Evening star., 1935-04-21
School Here
WaS Notable
C0nhibutor to
Skill ofAmbi-
H0uSPery0nS ON
EaryTypes Of
Mach n e.S.
League OF
II M e re u n
.Wheemen, in
Its Growth,
P0SSeSS0r OF
National In
hences:
By John Clagett Proctor.

lust what will happen in Wash
ington in a few years, II the
present alarming increase in
~ number of automobiles con-
tinues, 1t is hard to say. There
are now more than 100000 motor
vehicles here, carrying District OF Co
lumbia tags, and the number OF new
titles being issued daily by the
authorities is astoundingly large. II
we consider the congested conditions
as critical, what will they be two or
three years hence? Indeed, 1t Is
quite probable We shall have to return
to the good old bicycle days, at least
for pleasure purposes.
In Europe, where in some places the
gasoline tax is almost prohibitive, and
a personal tax is slapped on motor
vehicles as luxuries, the bicycle Is
almost exclusively used by the rank
and file. A good example Of this may
be found in Copenhagen, where with
a population said to be around 800, 600
there are 100000 bicyclists, and. per-
sonally to see the vast number OF
wheels in use in this noted Danish
capital, no one would doubt the figures
quoted.
OF course, the streets and avenues
OF Washington and the roads through
out the District today far surpass any
thing we had along this line when
bicycling was at its peak back in the
COS and later, and If the bicycle
should return in few years, be-
1R fAn
ing Of the highways, from too high
tax on gasoline, from increased insur-
ance rates, or from other causes, 1t Is
quite probable that thousands of
Washingtonians with limited means
will again have to take to the silent
steed.
WITH bicycle, there Is not that
w mad rush there is with an
automobile; physical endurance would
not permit it. With car, there is
substantially no limit to speed and
distance.
Naturally, the old-timer would not
be able to push a pedal as he could
40 years ago, but then he could take
his time, and then, too, the roads to
Chevy Chase, Overlook Inn and Cabin
John Bridge have been greatly i'm
proved since the automobile crowded
out the horse and the bicycle, and
what the League of American Wheel
men left undone when it ceased to
exist. the American Automobile As
sociation Is still energetically carry
ing forward.
The writer is one of the many
thousands Of members Of the latter
organization and still retains his
membership card presented him when
he joined the League of American
Wheelmen, more than 40 years ago.
This association, formed, it Is said,
"solely in the interests of healthful
recreation" had its beginning in 1880,
when few wheelmen from New York,
Boston and other Eastern cities, met
for the purpose on Memorial day of
that year in Newport r. I. Six years
later It had membership Of more
than 10000 wheelmen, representing
every State and Territory in the
Union.
For a while all the authorized pro-
fessional and amateur cycle racing
was held under its auspices, and its
annual meet became one Of the
great events Of the year. Subsequent
~ the National Cycling Association
controlled cycle racing in the United
States east of the Mississippi River
and in the State Of Missouri, but not
in Louisiana.
THERE was time in the District
of Columbia when bicycle racing
almost Wed with horse racing, and
really, for q while, held the spotlight
of sports.
No doubt ever so many Washingto-
mans still recall the races which used
to be held ct international Athletic