Cycling in San Francisco Circa 1905

[EPOJoe]

You think cycling in a big city is crazy now? In 1905, Market street was totally out of control. Notice how the bikes are traveling just as fast as the autos.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NINOxRxze9k

[bironi]

Thanks for the post. It's a nice peek back. :beer:

[ti_boi]

I read that in 1890 there were over 300 firms building bikes in America. All of whom were competing to corner the burgeoning marketplace!

[Matt-H]

Loved that footage with the Air track. Thanks!

[MattTuck]

Thanks for posting, very interesting.


Lots of that stuff wouldn't be tolerated today, in terms of running out in front of a street car, and driving across the road quickly, etc.

That's what roughly 100 years worth of traffic laws will do.

[PoppaWheelie]

Unbelievable...thanks for sharing...

[daker13]

I read that in 1890 there were over 300 firms building bikes in America. All of whom were competing to corner the burgeoning marketplace!

The American bike industry went bust in the early 1890s due to overproduction so even ten years later there were much fewer companies.

[jvp]

I expected to see fixed wheels.

[Matt-H]

Thanks for posting, very interesting.


Lots of that stuff wouldn't be tolerated today, in terms of running out in front of a street car, and driving across the road quickly, etc.

That's what roughly 100 years worth of traffic laws will do.


Interestingly, some of that stuff is being tolerated today as part of the "psychological traffic calming" movement:

http://www.wired.com/wired/archive/12.12/traffic.html

[RADaines]

Interesting article, thanks for posting. It is a nice dream, but it would require that people pay attention to what they are doing while driving. I guess I am a cynic, but we can hope. :)

[ignaz]

I ride that stretch almost daily at many times of day. It makes me appreciate some of the modern traffic features like pedestrian islands for MUNI passengers and traffic lights. It makes me nostalgic for the pace of motion back then.

These days you just have to dodge chickenheads and dudes rolling wheelchairs backwards across your path on certain stretches. These hazards are beyond the purview of the SFBike Coalition however.

[Ken Robb]

The American bike industry went bust in the early 1890s due to overproduction so even ten years later there were much fewer companies.

I wonder if that's why those Wright Brothers in Ohio had to find a new product line. :rolleyes: Nah, they were just crazy. :banana: