The record-union., 1896-04-25
new WHEELWAY ORDINANCE.
The Supervisors Pass One for Protecting
the Bicycle Path.
Mischievous Boys and Men Must No
Longer Ruin It With Their
Horses Hoofs.

AT yesterdays meeting of the Board
of Supervisors Chairman Morrison, by
request, introduced the following ordi-
nance:
Section l. It is hereby declared to be
unlawful for any person or persons to
drive or lead horses, cattle or other
stock, or to draw, push or drag any
wheeled vehicle, drag, sled, cart or other
vehicles over or upon or along any
"wheelway," path on sidewalk con-
structed by or with consent of the
Board of Supervisors of Sacramento
County along any public road or high
way in said county; provided that the
wheeling Of bicycles or tricycles along
or over such wheelways, sidewalks or
paths shall not be deemed an offense.
Section 2. Violation of the provisions
OF this ordinance will be deemed a mis-
demeanor, and upon conviction there
for the offender shall be punished by
imposition of a fine Of So or imprison-
ment in the County Jail for five days,
or by both such fine and Imprisonment.
Mr.. Morrison said the wheelmen
were entitled to recognition. They use
vehicles that form a considerable prop
erty interest. 1t is best that they wheel
off of the highway when they can have
separate paths. These paths are excel
lent for pedestrians also. Therefore it
is right to prohibit the use of the paths
for any purpose foreign to them. He
had word from the District Attorney
that that officer could discover no rea-
son why the ordinance should not be
passed if the board wished it.
Committee of the wheelway to Folsom
addressed the board and said that the
path was now practically finished
After this storm, of course, it will have
to be dragged over and repaired. It is
convenience to pedestrians. The peo-
pie along the route are glad it has been
constructed. Over much of the route
it follows the county road, but is away
to one side of it. 1t is an earth path
and to drive vehicles on it or ride horses
on 1t, or drive stock over it, will ruin it
and render it useless to either pedes-
trians or wheelmen. The committee
therefore, asked that the ordinance pro-
posed be passed. There is a good wagon
way on the whole route, and there is
no need whatever to drive or ride wag-
ons and stock on the wheelway. He
thought the board had a right to pro-
hlbit its use for any purposes except
those for which constructed Suppose
the board made good cutters each side
permanent road and people drove
wagons and horses in them to their in
jury the board would have been
bound to forbid it. This Is an analogous
case. The country people do not wish
the path driven upon any more than do
the wheelmen. The offenders now are
mainly from the city-boys and mis-
chievous fellows who ride on it for
pure cussedness. He cited cases in
other counties where Supervisors have
provided for a side path for pedestri-
ans and bicyclists, and said this one had
been made without county expense, and
was an accommodation to a large class
in the community that should not be
ignored.
Each Of the members of the board ex-
pressed himself favorably to the ordi-
nance, saying it was reasonable and in
the public interest. The vote was then
taken and the ordinance unanimously
adopted
In behalf Of the Capital City Wheel
men and the Construction Committee,
Mr.. Woodson then thanked the board
as body for its consideration and re-
cognition of the wheelmen, and for per-
mitting the wheelway to be laid out and
maintained. The clubs thanks were
also especially due to Supervisor Cur
tbs for kindly aid and for the use of
road-making implements. He assured
the board that the wheelmen We're fully
sensible of their obligations TO the
board, and likewise to the farmers and
country people for just recognition.
They asked for no special privileges,
but simply for protection of simple
rights, and Sacramento County had ac-