CYCLISTS AND VEHICLES.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XXIX, Issue 8854, 16 April 1892, Page 3

CYCLISTS AND VEHICLES.

TO TIIK EDITOR. Sir,—lll a recent issue of your paper there is a local relating to an accident to Dr. Rowley's buggy, caused by a cyclist, which, as described by your correspondent, would lead the public to believe that the cyclist who was the innocent cause of the accident, caused the upset rather than put himself to some little inconvenience. The version as given by you forces upon one the belief that either your correspondent has misunderstood the genial doctor or he has (certainly pardonably, as being thrown out of a buggy, is not calculated to sooth anyone's feelings), for once departed from his habitual good temper, and in the heat of the moment taken a somewhat unjust view of the case. Dr. Rowley says he motioned to, andjthe lady with him entreated, the cyclist to get down. In all probability the cyclist did not see these signs till right on to the doctor, as the road there is uphill, dusty, and the wind was against riders on the day you mention, and ninety-nine out of a hundred men would be riding with their heads as closely beat down as. possible. When ho

did see the symptoms of disquiet in the horses he did not dismount. Had he done so, the horses would have turned round and bolted right back, and then to be emptied out of a stationary buggy is certainly ban: to be shot out of one going at the full speed of a pair of frightened horses is far worse. What the cyclist did was (this step is advised by all the great cycling clubs and authorities at Home, and is printed in the New Zealand Cyclists' Alliance road rules) to ride slowly past, and then dismount. This ha did. as lam told by twe eyewitnesses. Probably Dr. Rowley's attention was occupied with horses, hence lie did not notice it, but I can assure him the cyclist not only dismounted, but remained long enough to ascertain no one was hurt. The doctor himself says the cyclist rode slowly past him. The experience of the best riders here and at home all goe3 to show that the ring and rattle of a hurried dismount frightens a horsefar more than the course the 'cyclist pursued. Another charge against the 'cyclist is that ho could have taken the side road. A horseman might have, but at that place (if my memory serves me) you have tc drop over a bank, which is an exceedingly difficult, not to say impossible, matter. The circumstances of the accident were duly reported to our officials and investigated, and they cannot sea the 'cyclist was to blame, although they exceedingly regret the occurrence, and no one of them more so than, Yours, &c, Harold Nicholson-, Hon. Secretary A. A. 'Cycle Club. Auckland, loth April, 1892.