Telegram-herald., 1891-08-26
RIGHTS Oh 4 WHEILMAN
Some Things That Every Bicyclisl
should Understand.
A LAWYER'S VIEWS on The SUBJECT
w. n. Fsster OF Miiwaakss D~dacs the
Statutes and Gives Good Advice
The RIghts of the People Afoot
Read aud Reflect


with information for wheelmen, and
from which the following extracts are
given:
While there remains some ignorance
too, as i have misunderstanding
the rights and privileges of wheeimen
a few words upon the subject may be
OF use for nothing win do more 10
hasten the disappearance OF the now
fast-dying prejudice against cycling
and cylers than a thorough know.
ledge by cyclers OF their rights and a
courteous insistence upon them; and,
what is still more important, n thor.
ough regard lor the rights of those
who do not ride.
Although the highest courts in this
country have not passed upon this
question whether or not the bicycle
Is carriage, many OF the lower
courts have, following the English
decisions, given IL that status; and by
common consent IL is becoming TO be
considered a carriage, subject 10 the
same laws regarding the use OF high
ways as are carriages. / need, there
fore, say nothing upon its status as "A
vehicle. In regard to the use oil the
highway, what concerns wheelmen
most is the rights they have and what
duties deyolve upon them while on the
road, these rights and duties being
mostly in regard to meeting and pass
ing other vehicles. The Wisconsin
statue, which is similar to that of
many other states, Is as follows, (sec.
1891, ,R. s., Wis.,: Whenever any per
sons shall meet each other on any
bridge or road, travelling with car
riages, wagons, sleds, sleighs or other
vehicles, each person shall reasonably
drive his carriage or other vehicle 10
the right OF the middle OF the trav-
0led part Of such bridge or road, so
that the respective carriages or other
vehicles aforesaid may pass each other
without interference" The question
arises: What is the Travelled part?
From being with wheelmen on the
road / know that many OF them think
the Travelled part means that part
which ia beaten down into track
by hoofs and wheels. Such, however,
Ia not the case. 1t has been decided
by the courts that 1.-THE Travelled part
means that part which Ia wrought Tor
travelling, not any track which may
happen to be made by vehicles"
1t follows that although this track
may be the only part OF the road that
is ridable (Which we all know, alas,
is too often the case on our American
roads,. it is the duty OF wheclman,
upon meeting a vehicle, he being in
this Travelled track but on the wrong
side of the center OF the wrought or
worked part OF the road, TO give up
the whole of this Travelled track, even
II he Is obliged TO dismount to do SO.
In practice this will seldom be found
necessary, for as a rule, drivers, es-
pecially farmers ard country people,
arc courteous enough to give wheel
men. when practicable. part OF the
beaten track. The same rule as TO
giving way applies, OF course, to
carriages upon the wrong side OF the
road, when meeting bicycles. The law
OF the road applies as well to streets
ms TO country highways, subject to
such reasonable regulations rs the
municipal authorities may enact.
These regulations would be regarding
speed of riding, coasting. riding on
sidewalks and the use of bells and
lanterns.
Respecting fast riding: A bicycle Is
so easily controlled, turned to right
or left or stopped suddenly, l am not
prepared to say that rate of speed
improper for horse and carriage
would not be proper for II.
And regarding coasting: While IL
Is one OF the most pleasant and ex-
hilcrating parts of road riding, on
steep inclincs In cities its practice is
rcprehensible. to say the least. More
bicycle accidents occur through coast
Ing In cities than in any other way.
There Is question connected with
the use OF streets which Is not likely
to arise concerning country roads.
viz. the right OF bicycle riding on
sidewalks.
The sidewalk is that portion OF
the street or highway dedicated to
the use OF pedestrians. No carriage
has right there. and the bicycle b ing
n carriage. II is very doubtful whether
n municipality can. by ordinance or
otherwise. give cyclers any right to
ride on the sidewalks.
Some of you may have asked your
be subjected to the payment Of toll
upon toll roads and whether they
can be excluded from such roads.
The answer to the first question
would depend upon the charter OF the
turnpike company; hut In all proba-
hility the charter would he broad
enough 20 cover all ciasses Of carriag-
o. or vehicles. In which case the toll
could be levied upon bicycles.
In anxwce 20 the second question.
LET me- quote from decisions upon the
subject: Turnpike roads form a class
OF highways upon which the com
many operating them has right 90
got up gatrs and levy tolls. tdrn-
pike Is nevertheless a public easement.
and every traveller. on paving the ie-
gal rate of toll. is entitled 10 nae n .
Every traveller has the same right
TO rfs II upon payment of the toll
cs,f ahlished hy law. as he wonld have
- rsse anv other public highway.
Referring 70 earning bicycles or
raflroads-sorne wheelmen. have
heard 81 said. labor under The idea
that railroads carry bicveI.~ FREE Ne
cas1se every person Is entitled 20 trans
portAtion. without pay. ~ = certain
arnopnt of hagrage BIcvelcs ard
baggage have no further reiation 20
each other than thst they begin with
the same letter. and n wheelrnan "
no more entitled 20 have hss wheel
-arrSef free than he would his horse
and buggy.
Two years avo the Western Pas
srnxr- association car7h within one
xesfe ~ refBsin ny 20 carry wheels f-ee.
and many railroads In the country
a. s0 refaee.
- -. !. sln<.rnis.-. "a L. LII -