The Minneapolis journal. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn.) 1888-1939, 1902-03-14

With automobiles gradually coming in
to common use and horse flesh looking
up, the bicycle comes up smiling again
this season. The final elimination of the
"fad" phase of wheeling in its every
form, and the reduction of this great
ness basis, finds it more popular than
ever this season. It is no longer classed
exclusively under the head of sports; it
is almost necessity Of life.
Wheeling has quickenedt the pace of
business in a hundred different ways. In
the facility which it offers the average
business man for getting about town
quickly, where street cars are unavailing
and carriages are too expensive, it has
enabled him to multiply his operations
and transact in a day double the amount
of business than was possible before he
contracted the bicycle habit.
This spring the Minneapolis public has
turned to the bicycle even more eagerly
than in the past, because of the welcome
relief which it offered in the way Of rapid
transit to and from business from over
crowded street cars. Never in the his
tory of the city has street car trafhc
been so congested as during the past
winter. The patient strap holders who
have been damned and stepped upon in
street cars have bided their time and
looked anxiously forward to- the season
when, with returning spring, they could
"cut out" the cars and get down town or
home much more rapidly than by trolley.
Big Tag Sales Expected.
Conditions have thus generally COM
bined to make this the banner year of
bicycle history, especially from the solid,
substantial standpoint of trade and con-
sidering the wheel in it's utilitarian as
pect. The arrangements made already by
the city clerk give an idea Of how large
an increase there has been since last
year in the number Of licensed wheels
which will be in general use. this season.
Last year the city clerks tag sales
showed that there were 10000 licensed
wheels on the highways and by-Ways and
cycle paths Of Minneapolis. Anticipating
a big percentage of increase this year
Clerk Lydiard has already ordered 33 ,00C
| tags. There is every reason to believe
that the number of applications for Ii
| censes emitting riders to the use OF the
cycle paths will be greatly in excess
! Of that, number, and the clerk is prepared
| to supplement his supply of tags If the
occasion demands it.
Old wheelmen who are pretty familiar
with the cycling population Of the city
predict that there will be- not less than
! 81, 900 licensed wheels in general use here
| by the time the season fairly opens. II
Tradition to that number they declare
that there are not less than 5000 I'M
| licensed wheels whose owners keep te
the middle Of the road or have, the nerve
to use the paths when cycle detectives
are not on watch. This practice is one
which self-respecting whee1men who be
lieve in equal rights to all special priv
ileges to none should do their best tt
discourage. Sooner or later the rlde1
who insists on using paths to the con-
struction or maintenance Of which he has
not contributed cent, will come to grie
and be forced to pay, by way Of fine, {
sum greatly in excess of the fair contri'
button which the law otherwise demands
| of him.