/ rode into Texas found the farmer IN
disposed to give me the least part OF the
road. and had "woriy war" VITA seve al
of them in consequence. Several OF them
told me it was my business to get off tue
road and let them by. OF course when
hcrses shy ! always dismount and do
what l can TO pacty the animals, but at
other times / want my share OF the road
way.
/ Now what / wish to know is what rights
a wheelman has in Texas. II we have
none at all want to get out of the S a.e
! as soon as possible, and warn my club
mates and wheeling friends ia the North
to keep out of Texas. and If we have
rights you may rest assured l shall stand
/ up for them Quite often to give the
road means to dismount and lift the bicy-
Gle out, for 1t Is next TO impossible to
turn across deep rut without a fall.
/ should also like to know II pedesiri-
ans have the precedence over all vehicles
the same as in New York State?
\ Now l was born and raised in Texas,
and have often told my Northern friends
how accommodating and friendly Southern
people were, but l have been greatly dis
appointed on this trip TO find them so an
tagonistic to bicycles and wheelmen in
general
I have ridden bicycle thousands OF
miles in seventeen different States but
in all my travels never met the equal OF
1.-THE Texas farmer. never had any
trouble and never look for trouble but
there will be trouble II have any rights
and they are not respected.
! Hoping to hear from you In the near
future am. very truly yours.
S. A. Il.
Member Century Road Club OF America.
No 2S15; League of American Wheelmen.
No 52S62; C. r. C. association $40 West
53rd street. New York City.
p. ST. am laid up here in Ennis with
an attack of bilious fever. but expect to
resume my pleasure tour shortly.
s. A. II.
Attorney General Smiths reply to the
above read as follows:
Mr.. S. A. H, Ennis. Texas.
Your letter OF the 22nd instant has been
received. note that you complain that
wagons won't get out Of the road when
they see you coming on your bicycle and
that sometimes you actually have to ge
off Of your bicycle and let them pass.
There is no law regulating rules and
rights OF people upon our public highways
except that high law OF courtesy which
enc citizen should bear to another, Il
your laws Of New York require loade
wagons to give the road to bicycles II
viii be a long time, / think, before the
people OF this State Will follow such On
example OF the Empire State of New
York.
note that you say that there is likely
to be some trouble, That is a mater
purely to yourself and II these Texans q
ours do not do TO suit you and you thipl
you can lick them It Is free countrS
and you nave rlBnl 10 SAIL IN, Dui
wish TO advise you that you should also
look for way to sail out before you be-
gin. have been driving over the roads
of TexaG for nearly twenty years, ant
sometimes drive in buggy, and I dom
know Of hardly an instance but what
, have always given the road for WAGON
and especially to a loaded wagon. Thii
Is scarcely matter that should come be
fore this department officially and take
it II you had not been sick and had no
been feeling bilious and bad that yoi
would never have felt like complaining
ct Texas for some fellow not turning hi
loaded wagon out of the road to give i
10 you
trust that your trip around the United
States en- your wheel may be more pleas
ant than II seems TO have Just been am
that you may enjoy the circuit, and w'si
: 70 assure you that the laws OF Texas vii
protect your person and your property
: the same as II you were one OF her mos
loyal and patriotic citizens
Yours very truly,
T. S. Smith. Attorney General
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