The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1897-08-13
BICYCLE RULES IN RUSSIA.
Supervision Over the Riders Of the
Wheel.
(From the Baltimore Sun. }

In the consular reports for August
there is an interesting report by Consul
General Karel, at St. Petersburg, on bi
cycles in Russia and on the regulations
prescribed for their use. The use of the
wheel is in its infancy in Russia, it
seems, the climate being unfavorable in
the northern part during a great part
of the year. Only in the summer months
is it possible to ride at all. Yet in St.
Petersburg there are already four cycling
clubs, beside three in the suburbs. Up to
February /, 1897, ladies were not permit
ted to ride bicycle in the streets of ST.
Petersburg, but they now have that liber-
ty. AS to the makes in use, English
and German predominant, the former re-
failing at from sS2 to S12s, the latter at
from SIT to 500. The Singer company
andsthe Humber company-both branches
Of English companies-have works in
Russia, the one at Warsaw, the other at
Moscow. There are, besides, three Russia
factories, and many shops which put to-
gether and finish the parts of wheels i'm
ported from England and Germany. But
two American wheels were imported last
year, the cost being excessive for the av-
erage Russian. The tariff on imported
wheels is 1926, and 10, 500 were import
ed in 1896. s
American riders who enjoy the maxi
mum of Hberty-not to say license-in
the use of the wheel, as in other things,
cannot but be interested in the regula-
lions a paternal government enforces for
the prevention OF accidents. Some of
them will appear to be unduly vexatious,
but not few are in the public interest
and deserve the attention of our authori
ties. To begin with, permit is re-.
quired before one may ride at all in st.
Petersburg. To get this permit from the
m dnicipal authority, the would-be wheel
man must first pass an examination on
the wheel before one Of the cycling asso-
Citations Of the city. On proving his pro
hciency he obtains certificate, and.
armed with this and photograph of
himself, he applies for his permit and for
booklet containing the city's rules and
| regulations for cyclists, the whole costing
him, with the revenue stamp, 81. ID.
| This permit, which bears the name of
the owner of the wheel, is good for one
year. The photograph must be attached
to the permit, and both wheel and rider
have registered number. Great import
| ance is attached to the identity of the
| rider, SO. that his misdeeds, if any, may
be easily. brought home to him. 1.-THE
numb =" say the report, ''in plain white
figures on q red plate, must be fastened to
the wheel. both on the front and back,
SO as to be clearly visible to the police
and the public in case Of any n1ishap or
disobedience Of the prescribed regulations
for bicycle riders. One plate, with the
number on both sides, is fastened to the
frame in front, below the handle bar,
sticking out SO that the number can be
seen from either side, and one plate is
| fastened to the frame behind below the
saddle, in such q way as to be in full
view when the person is sitting on the
saddle.''
The regulations are of interest for the
| extreme care they take to curb the reck-
less 'scorcher' and make the city's
streets safe for persons not on wheels.
They are as follows
bicycle riding in the streets of the
city Is allowed only on low, two-wheeled
bicycles or on bicycles of other types
which are considered by the city admins
tration not dangerous. Only chose per-
sons of proper age who have received n
permit from the st. Petersburg city adj
ministration, can ride. The permit must
bear the name of the proprietor and is