The times., 1897-08-12
Majer Moore's Recommendations
to the Commissioners.
OF INTEREST TO CYCLISTS
Various Suggestions Which the
Chief OF Police Thinks Should
BE lEnncted Into Law, Relieving
Them to Be Necessary for the
Protection of Life aud Liinb.

IS proposed III nearing recently Stytl
TO delegation of the local branch of the
l.. a. w.
AS the recommendations contained In
the letter are likely TO have a material
effect on proposed changes i'll the regula
tions, tho full ext of the letter is given
foi the benefit of cyclists.
Undoubtedly The principal feature of in
terest III the communication is that " Inch
relates TO the extension of the speed limit
on streets not occupied by car tracks
Wheelmen generally receive this with pleas
ure, for 1T has long been felt that heexisu-
ing ordinance is an III wise one. Foiow-
ing is the letter:
Hon John b. " ,ght, Commissioner D. C,
Deal Sir l have the honor to return here
with the several conmunica tions referred
To me under date of the 9th ultimo, sus-
eeSting amendments 10 the regulations
governing tic ycles in the District of Co
lumbia, with regret that the pressing
current business OF this office has pre-
vented an earlier report.
The first suggestion is from Mr.. George
A. Warren, W no deClaims against the prac-
tice OF riding through the streets with
hands off the handle bars This prac-
tice is unquestionahly reprehensible, and
especially noticeable during cold weather,
when the rider projects his machine with
hands IN his pockets and therefore with
out proper control OF his wheel. When
the rider has hold Of the handle bar 1t
seems 10 me that the machine can be
safely managed without the use Of brakes.
With respect to the suggestion contained
In the communication OF July 13, signed
by W. W. Aleger, w. K. Larrinere, and
JOHN N. Oliver, subcommittee Of the
League of American Wheelmen, L can
find no Objection to the amendment recon-
msIded by them 10 Section 80, Article 10,
police regulations, which proposes to pro-
hibit riding with the body and head
bowed down" Such an attitude is the
Cause Of many accidents and should be
allowed only as provided for in the recon-
mendation OF the committee.
l do not believe that the regulation 90
govern the Shrinking of streets. proposed
by Mr.. W. I. Robertson, should receive
favorable Consideration. Sprin king III
this city IS generally done preparatory To
street cleaning, which, excepting in freez-
ing weather, is restricted to the late hours
OF night and the early hours OF morning.
Referring to the Communication, Gated
June 80, 1897, OF Hon. j. W. Bah
COCK, ct al. representing the District
division os the League of American Wheel
men, 1 beg to concur in their suggestion
that So much OF Section ., Article 10, as
applies TO the passing of vehicles. be made
to read as follows:
That any vehicle passing another which
is approaching shall keep TO the right, but
In passing another going in the same uirec-
ton shall pass to the left.
also concur in tie amendment pro
posed TO tie same section, to the effect
that "in turning to the left into an inter
secting street sufficient clear space shah
be left between the vehicles So turning
aud the left hal nd curb to permit of the safe
massage of another vehicle" 1t is my be-
lief that In turning corners to the right
vehicles should be required TO keep to the
right of the center OF the street, and that
in turning corners to the left they should
pass to the right OF the center of the inter
section OF the two streets. Some such regl-
lation is absolutely necessary for the pre-
vention OF accidents and confusion in the
streets, and ] have instructed the police
to require that such rule be enforced,
though the insufficiency In their number,
even in the most crowded thoroughfares,
renders almost Impossible an effort to
coInnel drivers to adhere to existing regu-
Iations.
1t seems to me there can be no objection
TO the following as new section 10
article 4:
No person, being the driver of any
vehicle with draft animal attached, shall
Intentionally Sc drive as to crowd an any
person on 6 bicycle on or against the
curb OF the street, or on or against any
othe- vehicle or object in such street, or
off or over any emoaRkInent at the slae
Of the roadway or any street
1 think that, as proposed by the com
mittee, 1t should "be made unlawful for
more than three persons mounted upon bicy-
cles or similar vehicles to ride abreast
upon the streets or avenues in the District
of Columbia In the city of New York only
two persons are allowed to ride abr east up
on bicycles, but the width of our thorough
fares justifies the recommendation OF the
committee.
l concur in the suggestionth that section 80,
article l O., be so amended that the first
paragraph thereof shall read as follows:
No bicycle shall be propelled across any
| interesting street on which there are car
tracks in the city OF Washington at
greater rate of speed than six miles an
| hour; nor at greater rate OF speed be-
| tween intersecting streets and avenues
or across streets on which there are no
| car lines thar twelve miles per hour. nor
| at n greater rate of speed On any public
street or roadway outside OF said city
than fifteen miles per hour.
1 am not prepared to recommend that
| the regulation requiring lights upon GER
| tain vehicles be made general" Such a
| regulation would be a hardship to man y,
and a profit to none except the lamp
makers. 1t would apply even to every
market wagon coming from the surrounding
| country to furnish our community with
| products for the table, and on our wide
and well-lighted streets would, in my
| opinion, be unnecessary. Licensed We
hicles carrying passengers are now COM
| PEELED to display lights, and private car
riages also use them. This is merely
| asked '.inasmuch as cyclists are required
| to display Lights and ''for the safety
| of wheelmen." / am unable to recall a
| case where an accident has occurre d
| caused directly by the absence of lamps
| on horse vehicles in this city.
| It is hardly necessary to say, in reply to
| the inDuendos conveyed in the concluding
! paragraphs of this communication, that the
| bicycle squad is directed and required
| TO enfor,.e the regulations governing the
| use of other vehicles with the same degree
| OF vigilance that they do those governing
| the use Of Wheels" and also to prevent the
| and streets. Very respectfully and obedi-
| emily yours, WILLIAM G. MOORE,
| Major and Superintendent
| 1t is always gratifying to receive testi-