THE GLOBE. THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 16, 1882. THE CYCLISTS' UNION.

Globe, Volume XXIV, Issue 2686, 16 November 1882, Page 2

THE GLOBE. THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 16, 1882. THE CYCLISTS ' UNION.

The strides that bicycle and tricycle riding has taken daring the last four or five years is something astonishing. Five years ago a bicyclist was as rare as a black swan in Home. People turned round to stare at him; they criticised the calves of his legs; they thirsted to sea him fall heavily into the gutter. Ho was looked upon as an amiable but athletic lunatic, who was willing to sacrifice his neck and the proprieties for the purpose of making himself singular, and enjoying a very risky form of excitement. Bat all this has now changed, and no one new takes the fronblo of turning round to look at a bicycle ridor, as his vehicle is looked upon as a recognised form of conveyance. There may still linger certain prejudices against the bicycle, but as a whole it excites neither comment or curiosity.

lu England, where bicycle riding came into full swing years before it did here, there are still many difficulties against which the bicycle or tricycle rider has to contend, some of them of a very unreasonable character. For instance, in London, cyclists are not allowed to enter the Porks. The prohibition against hired vehicles entering one of the Parka at all events, namely Regent’s Park, was removed by Mr. Sbaw Lefevra just before the last rising of Parliament, bnt cyclists are still excluded from a place which would seem to be particularly suited for them. That Park, as is well known, is by no means crowded at any time of the year, and yet the instrument, which may now be called, more fairly than the railway, ** the iron horse,” is not allowed to enter its precincts. But cyclists may ply in all the most crowded thoroughfares. There is nothing to prevent their threading a very hazardous way through the thousands of vehicles in Oxford street or elsewhere But the comparatively open space in the Park is shut out to them. Of course there is reason enough in preventing them entering Hyde Park in the Season or even out of it. The amount of horseflesh there congregated is the marvel of foreigners, and all horses do not take to the novel apparatus. With a possibly prophetic instinct they see in the bicycle and tricycle rivals which may finally ran them partially off the road. All riders there,moreover, cannot manage their steeds even at the best of times, and all causes of alarm should ba avoided as much as possible. A runaway horse in that locality is a serious affair. From tho days of Miss Killrnanssg to those of the “ Galloping Suob cf Rotten Row,” the rider has alwavs come off second best. But what can ba said against admitting bicycles into Hyde Park cannot bo urged with regard to Regent’s Park, and their exclusion from the latter is tt proof that prejudices still exist against the vehicle in the old country. The Cyclists, Union that has lately started in this city is in a decidedly enviable position. Though it possesses no monopoly, it has at the same time been farced to expend no capital, individual members furnishing thoir own machines. Tho traffic it has to manage is purely passenger traffic, there is nothing at all complicated in the management, and there are no official returns required. Tho engine drivers belonging to the company never strike for higher wages, and yet they are always endeavouring to make as good time as they possibly can. There is no permanent way to bo looked after. Road Boards and Municipalities kindly looking after that little matter. And yet tho Union will have considerable power, if all goes well with it, for it will practically lay down rules for a means of transit, which will continue to enlarge itself. Not long since the honorary secretary of the London Tricycle Club travelled on a tricycle from John-o’-Groats to the Land’s End, and easily accomplished the distance, which is 995 miles, within the fortnight. Two hundred years ago country gentlemen, when going up to London, used to make their wills before starting. But tho honorary secretary above alluded to met with no thrilling adventures of any sort, and had a comparatively easy time of it. The roads wore, as a rnle, good, and his machine worked without a hitch. Among ourselves four gentlemen started last Sunday at 3 a.m., had breakfast at tho Hurnnni, end two of them reached town again at half-past four in afternoon. ‘When such feats can be accomplished without any special training or any very great strain on the physique of the rider, it is clear enough that there is something excessively practical in the occupation of a cyclist. Rivers have been defined as roads which walk along of their own accord, and if a bicycle or tricycle does not quite do that, it docs next door to it. They certainly render human locomotion as inexpensive ai d as easy as the most s’.nguiuo can hope for. Possibly in the future electricity wi!i supply the place of muscle, but until that idea is worked out wo can hardly expect anything more perfect than the machines now in nso. Looking, therefore, upon the cyclist’s occupation as an important institution, tho formation of a union is a decided stop in advance. The union, if -,voll managed, will ba able to do much good work. It will keep tho exuberant spirits of some of its members in due cheek ; it will ba able to see that the public convenience is not in any way interfered with; and it will consolidate an interest which is as yet only in its infancy.