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Show Backless Cycling. There have been quite a number of erious accidents some attended by fatal consequences through people being be-ing ridden over by cyclists. In ill of these cases the evidence goes to indicate excessive speed m the prime cause. There is a pace, especially when going down hill, which practically deprives the rider of all control over his machine. He can guide it, but that is all. As for pulling up quickly, as well might the engine driver of an express train attempt to do so. Nor even in the matter of guiding has the cyclist a free hand. Any large deviation from the straight line of his course would, if he were pelting along at the rate of eighteen or twenty miles an hour, inevitably cause an upset. up-set. He has nothing for it, therefore, but to trust to luck and the chapter of accidents, which he does with a sang froid that would b9 truly admirable were it not so largely tinctured with recklessness. When he mounts to the brow of a steep hill and looks down at the decline stretching out before him he knows perfectly per-fectly well that if he once allows his steel steed to "take charge" there can be no attempt to pull up until the bottom is reached. Equally aware is he that by timely application of the brake and by "back pedaling" the machine can be kept at a moderate pace, admitting of guidance and of stopping. But because it , is a pleasant rush down hill at the speed of a racer without any exertion he takes his feet off the pedals, sets his teeth tight and, to use his own expression, expres-sion, "lets her slide." The result is that if any pedestrian chances to block his way being perhaps too deaf to hear the warning bell a fearful collision takes place, rnd one or the other is killed. Cyclists have yet to learn, apparently, that the responsibility of keeping clear of people on foot rests on the drivers of vehicles. London Graphic. |