The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1897-03-24
LsPRcIAI. TO THE PREss.J

IsPECIAL TO THE PaEss.J
Augusta, March 23-The legislature
has before it bill to regulate the use OF
bicycles. 1t is a measure which was pre-
sented at the request of the wheelmen
and there Is likely to be no opposition
to it. 1t provides a uniform annual
license fee of one dollar each for all bioy-
Giles, and provides that of the money re-
ceived for licenses forty per cent shall be
expended by the Board of Agriculture IN
the Investigation of highway improve
ment. The bill also settles the some
W hat pulling question Of what consti-
utes a sidewalk. regulates the rate OF
speed and in otherways defines the legal
rights of the bioyolists. The measure fol-
lows:
Section /. Bicycles and all similar
vehicles propelled by hand or foot and
all persons by whom such bicycles, and
such other vehicles are used, ridden or
propelled shall have the right to be in
and upon the public highways, town
ways, streets, squares and PARIS In this
State and to their occupation and suse
in the same manner that carriages land
other vehicles are now entitled TO be In
and upon and in occupation thereof, and
subject to the same restrictions, provided
the person by whom the said D1oycle or
other similar vehicle is SO used, ridden
and propelled complies with the provis-
ions hereinafter set forth and not other
wise.
Section 2. Every person before enter
Ing upon said public highway. town
why, street, square or park with such
= to- IL Ia x,Nh, nj 1ha
nually on OF before the 18th day of April
apply to the city or town clerk of the city
or town In which he resides, or other
person OF persons specially appointed
therefor by the municipal officers of said
city or towns and register his bicycle or
other similar vehicle In such manner RS
the board of agriculture may determine,
for which registration he shall pay to
said CLERK the sum of one dollar, and
between said 18th Of April and the 1st
day of the following October shall be SO
registered before it shall be so used.
Section 8. The town olerK or other
person or persons authorized shall regis
ter such bicycles or other similar vehicles
and shall pay the sum of forty cents
thereof to the State treasurer for the use
of the board of agriculture, fifty cents to
the town or city treasurer, retaining the
balance for his own use.
Section 4. The amount 10 received by
the State treasurer shall be expended for
the investigation of higwhay improve
ment as specified in sections and of
chapter So of the Revised Statutes.
Section 8. Every person riding or pro-
pelling a bicycle or other similar vehicle
in accordance with the provisions of this
act shall carry a suitable alarm bell at
aohed to the handle bar of such vehicle.
Section 6. No person shall ride or pro-
pei any bicycle or similar vehicle upon
the sidewalks within the limits of any
tify. town or village corporation.
Section Z. The term Sidewalk, as
used In this act, shall mean any side
walk laid out as such by city or town,
and any walk which is reserved by GUS
tom for the use Of pedestrians, or which
has been specially prepared for their use.
1t shall not include Grosswalks, nor shall
it include foot paths on portions Of pub
lilo highways outside Of the thickly settled
parts of cities or towns which are worn
only by travel and are not improved by
such cities, or towns, or by abutGers, hut
pedestrians shall have the right of way
upon and over said foot paths.
Section 8. No person shall ride in
said streets or public highways when any
pei son is thereon and within the dis
tanca of ten rods from them at rate of
speed exceedinR ten miles an hour, ex.
capt as is provided in section nine of this
act.
Section o. The mayor of a city or the
selectmen Of town may, in their dis
cretlon, upon any special occasion, grant
permits to any PERSON or persons to ride
such machines, during specified time,
upon specified portions of the public ways
Of such CITY or town at any rate of speed;
and may annex such other reasons BILE
conditions 60 such permits as they shall
deem proper
Section 10. Whoever rides bicycle or
other similar vehicle in, upon or along
any public highways town ways, streets,
squares or parks contrary to the pro-
visions hereof, shall be punished by fine
not eXcs eding five dollars and costs of
prosecution one-half to be paid to the
complainant and the other half to fhs
town in which the offense is committed,
to BIO ussd as provided in section four of
this act.
Section II. The foreqoing provisions
shall not be held to apply to bicycles or
other similar vehicles in process of sele
by dealers. or to toy yelocipedes or tricy-
cles, or like vehicles used by small child
rem.
Section l2. 1t is hereby made re duty
OF police officers and constables n
force the provisions hereof and axe
complaint under this act and G.. ny
I
same and detain him until "a Gu. plnint
can be made and "a warrant issued.
Section 10. Trial justices and police
and municipal courts shall have jurisdio-
tion of offenses arising under this act.
and proceedings for the enforcement of
the penalitess imposed by this act shall
be instituted within thirty daSs from the
time the offense is committed.
Section IA. 7 he municipal officer shall
annually, on or before the fifteenth day
Of March, pest public notices in their re-
specti towns or cause the fame to be
printed in some newspaper published
therein, setting forth the provisions of
this act and all the requirements there
of and giving the name Of the person or
persons to whom application for such
registration shall be made.
Section Is. All bicycles Or other SINH
lar vehicles found i'll use in. upon or
along the highw ways, town ways, Streets,
squares or parks of this State by any
person in violation of the provisions of
this act shall be regarded and are hereby
declared to he public nuisances, and the
same may be seizsd, taken and detained
by the officers mentioned in section
twelve and thers shall be lien upon
fon ho Of