The record-union., 1895-05-18
ENFORCING BICYCLE ORDINANCES.
Several Riders Fined for Not Carry
ing Lights.
The Wheelmen Make Ludlcrous
Night Demonstration Several
More Arrests Made.

Lester Young, T. ". McAuliffe. w. L.
Rennie, G. B. Kimball and Fred Germ
senhausen pleaded guilty in the Police
Court yesterday to riding bicycles at
night without lights or bells.
+. G. Smith had also been charged with
the same offense, but as the arresting
officer stated that he was at the time
walking on the sidewalk with his bicycle
the charge against him was dismissed, on
motion of the City Attorney.
L. S. Upson made plea for the
bicyclists, most of whom, he said, did
not know of the ordinance, or If they
did, thought because it had never been
enforced since it's passage in December,
1S93 that it would not De enforced. DE
thought that if some copies OF the ordi-
nance could be displayed in public
places, that riders would know what The
law was and would obey 1t.
Justice Davis said that he thought
probably this wholesale arrest would
have the effect of calling attention to the
ordinance and that bicycle riders would
probably take care to obey it hereafter.
He fined the cyclers S5 each, which they
paid and departed, vowing that they
would hereafter carry headlights and fog
at crossings.
AS sample of how good a chance
there is for people to know what the ordi-
nances are, when City Attorney Brown
wanted to draw the complaints he
wished to examine the ordinance, he
asked Chief of Police Drew for it. The
Chief replied that he had never been fur
nished with copy. There was none to
be found in the office of the Police udge,
and finally a telephone message to the
Clerk OF the Board of Trustees elected
the fact that there was only one copy to
be had, and that was a newspaper clip
ping which had been pasted into his
book, and he would not allow that to
go out of his possession until he had re-
ceived promise that 1t should be re-
turned.
Even the police force, who are expected
to know and enforce the ordinance, had
not clear idea of its provisions until
they read the Mayors letter OF yesterday
directing the Chief to enforce it.
wHEELMEN's MISTAKE.
A large number OF bicycle riders pa
raded the streets last night. Some carried
big railroad lanterns strapped to the
fronts OF their machines, others rang cow
bells and others still blew terrible blasts
from variety of ill-tuned and inhar-
mOnlOuS horns.
The object of the young men was evil
IDENTIFY to Durlesque the ordinance requir-
ing riders OF bicycles to display lights or
either ring bells or blow horns at street
crossings to warn persons of their ap-
proach.
Captain of Police Greene and Officers
Ash, rutherford and Hardy arrested Ii.
i. Nichols, James Mckay, j. ID. Lord
and j. Green for violating the ordinance.
1t is charged that they Jailed to display
lights, ring bells or blow horns while
riding on the streets.
The demonstration last night was very
amusing one, TO be sure. but it was i'll
exceedingly bad taste. The ordinance is
proper one, and no law-abiding citizen
should seek 10 evade it. Any person who
can afford to pay from $50 to 500 for
bicycle can certainly afford to buy q
small lantern to be attached thereto, also
IL little gong, and no one should be al
lowed to travel on a bicycle through the
streets at night without these necessary
safeguards against accidents
There is a great deal OF talk in some
cities about bicyclists being so numerous
that they can control political parties and
The local lawmaking bodies, but that is
not the case in Sacramento. The wheel is
becoming very popular, to be sure, and
people are riding who year ago did not
believe they could ever be induced to
mount bike" but the wheelmen are
not SO numerous here that they can afford
10 offer obstruction to or try To bring rldi-
cule upon wise and just local laws.
While those engaged in last nights
lantern-and-hOrn parade evidently
thought they were doing something very
funny, they were in fact pursuing a
course that may result in the passage of
local restrictions that would prove very
embarrassing.
The right tning for all wheelmen to do
is TO obey the law, and not only obey it
but show that they respect it. Any other
course will only serve to lose them the
support and sympathy of the better class
OF citizens.
AS TO THE ORDINANCE.
There seems to be a wide diversity of
opinion about town as to the real pro-
visions OF the ordinance under which ar
rests are being made. Some contend
that rider must carry a light and also
sound either bell or a horn on approach
ing street crossings.
This Is what the ordinance did provide
prior to December is, 1893, when it was
amended SO as to provide that bicycle
rider must either have light at night, or
ring bell, or blow horn on approach
ing street crossings. Unless it was since
amended-which does not appear to be
the case-it is optional with riders which
device they shall use.
The arguments made before the Trus-
tees when the matter was up for consider
alton show clearly why the ordinance
was amendad as stated. 1t was owing to
numerous objections urged against the
use OF lights.
ADJUSTMENTS