The Scranton tribune. [volume] (Scranton, Pa.) 1891-1910, 1897-08-07
That R'cYcLe Ordinance.

The growth of the bicycle habit
thing unprecedented even in these days
of abounding wonders, has called for
ward the necessity of an adjustment
and enforcement of legislation CAL
culated to safeguard the riding of bi-
cycles in public places and to protect
+, the safety and comfort of those who
do not ride. 1t has been well said
that in a proper government the rights
of one citizen end where the rights of
another citizen begin. The application
of the generality to the custom of BIZ
cycle-riding must consist of the plac-
ing of such limitations upon riders
that they will not invade the rights
of Others. So long as they damage no
body and menace nobody the law has
no business with them; but the moment
that their pleasure or convenience as
riders is obtained at the expense of the
pleasure or convenience of other clti-
zens equally entitled to the protection
Of government, then they stand in fault
morally and should be restrained or
punished by law.
b !" Coming to details, it is clear to all
7fair-mihded persons, whether riders of
bicycles or not, that there are certain
practices by some wheelmen which
palpably infringe the rights of the gen.
eral community, including both other
persons who ride and those who do not.
For example the wheelman who, ,wheth-
er with or without warning, propels
his vehicle at a high and dangerous
rate of speed upon streets busy with
miscellaneous traffic, constitutes pub
lie menace. He not only endangers
the comfort and safety of persons COM
PEELED to cross those streets on foot
but he is equally dangerous to other
wheelmen, since at any corner re-
quiring a sharp turn he makes possible
a serious collision. Again, the wheel
man who persistently rides upon the
sidewalks is a nuisance. With equal
propriety might he ride a saddle-horse
upon those walks or insist upon pedes-
trians taking to the middle of
the road while he utilizes the
sidewalks as driveway for his
carriage There are exceptional
places in poorly-kept streets where
It would seem to be permissible
for wheelmen to use the sidewalks for
a reasonable distance and with reason
able care, pending the repair of their
proper highway, the roadbed. In such
places, if wheelmen use the sidewalks,
the fault may fairly be attributed to
the city; but even here the wheelman
who respects himself will not forget
that he is enabled 10 use the space
belonging to pedestrians through their
courtesy and if he be a gentleman he
will not abuse that courtesy.
Other specifications might be given
but they are not required. The ground
has been carefully, fairly and judic-
iously covered in an ordinance now
before councils, the provisions of which
were made public yesterday. This or
dinance is not meant as a blow at
wheelmen and it will not be so inter-
preted by wheelmen of discretion. 1t
aims simply to surround an admirable
utility with equitable safeguards for the
public's protection. That it will pass
and become a law is reasonably certain.
That it shall afterward be enforced
will depend upon how far the general
public is disposed to insist upon its
rights. For The Tribune's part it pro-
poses to do what it can to make such
an ordinance effective.