Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1897-07-12
RIDERS OF WHEELS
Hearing Given by Commissioners to
L. A. W. Delegation.
BICYCLE REGULATIONS
The Association Presents a Petition
for Amendments.
THE BOARD WILL CONSIDER

An important hearing was given by the
Commissioners this morning to representa-
tives of League of American Wheelmen in
the interest of better regulations governing
bicyciists in Washington. There were pres
ent Represer tative J. w. Babcock B. H.
Warner, W. K. Larrimore, ]. N. Oliver and
DIR. AIleger.
The latter read the following petition and
for some time the several sections were
discussed:
Having been delegated by the District
division of the League of American Wheel
men to confer with your honorable body
relative to certain coveted changes in our
police regulations, We desire to submit the
following suggestions for your considera-
ton:
1. That SO much of section 5, article TO-
as applies to the passing of vehicles be
made to read as follows: ANY vehicle
passing another which is approaching shall
keep to the right; but in passing another
going in the same direction shall pass to
the left
General Rule of the Road.
This is the general rule of the road, and
is deemed safer than the rule in the ex-
listing regulation requiring vehicles to al
ways keep to the right in passing each
ether, regardless of direction. For in pass
ing to the right of a vehicle going in the
same direction one is not infrequently
suddenly crowded against the curb or other
obstruction, or into the ditch at the side
of the roadway, being unobserved by the
driver OF the leading vehicle, who has the
right to the right-hand side of the road
way and cannot be supposed to be cogni-
zant of the approach of any one from the
rear.
hat thA fnlIn II la
the above section. viz:
In turning to the left into an intersecting
street sufficient clear space shall be left
between the vehicle SO turning and the left
hand curb to permit of the safe paSSag of
another vehicle"
The practice of suddenly Cutting cor
ners, so common In this city, constitutes
a serious danger to cyclists, inasmuch as a
person on bicycle who happens to be pass
ing at the moment is thus caught between
such vehicle and the curb, in trap as 1t
were, and If unable to dismount with suffi-
clent alacrity an accident is inevitable
Sucn. indeed, has been the cause of a num-
Der of serious accidents, and together with
a want of observance of the other rules of
the road, constitutes the greatest danger
to cyclists.
10, similar to the following section of the
ordinances of the city of Indianapolis:
Crowdins Against Curbs.
mo person being the driver of any vehi-
Gle with a draft animal attached shall in
tentionally SO drive as to crowd any per-
son on a bicycle on or against the curb of
the street. or on or against any other yehi-
Gle or object in such street, or off or over
any embankment at the side of the road
way of any street.
H. That it be made unlawful for more
than three persons mounted upon bicycles
or similar vehicles to ride abreast upon the
streets or avenues of the civ
While greater restriction in this regard
would be deprecated and would greatly mar
the pleasure of cycling, it is deemed I'M
necessary, as well as unsafe for more than
three cyclists to ride abreast especially
upon thoroughfares.
D. That section 30, article TO- be amended
80 that the first paragraph thereof shall
read as follows:
Regulating Speed.
mo bicycle shall be propelled across any
intersectinS street en- which there are car
tracks in the city of Washington at a
greater rate of speed than six miles an
hour; nor at a greater rate Of speed be-
tween 1ntersecting streets and avenues or
across streets on which there are no car
lines than twelve miles per hour: nor at a
greater rate of speed on any public street
or roadwa outside of said city, than If
teen miles per hour"
In fixing the present rate of sneed n u,,c
stated that the Importance of the bicycie
as means of rapid transit was taken
into account, and as liberal a rate allowed
as was deered compatible with safety,
Dut the advantage of the maximum rate Of
twelve miles is largely nullifjel nv the
other regulation which requires cyclists 10
SLOW down to half this rate at every street
crossing or risk arrest Nor does it seem
10 us necessary that we should Tins GLOW
Gown. except at crossings likely to be con
gested with travel, which places womb he
luliy covered by the modification sug-
sested, and, taken In connection with sec
ton 10, would afford ample protection 10
pedestrians. -
IN this connection we beg to saw that
WINE Wheelmen are arrested and fined for
merely exceeding the six-mile limit at
crossings, though keeping within the maxi
mum limits, the similar regulation renuir-
ing street cars to reduce their speed a,
each crossing is not enforced. and other
Vehicies are not required to slow down ex-
cept In turning corners
Lights on All Vehicles,
D. That the regulation requiring Ifebts
upon certain vehicles be made general. and
to apply to all vehicles in motion upon the
stTeets OF the city and roadways Of the Dis
trict after dark, the lamps to be lighted
within one hour after sunset Inasroucb a q
cyclists are required to display lights NOT
LOT their own benefit, but for the safety of
Iedestrlans and carriages, 1t seems but a
simple act of justice to REQUIRE carriages to
display lights for the safety of wheelmen
especially now that many carriages are he,
ing supplied with pneumatic tires, and are
therefore practically noiseless Moreover
II Is believed that the present regulation re-
curing lights on wheels, and not upon
other private vehicles, Is unconstitutional.
such having been the finding of the court
regarding a similar regulation in St Paul
Mimi. and such regulation being regarded
as species of class legislation. The ruling
OF the Supreme Court in the income tax
cases Is also deemed applicable on this
ground. For further reasons, please see
letter of Chief Consul Robertson, dated Au-
gust :. 1886. in response to the request of
the honorable Commissioners on this point.
without Discrimination.
Z. That the bicycle squad be directed and
required to enforce the regulations govern
ing the use Of other vehicles with the same
degree of vigilance that they do those gov
erning the use of wheels
S. That the renewed attention of the en-
tire police force ne called TO section < ar