Springfield Bicycle Directory and Raider's Hand-Book

Springfield Bicycle Directory and Raider's Hand-Book cover
Published1891
Chapters11

Contents

Reprints Chapter 93 of the General Statutes of Massachusetts on the law of the road, setting out the rules for travelers meeting and passing one another with carriages and other vehicles (keeping to the right of the middle when meeting, passing to the left), the penalty for offenders, and the time limits for bringing complaints and damage actions.
A legal discussion arguing that a bicycle is a carriage under the law, citing dictionary definitions, common-law court decisions in America and England, and named cases and ordinances, and concluding that the general laws governing travel on the public highways apply equally to wheelmen.
Sets out the road rules from the bylaws of the Springfield Bicycle Club, numbered points covering attention to others' rights, cautionary hand signals, passing to the right and overtaking on the left, avoiding sidewalks, and observing courtesy, followed by an essay on the courtesy of the road.
Describes popular short rides out of Springfield, giving directions, distances from Court Square, and notes on road quality for outings such as the St. James Avenue Dry Bridge and the Holy Smoke Spring.
Describes Forest Park as the most popular Sunday ride, noting that coasting and scorching are forbidden and that the roads are narrow and full of sharp curves, and gives the recommended route there along with longer trips to points such as Mt. Tom, the Southwick Ponds via Westfield, and Mt. Holyoke.
Lays out two routes from Springfield to Hartford, on the east and west sides of the Connecticut river, with turn-by-turn directions, distances, and notes on road and side-path conditions, and adds side excursions including one to Newgate Prison and another to Monson by way of Palmer.
An alphabetical directory of Springfield riders, listing each person's name, street address, and the make and number of the bicycle they ride.
A directory of West Springfield riders (with a nearby Brightwood listing), giving each rider's name, address, and the make of bicycle owned.
A directory of Ludlow riders, listing each person's name together with the make of bicycle they ride.
A directory of Warren riders (with an adjoining West Warren listing), giving each rider's name, address where noted, and the make of bicycle owned.
Lists the local bicycle clubs with their officers and members, including the Springfield Bicycle Club (with resident and nonresident members), the Armory Hill YMCA Bicycle Club, the Springfield Ladies' Cycle Club, the Holyoke Bicycle Club, and the Thompsonville YMCA Bicycle Club.