Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1904-04-26
Reckless Bicyclists.
the Editor of The Evening Star.

To the Editor of The Evening Star.
I am very glad to see that the reckless
ness of the bicycle riders has attracted the
attention of a member of Congress, and
that his letter to the Commissioners has
apparently stirred them up to do some
thing to stop the evil. though fear, judg-
ing from the past, that the effort will be
a short-lived one, and not amount to much.
Like Mr.. Niley, who made the complaint,
l have had many narrow escapes from
being run down by bicycles during the win
ter, and in that respect have been more
fortunate than some others.
Within the past few weeks the press has
reported no less than six cases in which
persons have been knocked down, of whom
five were seriously injured, viz: r. H.
Rhine, an eight-year-old boy, who was
so seriously injured that he had to be sent
to the hospital, where il was found that
his thigh was broken; Mrs. Andrews, wife
of Col. Andrews; Mrs. McClosky, fifty years
old, knocked down and painfully bruised;
Mrs. Lee, seriously injured that she
could not appear in court; Mrs. Dexter and
Mr.. Brown, the two latter by the same
rider within fifteen minutes of each other.
OF these six cases five were by colored
riders, who, in nearly every instance, rode
away unidentified, one only being arrested
These are but samples of what is occurring
here constantly. Surely 1t is high time that
something was done to stop such reckless
riding.
Some means should be adopted by which
the riders can be identified and arrested.
The only effective means far as / can SEQ
is to have all bicycles carry a number OF
sufficient size and so placed as to be read
lily seen, the same as has been done with
the automobiles and is done with bicy-
Giles in European cities.
Naturally careful riders would object to
this did the automobiles, but when
done feeling would
they would attract no more attention than
do the numbers on the automobiles and
other vehicles. But no matter what OBJ
jections are raised, the safety of the pub
lie demands that that or some equally
efficient means be adopted.
If the careful riders would combine and
make it their business to hunt down and
expose these reckless riders that might
suffice, but so far nothing of the kind has
been done, and it is not at all probable
that it ever will be, at least efficiently. Not
only do nearly all the accidents occur with
colored riders, but generally with the
younger ones, who seem to take pride in
seeing how much they can annoy or
brighten pedestrians by riding so close TO
them, especially when coming up from be-
hind as to make them jump to escape
being knocked down. So, too, they seem
to make point of riding through the
most crowded places, as may be seen any
hour at 9th and F, 9th and streets and
similar crossings where there are usually
two cars with the passengers going to and
from the cars, besides the numerous
hicles passing in both directions. and there
is usually a crowd waiting to board the
cars,
AS the bicyclist move so rapidly and
easily, ii would seem that they might be
forbidden to pass at these points, even IL
they have to go a square or further.
AS it is now they are an intolerable nui-
sance to the general public. and something
ought to be done to abate the nuisance,
but above all to stop the frequent injuries
to pedestrians
Another matter that demands attention
of the authorities is the recklessness of the
drivers. not merely those who exceed the
legal speed, but the much larger class who
pay no regard to the rights of pedestrians
and who make not the slightest effort to
prevent running them down-the drivers
of carts, express and delivery wagons, as
well of the lighter vehicles They seem
to be utterly ignorant of the fact that the
law gives to pedestrians the right of way,
or if they know it they pay no respect to
II. There is scarce a minute in the day
that men, women and children are not COM
PEELED to stop, dodge or run to prevent
being knocked down run over by We
hicles driven usually by colored boy or
man, though the white drivers are but
little, If any, better
There is room for much Improvement In
these matters, and I suggest that those in
authority should give them early and
earnest attention. w. c. DODGE.