The morning news., 1897-02-05
PROPOSED nrcrcnr ORDINANCE.
Suggestions For the New Council to
Act Upon.

Act Upon.
Editor Morning News: Some time ago
you published something about an ordi-
nance to regulate bicycle riding in the
city From what was said, the suggestions
made then must have come from a rider
or club of riders, as those autocrats of the
pave seem to want everything their way.
There are still few VINO have not yet
taken to riding, and they may possibly
ike 20 have a voice in the formation of
the proposed ordinance.
beg to submit the following as a salts
factory compromise between riders and
non-riders.
AN ORDINANCE
70 define the rights of bicycles, to regu
late their use, and for other purposes.
section ]. BE ii enacted, by etc, etc,
tnat each and every the owner or owners
OF every bicycle or other Internal machine
-ot IKE character shall be required to pay
an annual tax or license of fifty dollars
Tor each and every machine so owned and
uSeq. Upon payment of the license a badge
shali be given Of not less than one foot
IN diameter such badge to be permanently
attached TO the machine in a conspicuous
place so as to be easily visible at all times.
Sec. 2. Any person riding any machine
not provided with the proper badge shall
be arrested, the machine confiscated, and
the body or bodies OF the rider, or owner
or owners, be immured, kept'an detained
Wlthln the county Jail until the said Ii
cense be paid in full with costs.
Sec. 3. The moneys derived from such
sale of badges shall be applied to the es
taDllshment and proper maintenance OF an
hospital or hospitals for the effective tire at
ment of non-riders injured by careless rid
ers, and to defray the funeral expenses of
such as may be killed.
Sec. 4. 1t shall not be lawful at any
time to ride any bicycle or similar ma
chine in any of the streets, lanes or parks
within the corporate limits of the city OF
Savannah, a. higher rate of speed than
six miles per hour, and each and every
machine must be provided with an accu-
rate meter which shall truthfully register
the maximum speed attained.
Sec. 5. Any person found guilty OF rid
ing at speed greater than six miles per
hour, but less than nine miles, shall be
deemed convicted of assault and battery
and shall be sentenced to six months on
the .chain-gang; over nine miles, but not
/ exceeding twelve miles, shall be ad1udged
guilty of stabbing not in his own detense,
of burglary as the court may see proper,
and shall entail penalty Of one TO two
years in the state penitentiary; over
twelve miles, but not exceeding fifteen,
shall be deemed assault with intent TO
murder, or lattempt 1t arson, as the case
may be; any speed over fifteen miles per
hour shall be deemed manslaughter or
such other crime in the Judgment OF the
court, and shall be visited with the corre-
spending punishment therein made ana
provided.
Sec 6. Every policeman and other duly
constituted guardians of the peace, sEall
be provided with a proper and SerVlcea-
BILE lasso, wherewith ne shall stop, corral,
detain or otherwise bring to halt any
derelict or obstinate rider; and sufficient
amount of funds are hereby appropriated
to the purpose of engaging the services of
some citizen of Arizona or other western
territory or state who shall instruct the
policesin the skillful and successful use. OF
such lasso.
Sec Z. All ordinances or parts of ordi-
nances conflicting with the above, be and
the same are hereby repealed.
This / offer as The result of much obser-
walton, deliberation and experience. No
doubt some non-riders might consider the
terms too lenient on the riders; but 1 think
all will admit that it is better than moth
ing, and will afford some measure of pro-
| lection.
Prompt action by council is earnestly
urged. Democntus.