COMPLAINTS OF MELBOURNE WHEELWOMEN.

Hawke's Bay Herald, Volume XXX, Issue 10070, 10 August 1895, Page 1 (Supplement)

COMPLAINTS OF MELBOURNE WHEELWOMEN.

The wheel woman oE Melbourne continues to make public complaint that her pastime, whether performed in "rational dress" (which means knickerbockers and things), or skirts, expose ber to the objectionable gruntings of "road hogs." She writes, en masse, to the Age, presumably because the Argus had olamoured for her to ba "frowned off the road." The &otual faot is that ever; woman who oyoles in the public waya .creates tfurtre among the men of the violnity. Lirrikins chase her, welldressed people yell for her to "get off and push," other women make spiteful remarks, and there is a wide-spread inclination to make the ride exoiting. The other evening two women who were pedalling home in the twilight were huuled by infuriated wood-carters ovor some of the rookiest roads in Melbourne, and one of the chased writes to suggest that it ia barely safe to go out without a "gentleman cyclist" to assist In keeping the peace. The sauie experience 1b being undergone In America, where the younger polioemsn, who have not had time to get fat in the service, have bad to ba mounted on bicycles for the protection of wheelwomen, whose appearance there also seems to madden men. In Melbourne, however, they take consolation In the knowledge that Lady Brasaeyls a cyclist. They allow that when the Governor's wifo Rons scorching down Collins street, the sport will become fashionable.