The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1896-05-17
Nv CONNECTICUT.
No General Legislation This Year. bu,
Many Local Ordlnn nces Pnased.

hnnY Local ordinances Passed.
HARTFORD. May 16.-The Connecticut Legis-
lature holds biennial sessions and did not meet
this year. Consequently all the legislation
affecting bicyclists which has been enacted this
| year consists of local ordinances. 1t is certain
that an effort will be made at tho legislative
session next year to pass a general law regulat-
ing bicycling in this Slate.
Attic session last year q bill was submitted
to the proper committee, requiring bicycles to
be equipped with bells and lanterns. Senator
Marigold was Chairman of the committee In
charge of the bill, and a day was set for n hear
ing. The committee waited for some one to APP
pear. but no one came, either to support or to
condemn til , measure. and the bill was killed.
At that time there was a very general discus
sion of the whole question by those interested
In bicycling, and the preponderance of opinion
seemed to be against the passage by the Legis-
lature of any bill. Considerable argument
was made in favor of a general State
law. Bridgeport ordinances. it was pointed
out, might require a cyclist to carry
a lantern at night. The next town might not,
and thus confusion might be caused that would
be obviated by a State law. Those who opposed
the bicycle bill said that 1t was drawn UP In the
interest of manufacturing concerns. The head
Of the l.. A.. w. at that time was Col. Charles l..
Burdett. and he did not believe that any great
hiN Wao W W utEtNtu IL uOIIlO
Of bells and such lanterns as were then manu-
featured. Joseph Goodman. editor of the Cvclist.
said the bill was a fraud and ought not to be-
come a law. There was evidently at this time
no popular demand for restrictive legislation.
At the present time bicycle restriction is being
agitated from one end Of the State to the other.
and the bicyclists themselves in many places
are foremost in championing suitable legisla-
ton. Such is the change in sentiment brought
about in twelve months. There have been many
accidents. some fatal. Tho humpbncked
scorcher has been abroad in the land. and he
has left q long trail of accidents and narrow es-
capes behind him. In Bridgeport the bicyclists
themselves were influential In getting an or
dinance passed requiring lanterns and bells. A
mon Council of Hartford and the Council re-
fused to pass II: II was argued that bells were
startled the pedestrian and caused him to step
right In the way Of the bicycle rider. No Ian
any utility to the rider or as a danger signal.
Al%ost every eity has passed through Its
W Siiyfle WaF an ars the in tb hast sby yea. Of snsrv dis%p,s aoa
at the present time, In Willimantic tho Board
Of Aldermen passed an ordinance regulating
speed. forbldding the use of the sidew alks. and
requiring bells and lanterns. The ordinance
was very rigid. and a stubborn fight was made
cidents have resulted from wheelmen riding on
very bitter fight in the Common Council. Two
weeks ago an ordinance was passed requiring
all wheelmen to have bells that could be heard
100 feet, and lighted lamps one hour after dark.
At this weeks meeting of the Council. the
wheelmen sent in . petition asking for the re-
peal of the ordinance. Citizens sent in another
petition asking that the ordinance be retained.
and the effort to have It repealed failed. The
next night nearly all the bicycles in town
turned out. carrying barn and Chinese lanterns.
lessor was arrested for riding without a bell. A
little later one, policeman arrested another for
the same reason. An effort Is making there
now to have the streets sprinkled at night. So
that there will be better riding during the day.
In Waterbury this week the ~bicyclers have
introduced an ordinance in the Council reQuir-
ing bells and lanterns, and 1t will be passed.
The wheelmen say that 1t has become necessary
to the bicyclists themselves to prevent reckless
riding. In most of the small towns the Select
men have passed orders either prohibiting or
restricting riding on the sidewalks. There Is
great temptation to mako use of the smooth
country. hut In many cases the regulations have
been riRidly enforced. So many towns have now
passed anti-sidewalk rules that sidewalks where
one can ride are as rare as imported trout brooks.
The building of bicycle paths has been talked
up repeatedly, but little has been done in this
direction. There is n good bicycle path of sew
eral miles out of GuilfOrd. built by local bicy-
clists, who use the road extensively. 1t is
probable that by next year Meriden and New
Haven will be connected by a bicycle path.
There has been talk of building a path from
Hartford to Springfield, but no steps have so
far been taken.
No efforts have been made In this State to Sc
cure free transportation of wheels on the rail