On Sun, 23 Jun 2019 23:44:34 -0700 (PDT), Chalo
wrote:

Horatio Earle, who was known as "father of Good Roads", put it this way in 1929:

"I often hear now-a-days, the automobile instigated good roads; that the automobile is the parent of good roads. Well, the truth is, the bicycle is the father of the good roads movement in this country."

I do think that motorists sponged off the efforts and resources of others then, as they still do today-- abusing privileges and spaces intended for others and generating destructive externalities in the process.

Yes, Earle is quoted as saying that and he was a farm equipment
salesman.

In 1898 he was appointed by Edward N. Hines, Chief Consul of the
League of American Wheelmen (LAW) Michigan Division to chair a Good
Roads committee. And appeared to make that a political football that
he apparently used to promote himself.

1900: Elected to the Michigan Senate as an LAW candidate;
1901: Introduces a Michigan Senate Resolution which creates a State
Highway Commission and is subsequently elected as chair;
1901: Introduces a Michigan Senate Resolution which creates a State
Highway Commission and is subsequently elected as chair.
1902: Proposes the Federal Government create an interstate highway
system. Note the U.S. Interstate Highway system was authorized by the
Federal Aid Highway Act of 1956.
1902 founds the American Road Makers (later to be renamed the American
Road Builders Association (1910), and since 1977, known as the
American Road and Transportation Builders Association) which advocates
"strong government investment in transportation infrastructure".
1903: Appointed Commissioner of Highways by Michigan Governor Aaron T.
Bliss.
1906: Introduces legislation that creates the Wayne County Road Board
whose initial members are Cass R. Benton, Henry Ford, and Edward N.
Hines.
1908: Loses gubernatorial Republican primary.

In 1909 he apparently claimed to have created the first mile of
concrete road on Woodward Avenue in Detroit. Unfortunately several
others have claimed the same thing and are born out by history: In
1891, the first concrete street in American was built in
Bellefontaine, Ohio. But perhaps the Bellefontaine road wasn't quite a
mile long?

Or if one prefers a bit older road we have "The first concrete
pavement in the world was built in Inverness, Scotland, in 1865. Some
of the concrete pavement laid in Edinburgh, Scotland, in 1872 is still
in use today".

In his later years he unsuccessfully ran for mayor of Detroit in 1912
and in 1920 he lost the Republican primary for Governor.

He was vice-president of the Detroit Newsboys Association for 25 years
We have a fellow here that appears to have embarked on a similar path
by advocating bicycle paths and makes similar grandiose statements...
--
cheers,

John B.