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The NEW BERN
PUBLISHED WEEKLY
IN THE HEART OP
!RN NORTH
-'Si-gsty
VOLUME 15
NEW BERN, N. C. 28S60, FRIDAY, MAY 12, 1972
NUMBER 9
Yesterday was when, a
hindred years ago, Ne^ Bern
and the nation had its firat
Ucycle craze. Pew could afford
bites imported from Engl^,
but Pope Manufacturing
in 1078.
It started producing
Columbia bicycles, and the
same firm still turns out
Columbias today. If you’re a
senior citizen, yours in bwbood
carried this trademark, or
maybe you had a Crown,
Ranger, or Gold Medal.
There are now 73 million
Ucycle riders in America, and
sales in 1972 are expected to
exceed the 10 million mark. For
the first time since 1897, it is
said, bike saies may top
automobile sales this year.
“Our industry,” says John
Auerbach, executive director oi
the Bicycie Institute of
America, "has whole, new
classes of riders, adults and
youngsters alike. They are no
longer content with a simple
ride around the block.”
As Auerbach points out,
“Tliey want to go places and do
thinte, and since cars hog the
use of highways, riders are
demanding equal access to road
space. They want recreational
bikeways ted scenic trails.
And in big cities, workers are
demanding commuter rottes
for bicycles. Rep. Edward I.
Koch of New York has in
troduced a bill in Congress to
use some of the Federal
gasoline tax for special lanes on
existing road.
Nine states have introduced
bills in their own legislatures
patterned after a law already
passed in Oregon. It provides
that 1 percent of the highway
tax collected by the state be
used for bicycle trails.
Rest assured that the
politicians aren’t shrugging oU
the demands. There are an
awful lot of votes among 73
million bike riders, and no one
knows it better than those
seeking office, or trying to stay
in office.
To say that bicycle riders in
heavy automobile traffic can be
a menace to themselves, and a
nitetmare to motorists is a
gross understatement. The
average kid on a bike is as
unixteictable as a chicken on
the loose.
Unless provision is made for
separate routes, the time may
not be distant when citations
for recklessness may have to be
handed out. We hope this never
has to happen, but don’t
discount the possibility.
Here in New Bern it used to be
unlawful to ride a bicycle on a
sidewalk, and so far as we know
the law is still on the book. It
isn’t enforced, and few would
care to push small children out
on streets and highways.
Maybe we’re getting overly
timid in old age, but it scares us
to see a child on a bike in heavy
traffic. In fact, it doesn’t add to
our peace of mind to observe an
adidt out there among cars,
trucks and motorcycles.
Back in our boyhood days it
was somewhat different. Iiiere
were fewer automobiles,, and
(Continued on page 8)
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WE NEED YOUR HELP-The rare photographs
we have been running from what we*ve dubbki the
Albert D. Brooks Collection have inspired search
ing by others. Our friend, Louis (Goat) Gautier,
came across the photo seen here, but like us he
can’t identify it. Some of you gals are bound to
recognize yourself among the costumed ladies who
appear to be on the steps of the Craven County
Courthouse, or maybe you aren’t in the picture but
know somefme who is. Give us the lowdown, and
we’ll pass it along to our readers. Once again we
express our appreciation to those far and near who
are showing keen interest in our efforts to get into
print for mass enjoyment these relics of the past.