Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1894-06-04
BICYCLE ORDINANCE.
II Has Aroused the Interest Of the
WheeImen.
-. isurnal Interviews Wheeimsn and CHI.
zens on This Question.


and has aroused interest, both among the
vbeelmen and also citizens who are not BIZ
cycle riders. The order presented to the
city government and the communication in
Saturdays JOURNAL have been read BY
many.
A JOURNAL reporter called upon several
vheelmen and citizens, Saturday, to learn
their views in reference to the matter. F.
+. Southland, deputy city clerk, said he was
uresent when the order was read in the
.ldermens room, and thought it was rank
on the wheelmen.
C. H. Blackington, one of the wheelmen,
was seen, and asked what his opinion was
10 reference to the subject. GAS a bicycle
rider would have no objection to riding
in the streets if they were smooth, but dur
iup the past week there has been hardly a
d,y when person could ride wheel down
State street, and in fact there are but few
Of the streets which are in fit condition for
riding q wheel with ease and comfort. To
be sure, am in the business Of furnishing
bicycle equipments, but l really think it
proper for every wheel to be furnished
with bell and lantern. At night it
10 difficult to get along the street
safely without at best narrowly escaping
being run into or running into someone,
and another reason in favor of the lantern
10 that between the electric lights it seems
really darker than it is, owing to the glare
Of the lights dazzling one a. he passes un-
der them and the teams being higher than
the bicycle rider there is danger of q COL
lssion because it is difficult to see each
other. think the matter Of speed in the
ordinance was weak, as man can walk
faster than the rate named there"
The reporter met Gen. w. s. Choate and
asked him his views on the matter. He
said:
aft stands just like this, there are some
riders who are reckless, and have little re-
gard for ANYBODY but themselves. 1t is
these who are causing the most trouble.
We would need no ordinance for fast driv-
ing if it was not for the reckless drivers
Attorney C. w. Jones said, 81 think they
should move little slow and easy at first,
not dash at the matter. No bad accidents
have resulted from riding on the sidew alks,
no petitions have been presented to the city
government. Many things in the ordinance
we're little Off"
Capt. II. F. Blanchard was seen and
asked what he thought Of the question.
"Well, l think the pedestrian has some
rights in the matter which should be recog-
nized. If the bicycle rider will need map
with colored lines to designate the streets
upon which to ride, it seems to me that the
pedestrian will need map also to show the
dangerous streets, as one will be nearly as
unsafe as the other. Many of the riders
are extremely careless. The other day l
saw an old lady knocked down by fellow
on bicycle, and he did not ring his bell at
all, probably had none, and when the old
lady fell he did not dismount to see what
damage he had done, but applied his
strength to getting out of sight as soon as
possible"
In answer to the reporters question G.
U. Vickery, wheelman, said 81 think
the lantern good thing, also the bell. In
other cities they use them. If the bicycle
riders are not to be allowed to ride on the
principal and best sidewalks, 1 say keep
them of all of them. The rate of speed
named in the ordinance was unreasonable,
I" it would be difficult to ride wheel at so
slow rate and besides we do not have BIZ
cycles for that purpose"
Benedict Maher said: 81 think some
parts of the ordinance were absurd. The
clause relative to the lantern and bell were
all right and l think every
wheel should have them. In other
cities they are used. In the thickly popu-
lated streets think the riders should not
occupy the sidewalks. The rate of speed
named and the ringing of the bell at so
many feet were Objectionable points of the
ordinance"
General Gallagher was asked what he
thought about the question. ~ think the
sidewalk is for pedestrians and that the BIZ
cycles should run in the streets, and even
Then with precaution. There should be
some limit to the rate of speed in the prin-
opal streets, and after dark every wheel
should have lantern"
Attorney Joseph Williamson, Jr., said,
u think the part of the ordinance in refer
ence to keeping them off the sidewalks 10 a
good thing. The other day took some chill
aren out to walk and was obliged to rescue
'nem several times from being run over by
bicycle riders"
The city marshal said, "The bicycle riders
snde along much faster than they think,
@nd there are some riders who are very
careless. Every wheel should have Ian
~fn and bell. The wheelmeu have but
n''ie reason to cry on account Of the ex-
pense. When they have expended Sl25 or