The evening times., 1896-06-12
THE CYCLERs' SIDE.
Anti Snail" Argues Against Recent
wheelnnn Legislation

Wheelnun Legislation,
Editor Times: Dear Sir: would like to
ask few questions through your valuable
columns anent the recent regulations 10Y
in regard to bicycles. II itsis necessary for
wbeelmen to ride as slow as eight miles
an hour why is 1T not necessary for the
street cars to run at the same rate, A.
great many OF us business men ride a wheel
because we can save time thereby and if
we are tn be restricted to a snail's pace
the prime feature of the wheel is removed
and we may as well get off and walk
There are about 40 900 riders of wheels i'm
TINS city and the proportion OF accidents
has been much less as compared with ac-
street cars.
The pedestrian is also frequently To
Diame. only this morning the writer, who
Is rider OF twenty years experience,
large man stepped out to the middle OF
the street. The writer attempted To mass
es,IIli Dehlnd him. when the pedestrian made
rignt aDouU 1ace, and 1t required all the
riders presence of mind to avoid a COLI
sion. II he had been knocked down a hue
and cry would have been made and the
law as eXemplifed by that dread tribunal.
the honorable Commissioners.
Again, Is 1t not just as dangerous for
southbound Seventh street cars to cross
Pennsylvania avenue without stoppinr IN
the north side OF said avenue as ii is for
wneeiinen 70 cross streets at the terrific
putC VI eiEbt llIiltS du UOuT. Again,
in the powe of the triunivirate I O sly'.how
many persons shall ride on one wheel or on
one vehicle" II a country swain comes
IN town WIN Two girls and himself in n
buggy VIII they, or he, he brought up before
our police court for contempt OF the repula-
tons? Shall the nurse wheeling twins in
one carriage he compelled to divide 'em up?
is IL proper for the Commissioners to AZ
tempt TO enforce such a regulation? Is il
not trespasslng on our rights as free Amer
lean CITIZENS? is IL not unconstit utional,
a h q ntr
child in proper seat firmly secured
To wheel. by "A competent rider rs not
at all dangerous: If the Commissioners
want To exercise their paterral solicifn,ie
In regard TO children, they will fipd large
scope Tor same in regulating baby carr wing
IN peramoulators by incompetent and
been manned Tor life by being upser nv
carele IS nurses than were ever injured oi
ever VIII he hy being ca rried on "A wheel
! know personally OF case where
cniiu OF TWO years OF age who was very
sickly was restored to health by being
taken out by its fatheI on the wheel and
getting the fresh air.
There are lots or dangers To which chill
dreD are subjected in city which could be
regulated and avoided II the triumvirate
could only get the red rag from in front
oi tncir eyes lOrg enough to see them-the
danger from undue speed OF vehicles: the
danger oi veiicies driving on wrong side of
street. the danger of tenders on street cars "A
loot above tracks. the danger OF fifteen
miles per hour by Ninth street cars: the dan
ger OF arbitrary Interpretation of regula-
tons III regard to stopping of cars on near
side OF street. as referred to above viz
Seventh street and Pennsylvania avenue.
There is danger of drivers GRO wding wheel
men from TIE rear and running them down.
as ~ tiie case OF the late Mr.. Paul. princi-
pal OF the High School, and also the killing
or rider recently in New York by a driver
running over him. 4
The worm will turn, and it is about time
that the Commissioners realized that wheel
men are not fiends incarnate. bent on the
slaughter of aged and infirm people, and
that wheelmen also are subjected to a
great many dangers and annoyances. Pc
destrians have IN unpleasant habit of dodg-
Ing out from behind vehicles and crossing
crowded thoroughfares without ever look
Ing TO see If anything is in the way; drivers
of public vehicles seem possessed of an in
sane desire to annihilate wheelmen and even
wheelwomen. All we asks fair threatment
and not too many restrictions too much care
Killed certain cat and too much care will
inIure the sport and also business.
Sincerely hoping that the Commissioners
VIII see The error of their ways and amend
regulations. sign myself,
ANTISNAII.