Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1897-07-10
UNITED WHEEL EN-

AS the result of a committee from the
United Wheelmen waiting upon Commits
sioner Wight, as stated in The Star at the
time. the following letter has been re-
ceived by the secretary. DR.. w. w. Alleger,
who has been the prime mover in the mat
ter. The other members of the committee
were Mcssrs. Mashmeyer and Lewis. The
letter of Commissioner Wight is as follows:
In reply to your communication of the
18th of June, 1 beg to say that attention
has been given to the several matters re-
ferred to in your petition. The members
OF the police force composing what is
known as the bicycle squad have been
required to appear in police uniform, and
are now wearing the same. The police are
enforcing all regulations applicable to the
request under the head of the second par
agraph of your letter.
In regard to the request that the ordi-
nance requiring wheelmen to display lights
after dark be changed to one hour after
sunset. l would say that this would re-
quire change in the regulations. 1 will
bring the matter before the board, and
notify you of their action. 1 return under
separate cover the interesting correspon-
dence which you were kind enough TO lend
me. and for which you will please accept
my thanks.
when you were in my room one of the
gentlemen with you asked me in regard to
the matter of vehicles crossing 9th and F
streets and 18th street and New York ave-
nue. on the side of the street prohibited by
the regulations. l have had the matter in
Vestigated. and the police department re-
ports to me that it is true that this is
sometimes done. perhaps frequently, but
the conditions are such as to make IL an
pear that the enforcement of the reguia-
lions compelling persons who are driving
TO cross the intersecting tracks of those
rapid transit roads would be more danger
Gus than to allow them to cross on the
lett instead Of the right-hand side of the
street. This is sustained by tho fact that
for some time past there have been yery
lew, II any. accidents at these places. The
omcers stationed at these points are in
structed to use the greatest possible care
and do the best they can.
In regard to the other sugges ton of re-
ceivfng bicycles as collateral when arrests
are made, would say that the difficulty
lies In the fact that many wheels are
rented. and 1t is difficult to establish own
ership, SO that a wheel might be left as
collateral which does not belong to the
party arrested, and In this way the Of
fender would get of without proper pun
tshment. In the opinion of the police de-
partment, 1t Is not advisable to accept BIZ
cycles as collateral"
It Is noticeable that the Commissioner
makes no mention Of the request to compel
private carriages and wagons to carry
lamps Just the same as bicycles. The mat
lor Will Do caiIeo 10 the attention OF the
beard In another communication. As a b.
cycle La vehicle, and owned mostly by
private parties. 1t Is no more than Just and
equitable that other vehicles should be
made to como under the scope Of the law.
Last week there was published concise
report OF the regulations regarding cycling
In different cities Of the Union, which
showed the dinerant state Of AFFAIRS re-
gardlng the sport In different sections Of
the country. The bicYclA oriin ancau ~ TIA
city Of Buffalo adopted September Q. lSo0