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Show Boston to Cedar City Bicyclist travels cross country CEDAR CITY Charlie Coburn of Brookline, Mass., arrived in Cedar City, Utah, 'recently. Not that the fact would be at all noticeable to most. Charlie Coburn looks like anybody else, and in most ways is like anybody else, except for one thing. He didn't arrive in Cedar City by the most common of means. He arrived astride a 15-speed bicycle that he built himself. When asked what prompted him to try such a feat, 2,700 miles in four months, he laughed: "Insanity. I think it was the great escape." Then, more seriously, he continued: "It was something I've been thinking of for a long time." He rode all but about 300 of the 2,700 miles on his bicylce, hitching rides with truckers for that small distance. In Brookline near Boston, he had a good job on the night watch of the transit authority, but left that for Utah or Washington and a new job. He followed secondary roads most of the time. Freeways are off-limits to bicyclists in many ' &'vf? Iff ' weigh 28 pounds or less. Such a bike costs around $300, about the cost of insuring a new car for a year. He was also quick to point out that bicylcle maintenance and use are very inexpensive. v. Coburn is a member of three bicycle clubs, all of which help in educating and organizing rides lor club members. Many of these clubs are now nationwide. As for the future? Coburn isn't really sure. He's heading lor Salt Lake City right now, and, if things don't work out there, he could go on states, and, besides, he said, "freeways are awfully boring." He said that his biggest problems were dogs and rude motorists. Dogs were especially a problem in Idaho and Utah. "Everybody seems to have at least one dog," Coburn said. Rude motorists were not too big of a problem, but there were a few, including a lew who actually chased him. However, Coburn does feel that many states could do much to assist the bicyclist; thus promoting energy conservation con-servation and physical fitness. One problem in many states, including Utah is the lack of paved shoulders, he said, making it difficult to stay out of heavy and fast-moving fast-moving traffic. . ; '' : ; He also noted that signing would help a lot. Such signs would not only mark bike routes, but would warn automobile drivers to watch for the bikers. : . "We don't need separate facilities. We need sympathetic facilities," he said. "The bicyclist, , like the pedestrian , and , : the wheelchair user, have a right to use the roads." Bicycling is a pastime or hobby open to almost everybody, according to Coburn. "Bicycling requires no special expertise ex-pertise or great expense. Most good bicycles can be used for either touring, racing or commuting." He also pointed out that a good bicycle, should Charlie Coburn is on his way. The resident of Brookline, near Boston, rode his bike here, beginning in June. From Cedar City he is headed to Salt Lake and, possibly, Seattle, Wash. to Seattle, Wash. Either way, you can be sure that Charlie Coburn won't be traveling in the normal manner. Watch carefully for him. |