Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1894-06-02

townway in the city of Augusta who shall
approach nearer than one hundred feet to
any person travelling or standing in such
street, road, highway or townway without
sounding bell shall be fined five dollars
for each offense.
This 10 easily the most absurd of all the
provisions of the ordinance. 1t simp-
ly forces wheelmen to equip their ma
chimes with electric bells with button on
the saddle, in order to procure in motion a
continuous ringing. In no other way could
the possessor of bicycle enjoy ride up
on any of the well travelled streets of our
city, for it is quite safe to say that there
would be no moment of time when he
would not be within zone hundred feet of
some person travelling or standing in such
street, highway, or townway." We do not
suppose, however, that this provision of the
ordinance designed to entail additional ex-
pense upon the unhappy owners of bicycles.
1t is charitable to presume that the idea
was for the wheelman threading his way
among the teams in the roadways of
our streets-to which he had been
consigned by the earlier sections
of the ordinance-to manage his handle
bars with one hand and keep up a contin-
uous ringing of his bell with the other. 1t
would take quite an expert rider to do this.
Imagine the average rider thus vending his
way through Water street. To avoid col
lision he is obliged to remove his fore finger
from his bell lever and grasp his handle
bars with both hands. He has saved
himself but in doing so has broken section
of the ordinance. The police at once
swoop down upon the unhappy wretch,
trembling in the abject consciousness of
his awful guilt, and bear him to the munich
pal court room, where he is forthwith
mulched Of five dollar bill. Society is
indicated and once more the earth moves
serenely on its circuit round the sun.
Sec. 5. Any person who rides bicycle
or tricycle. on any street, road, highway or
townway in the city of Augusta in the night
time without lighted lantern attached to
such bicycle or tricycle. in such manner
as to be plainly visible to persons travelling
in the opposite direction at distance of
one hundred yards shall be fined five dol
lars for each offense.
A number of business men have had their
bicycles supplied with wire bundle carriers,
and have found them great convenience
in carrying bundles to and from their
homes. To fit out their wheels with Ian
terms, would require these men to remove
their bundle carriers and put on lanterns
every time they desire to take short
ride after dark. This, it will readily
be seen, would subject these gentlemen to
no little and. it seems to me, needless an
noyance. When the bicycle rider is forced
to use the roadway and goes out after dark
without a lantern, he does so at his own
- k oo1tision fo with q
team he would be the one to suffer from it.
There is every reason to behave, there
fore, that he will be alert to avoid
accidents of this character, and the
fact that none have been reported shows
that the danger from this source is exceed
ingly small.
Sec. 8. When any person travelling with
a team is approaching to meet any person
travelling on bicycle or tricycle. on any
public way in the city of Augusta, such
person travelling with team and such per.
son travelling with bicycle or tricycle.
shall each seasonably turn to the right of
the middle of the travelled part of such
public way. When any person travelling
with team is about to be overtaken by any
person travelling on a bicycle or tricycle.
travelling in the same direction on any
street, road, highway or townway in the
city of Augusta, on request of such per-
son travelling on such bicycle or
tricycle. or on sound of his bell such person
travelling with team shall asonably turn
to the right of the middle of the travelled
portion of such way to permit such person
on such bicycle or tricycle. to pass without
interference or inconvenience. Whoever
violates any of the requirements of this
section shall be fined five dollars for each
offense.
This is the most commendable section of
the ordinance. There is no reason why
wheelmen should not have their rights upon
the public highway, with adequate means
for enforcing them.
have written freely upon this subject.
I think the passage of this ordinance by the
board of aldermen was hasty. The wheel
men of the city should at least have had
due notice and been given a chance to be
heard. As it stands it looks as if their side
of the question had received scant con-
sideration. WHEELMAN.