The San Francisco call., 1895-11-14
NOT a WELCOME MEASURE.
Bicycle Riders in General Claim This
Is Great Hardship on
Them.


call OF the president of the California AS
sociated Cycling Clubs, and all the promi-
nent clubs of the City and unattached
wheelmen were represented. City At
torney CreswelI presided and George P.
Wetmore acted as secretary. A general
discussion was held as to the require
ments OF the proposed ordinance, and a
subcommittee, consisting of Frank II.
herrlgan, L. r. Ellert, Charles A. Adams,
Henry F. Wynne and Supervisor Hlrsch,
together with Mr.. Creswel and Mr.. Wet
more, met at Mr.. Ellert's office on October
80 and drafted an ordinance in keeping
with the expressions of the meeting held
at the Olympic Club, which was pub
ilshed in THE CALL on the following dav.
rms proposed ordinance. thoroughly
suited the wheelmen of the City, and in
justice to them be it said that it was
drafted by them with the view and in the
hope that 1t would suit the public and the
law makers as we'll. But since it was
printed 1t has been found necessary to
make several material changes, so that the
original trainers of it will hardly recognize
their handiwork.
Chief OF Police Crowley did not think
the restrictions on the bicycle riders were
sufficient and on Novem ber Z indited the
following letter to the Board of Super
visors:
Gentlemen: The San Francisco CALL of Octo-
Der 81 publishes the draft OF an ordinance to
regulate and govern the use of bicycles on the
public streets
This proposed ordinance permits the riding
OF bicycles and vehicles of that character over
street-croSslngs within rtain limits at q speed
OF seven miles per hour.
respectfully submit that the rate of speed
over crossings should not exceed four miles
per hour, the rate at which other vehicles are
allOWeu 10 travel over crossings.
The proposed ordinance makes it optional
with the rider to carry at night lighted lamp,
or bell or warning whistle which must be
sounded while passing over street-crossing-
L respectfully submit that the carrying on
bicycle OF lighted lamp after dark and the
sounding of a bell or whistle while approach
ing and passing over s1reet-crossings should
be made obligatory, and the bell and whistle
to be sounded during the day when approach
Inc or passing over q crossing. Very respect
fully. p. CROWLEY, Chief OF Police.
These suggestions have been embodied
in the draft OF ordinance as changed, save
that the rate of speed over crossings has
been fixed at six miles an hour, it being
generally admitted that it would be most
difficult for bicyclist to ride at the rate of
four miles and maintain his balance.
The ordinance, in fact, has been thor
oughly overhauled and amended, and now
reads as follows:
Order No. =. Providing regulations to be
observed in the use OF bicycles, bicycle tandems
and vehicles and machines OF O similar char
acter.
The people of the City and County OF San
Francisco do ordain as follows:
RATE OF sPEED-wHIsTLEs TO BE BLOWN.
Section l. No person shall immoderately,
carelessly or negligently ride drive bicy-
Gle, bicycle tandem or other vehicle or machine
OF similar character upon or along any pub
lie street or highway; or at rate OF speed
faster than six (6) miles per hour over or upon
any street-crossing or intersection; nor at any
time without having warning whistle, which
must be blown while approaching and passing
over street-crossing or intersection, or when
approaching pedestrians who may be on or
passing over the roadway OF any street.
PROHIBITING scoRcHING OR coAsTING.
Sec. 2. No person shall ride or drive bicy-
Gle, bicycle tandem or other vehicle or ma
chine OF similar character upon or along any
public street or highway unless the feet of the
person so riding or driving shall be kept on
the pedals OF the machine at all times while
the machine is i'll motion, the practice of
scorching or coasting being hereby Inhibited.
USE OF LAMPS
Sec. 3. No person shall ride or drive bicycle,
bicycle tandem, or other vehicle or machine
of similar character on any street between
one-half hour after sunset and one hour
before sunrise without having attached thereto
and in front thereof a lighted lamp in good
order and condition.
RIDING PROHIBITED on SIDEWALKS.
Sec. 4. No person shall ride or drive bicycle
bicycle tandem or other vehicle or machine of
similar character upon or along the sidewalk
OF any pubic street or hlgnWay within the
City and County.
PROHIBITING THE CARRIAGE OF CHILDREN.
Sec. 5. No person riding or driving bicycle,
bicycle tandem or other vehicle. or machine OF
similar character shall carry on the same
upon or along the streets, highways or public
grounds of this City and County any child
under the age of ten (10) years.
RIDERS SHALL KEEP TO THE RIGHT.
Sec. q. Any person using and propelling
bicycle, or bicycle tandem or any similar ma
chine shall keen IN the right of the ppnfpr of
the roadway OF the street and shall keep to the
right at all times when approaching and pass
ing vehicles.
CHIEF OF POLICE TO ENFORCE.
Sec. T. The Chief of Police is hereby charged
with the duty and required to enforce the pro-
visions of this order.
PENALTY.
Sec. 8. Any person violating the provisions
OF this order shall be guilty OF q mlsdemeanor
an be punished by fine not exceeding five
hundred ($500) dollars or Imprisonment in
the County Jail of this City and County not
exceeding six f6) months, or by both such fine
and imprisonment.
The majority of riders will object to the
ordinance requiring them to carry lamp
at nighttime. All sorts OF arguments are
raised against it and 1t has lew friends
among the active cyclists. Lamp are con-
tlnuaily blowing out, the wick is Jared
down into the oil or other illuminant, the
smell of oil is sickening, the oil spills over
wheel is blinding-these are but few of
It's drawbacks. Lamps were thoroughly
tried in the East and are being discarded,
the Massachusetts Legislature having gone
SO far as to forbid wheelmen carrying
them, on the basis that while lamp in
sured riders safety from being run into
by others, it made him very dangerous and
a menace to the public's safety, because
the glare in front blinded the rider. Again,
a man will ride more recklessly with
lamp than without one, feeling more Sc
cure from being run into and taking
chances as to others safety.
1t has been estimated that there are
from fifteen to twenty thousand wheel
men in this City. On an extremely
pleasant Sunday about two months ago
over 1000 entered the park by actual
| count. The number who went into the
country was not estimated, but must have
| been enormous as country riding is more
attractive to the average wheelman in
good weather than a spin in the park.
These riders will not take kindly to the
| new ordinance. From the expressions
heard at the meeting at the Olympic Club
! only one delegate was in favor of a lamp
or lantern, and bell or whistle was
offered aS a suhctit,ltq That meefinU yyaS