I found this on a Smithsonian site about DC - as part of there America on the Move display:
Cycling quickly became a popular way to get around the city, and on weekends many bike enthusiasts went for rides in the country. In the 1890s, bicyclists played a major role in lobbying for road improvements.
Things haven't changed much.
Another clip from the same site:
Around 1900, trucks and automobiles began to appear on city streets. Only the wealthy owned cars, which were used mostly for recreation and short trips.
And so the worm turns...
Posted by: Mike Plakus | February 20, 2006 at 11:53 AM