Ninety-nine years later and bicyclists are facing the same issues Tom Swift faced in the first chapter of the  first book of the popular series, Tom Swift and His Motor Cycle, or, Fun and Adventure on the Road.

Aggressive driving.

Cyclists’ rights to the road.

Hat’s off to Tom Swift for keeping such a calm demeanor.

From the 1910 book which is freely available via Project Gutenberg:

As the boy spoke, the breeze, created by the speed at which the car was traveling, lifted off his cap, and sent it whirling to the rear.

Andy Foger turned for an instant’s glance behind. Then he opened the throttle still wider, and exclaimed:

“Let it go, Sam. We can get another. I want to see what time I can make to Mansburg! I want to break a record, if I can.”

“Look out, or you’ll break something else!” cried a lad on the rear seat. “There’s a fellow on a bicycle just ahead of us. Take care, Andy!” (more…)