New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1894-10-07
THE BICYCLE ORDINANCE.
SHALL THE BROOKLYN POLICE CONsTRUE
IT LITERALLY?


RIDING oH SIDEWALKS AND sIDErATHs ~ TIE
UNPoPuLATED DISTRICTS NOT TO BE IL
TERFEnrD WITH At PRESENT.
One Of the city ordinances of Brooklyn provides
follows: "All persons hereby prohibited rom
riding using any bicycle. tricycle. or vehicle OF IKE
nature on the sidewalks OF any street in the city o.
Brooklyn, under a penalty Of s. for every offence.
This IL law that Is not enforced riSidy a,1d rightly
50. II 1t were no child would be allowed TO r.Ge
ytiocpede or tricycle. on the Sidewalk, ana mus d
pleasant form Of outdoor exercise would be cut OF
from all the children OF the city whose homes 90
not happen 10 be on or near streets surfaced with
asphalt Again. what does using a bicycle on me
sidewalk mean? When man is trund.ns Bis wheel
on the walk he is certainly putting 1t to some use
\ judicial construction Of the ordinance would seem
be necessary interpret its precise s!Snnc1ton
The question OF riding the sidewalk Is OF
special interest Of the annexation OF the
towns Of Flatbush. Gravesenl and Newt trecht.
1t happens tina; in all OF them numerous pleasant
streets for the bicycle-rder not paved nor pro-
vlded with roads tina. ara rdabe. while in many
there good s,depaths or sIdf"'Ika.
These are OF in the city. anu II the ordianc.
quoted were strictly enforced wneelmen would De
barrel from these streets. .'or example. the only
direct road from Brooklyn to Earn Beach and
Bensonhurs, is b. the Ocean Parkway to ParlviIle
and then by Eghteenth-ave. to Van Pelt Manor.
Below that point the avcnIe has been or is beng
made into a mlcaiam road. and the riding is good.
But for three miles from ParkVie there l. only a
sidepIth sidewalk, the latter covered WIN
gravel or broken stone. The road is GJIgh and
sandy-jds a common country road on that no
cycsi would tackle" except in cIs, o. diie nercs-
sity. The same is true Of the shore Road WhIcp,
i; is 10 be hoped viii cre long b. converted MO
nac boulevard. At present. unless NE wnee'm1h
takes the sidewalk from Foii Hamilton 10 lay
Ridge. the sidewalk ana y :ilrpa:h IN BAY is.dgr-
ave ami n sldepith in Fort Hamion-ave. all the
most picturesque ride 10 b. found within many
miles Of New York. The question Is. Sial the eity
The question vas put To- Police Commissioner
Wcles HIS reply was in substance: Il am in
favor OF a liberal Instruction Of the rule in such
cases. II would undoubtedly be Il hardship to Do
prvo bicycle riders "f the privilege OF us.nS side
walks and sidepaths in this annexed territory.
Trey would thus bee prevented from going TO many
places which they have been IA the habit OF reach
ing with ease. am told that in some Of the VII
lagos lately taken into Brooklyn. such - Bah
Beach there wee village ordinances forblddng tn
use Of the sidewalks and imposing penalty Oh az
offenders OF course all these rules wer" abroga,ed
when these places cane into thu city. and the
entire region IS now subject tn regulations that
govern ne rest OF the city am rot pr"pfteh -
make any accommodation In reference 10 a chang
IN tn orGnanc". nor have any oial ii,sfn ions
OF enforcing this ordinance. Bat Tho police ar
matters AMI II would not D. '"li"pn -sri.s 10 ar
rest a man Tor using sId"p'ih "u' 10 IN. o.-n
least idea that the justice before whom he was
taken %ouii inhci any penalty on MIN 80.
folcrmont of the ordnance requiring whecimcn ri;-
ing after dark :, b- provided with lighted lanterns
and that the police w"f" supposed t. enforce th'
RUE siiingcnNv A. a mater of fic; ~ j. often
in mis- ntiicr nan The mum pal p'.c u !. NJ ~,
an uncommon thins for 'fcl.ti t. ~" up To- VI,
il2ni his lantern for he knows perfectly WI that
hs viii not G~ - rnit:,l In ihr Pirk unrs ms pr
should b. enforced 'v-rywher- .n De- city.
slnc, the NJ" iue regarding uimg o. ne paths