Bicycles
In the 1890s, the bicycle craze swept the nation. The newly-introduced safety bicycle made it so men and women of all ages could get around on two wheels. There were so many bicycles in Elmira that the city had detailed ordinances regulating where and when cyclists could ride their vehicles. The Eclipse Bicycle Company opened a factory in Elmira Heights in 1895 where it manufactured bicycles and bicycle parts. The Elmira Clipper Chilled Plow Company also produced bicycles. In the 1910s, automobiles were becoming the preferred mode of transportation, and by the 1940s bicycles were considered primarily children’s toys. Today, there is a resurgence in the use of bicycles as primary transportation.
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The Kanaweola Bicycle Club at Fitch’s Bridge, 1890s
Bicycling was a popular form of recreation for both men and women. Members of clubs such as the Kanaweola Bicycle Club participated in group rides to Rorick’s Glen, Big Flats, Horseheads, and Wellsburg. They also hosted picnics, social events, and organized races.
Seely's Bicycle Shop, c. 1895
In the mid-1890s, David W. Seely began selling bicycles, billiard tables, and billiard supplies in Elmira. By 1900, there were more than 25 bicycle dealers and repair shops in the city.
Women with their bicycles, 1895
Bicycles became a tool of the women’s movement in the early 20th century. The vehicles offered freedom to women who had been forced to rely on men for transportation; helped build confidence and physical fitness; and inspired changes in fashions towards ease of movement.
Eclipse Bicycle Company, c. 1900
The Eclipse Bicycle Company came to Elmira Heights in 1895. By 1899, it had phased out production of complete bicycles, but continued to manufacture coaster brakes and front hubs for bicycles through the middle of the 20th century.
Eldridge Park, Elmira, c. 1905
In 1899, the city of Elmira passed a new set of bicycle ordinances banning cyclists from riding on sidewalks unless the street was not paved, and requiring that they carry a bell or whistle to alert pedestrians if they were riding on sidewalks. A bicycle speed limit of 6mph was also enacted.