Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1894-08-24
GET WHATTHEY WISH
THE BICYCLE ORDINANCE CHANGED
TO PLEASE THE WHEELMEN.
They Point Ont the Objectionable Features
and the Corhmittec Omits Them-The
Work of Revision.

Work Of Revision
The bicycle ordinance was the topic OK
discussion before the Ordinance Coinmit-
tee Of the Council last night. That body
assembled in Room No. of the new CITY
Hall at 8 o'clock and held lengthy con-
ference with a large number OF wheei-
men, many Of whom represented the three
cycle clubs OF the city. concerning the
merits OF the machine and the restric-
tions that should be placed upon 1t. Ths
members OF the committee present were
Chairman Bloomberg, and Messrs, Car
ter. Boykin, Mitchell, and Mcdowell. ard
among the bicyclists In attendance were
Messrs. ]. C. Jones, John G. Lauer. Wal
ter C. Mercer, C. w. Dunstan, A. X.
Schaap. l.. c., l.. a. W.; Thomas Tig-
ror J. j. Derrick, J. f. Shaser. DR.. f.. L.
Baker, DR.. Blankenship. V. c., l.. a. W.;
Pat Cayner. William G. Long. John X.
Anderson, Jr, l.. A. W.; George w.
Smith. c. f. Grimmell. T. II. Tignor. NJ.
@. Young, ". G.. Mercer, l.. Il. Enslow,
j. S. Bosher, a. L. Jones. ID. ,. Bennett.
Professor Anton Schatzel, j. Stuart Hop
kins, and William J. Henning.
City-Clerk August read the bicycle or
dInance. of which Mr. l.. NJ. Noble. the
alderman from Marshall Ward, Is the
ratron. and 1t was decided iiiat the gen
tlemen Interested In the subject should
be heard.
CAPTAIN COKE AND MAJOR POE.
Mr.. Noble stated that at his suggestion
Major Poe hau been invited TO be present,
and that the latter suggested to captain
Coke. the codlier of the city ordinances.
some time ago to draw up an ordinance
regulating the riding OF bicycles.
Captain Coke explained his ordnance
which provided that each bicycle-rider
should have a bell and ring 1t constantly.
to be heard at a distance OF fifty yards
in the daytime. and at nighttime
lighted lamp which could be seen IL dis
tance of 2O0 yards should be used. 1t was
stated that that ordinance was not under
consideration, but the one which had been
introduced by MIR. Noble. Major Poe
stated that as long as he had held his
official position he had never received ANY
complaint in regard to bicycie-riding, ana
only one gentleman had spoken 10 MIN
on the subject. This was MIR. H. Y. Cam
non, who was now dead.
Mr.. Noble explained that his ordinance
had been suggested to him by a member
OF one of the clubs so as to regulate the
speed. The provisions in regard TO the
bell and lamp we're his own suggestions
because he had seen that they were re-
ouired in the city of Washington. In re-
gard to the danger Of bicycle riding under
existing circumstances, about hundred
cases could be summoned where accidents
had been caused by bicycle riders. When
II I,v nnvkfn bovr he Thought
the speed should be regulated, he replied
by the eye, and added that in his opinion
many riders went faster than eight miles
an hour.
Major Poe remarked that only one acci-
dent had come to his notice, and that was
| when Il lady had been knocked down and
| injured. In that case IL had not been pos
| sible to ascertain the name Of the rider.
THE LICENsE-TAX
| Mr.. Noble next spoke in regard to the
! license-taX which he said was so low
| that it would hardly reimburse the city
| for the imposed labor. but the object was
more to keep a record of the bicycle
! riders, and IL the wheels were provided
| with numbers the riders might be more
| easily identified in case Of an accident.
| Mr. Boykin desired to know what should
| be done with small machines ridden by
children. and Mr.. Noble replied that this
was for the committee to decide, and ad-
| ded that he knew that often baby-car
riages were a nuisance.
MIR. DUNSTAN'S VIEWS.
Mr.. Charles w. Dunstan was the first
| speaker on the part OF the bicycle riders,
ent form. They agreed that there should
be a regulation of the speed, but to re-
duce Il To six miles on u stra!ght-way
! course and to four miles when corners
were TO be turned was not satisfactory.
| The speed should be greater, especially
| ut street corners because II required a
| certain amount of speed 10 keep wheel
| balanced. The introduction Of n bell would
| proye a nuisance to tho citizens at large
on account Of their Instant noise. The
| lamps, which were required in the ordi'
| nance. would be source Of danger. fOi
| thev would scare horses. To impose q
tax upon bicycles seemed 10 be Tnreason-
able. because for other vehicles no taxes
| were required. The bicycle was persona
| property, and its owner was assessed
| for the same. There was no marx o
| Identification or number required toI
buggies. and pleasure-horSes, and II tn
latter should cause accidents, the owne
would have to be identified by othe
means. Mr.. Dunstan said he thought /
would be about right TO fix the speed
eight miles on straight course an
at five miles when corners had TO b
turned. although he personally would pre-
fer a limit of ten and five miles, ana /
WAS for the police 10 determine whel
this limit was exceeded The riders di
not want TO create "A nuisance, but woui
certainly do so if>they should CONSTANT,
ring bells He admitted there were tw
or three reckless riders In the city, wh
could be kept in boundaries by an ordl
nance regulating the speed.
CONTROL OF THE WHEEL.
Mr.. Schaap. who next addressed tn
, committee read from a paper which n
had carefully prepared a number OF ol
iectIons to the ordinance. He knew thf
the average rider had better control q
his wheel than the driver or rider OF
gentle horse He would always try
avoid a collision. for IL would bring aOo'
damage to the wheel, and possibly fra'
lures Of limbs. He cited several instance
where accidents had been caused In II
: city OF Washington By the ringing
bells, causing pedestrians to jump
the wrong siae. etc. 1t woulo not do
, carry lamps, for they would not ke'
. lighted on account Of the rough condiuc
of the pavements of the streets OF Kicl
mond He thought the speed should
, limited to twelve miles and to six mii'
for turning corners. Mr.. schaap ofere
; the same objection to taxation that M
Dunstan did.
MIR. w. G.. Long. who has been rid'
for Ten wears. was perfectly willing
/ have a regulation of the speed, but o
4 iected TO the eight-andfour-nile Inn
3 lie presented a petition from the liver
8 stable owners who asked that the claus
5 about the introduction OF bells and lam
5 he stricken out in the Interest or
owners of horses. The petition set for
), that the flash OF the light and the SOU
3 It was signed by every owner Of live
y stable in the city.
Mr. Long also thought the propos
!. ycense-tax to be unjust; he had foui
5 the same opinion TO prevail among pc