The daily morning journal and courier., 1897-06-18
BICYCLE NEWS AOYt
LOCAL BY-LAyS DO NOT APPLI
 IFFEE JULY 15.

Path Along tic Thames--S me Road Suggestions l ace Me
 The recent general assembly was considerably tangled up with bicycle legislation. There were numerous bills introduced, some of a conflicting char acter, and the net result is, on the whole, very satisfactory to wheelmen. The killing of the tax and lantern bills and the passage of @ general bicycle law were the most important things done, and it should be noticed that when the latter goes into effect, on July 10, town, cities and boroughs will be powerless to pass ordinances and by laws affecting bicycle riding. All such ordinances that have been passed and are now In force will also cease to be binding
 The general bicycle law provides that the speed of bicycles in thickly settled sections be limited to ten miles an hour. Bells are required, and they must be sounded on approaching any person within a. reasonable distance Riding on sidewalks is prohibited and any vio- lation of the above regulations Is pun ishable by a fine not exceeding s20, the rider to be liable for all damages.
 The word sidewalk" does not include crosswalks nor unimproved footpaths. It Is provided that the proper authori- ties may O.. special occasions, grant permits to ride, during a specified time, on specified roadWays, at a greater rate of speed than ten miles an hour, so that road racing Is not shut out. It Is ex- pressly stipulated in the act that this law takes the place of all local ordin- ances regarding bicycles and that they shall have no force or effect after this law goes into effect.
 Other measures passed by the legis- lature affecting bicyclists are the fol- lowing:
 55. That any person wilfully or ma liciously injuring a bicycle path shall be fined not exceeding $50 or imprison- ed not over three months, or both.
 91 That if any bicycle rider on the highway runs against any person and injures him, and does not stop, render aid and give his name and residence, he may be arrested and fined up to $500 or imprisoned not exceeding six months
 131. Imposing penalty of not more than year Imprisonment for stealing a bicycle valued at over $25, and not over $50 fine, or not more than three months imprisonment, for wilfully taking a wheel without leave of the owner.
 2O3 That the word "vehicle" in sec tions 26s9, 2690 and 2691 shall be con- strued to include bicycles and tricy- cles, and driver shall be construed to include persons riding bicycles. If one of two vehicles passing is a bicycle or tricycle. "a fair opportunity to pass, and not necessarily one-half the trav- eled path, shall be given.
 A maximum penalty of $20 is pro- vided for a person throwing into the highway tacks, glass, crockery, scrar iron or wire.
 Saved Half a Million.
 The bicyclists of the state may thank the representatives of their organized bodies for saving them pretty penny before the general assembly. II doesn't seem such large amount-a tax of dollar and a five-dollar lan- tern-but when the aggregate is figur- ed out the result is astonishing. It is calculated that there are 85,000 bicycles in the state. If the dollar-tax bill had passed and every one had paid it, that would stand for $85,000 Now, for the lanterns. Suppose that 5000 riders have lanterns already. That would leave S0000 to buy them, and good lantern costs $5. That would be $400,0 900. Ado the tax of SS5,000, and it is easily seer that the passage of those two bills would have cost the wheelmen of the state nearly half a million dollars This is a handsome saving and 1t wil probably occur to a good many that they have saved enough to be able tc Join the League of American Wheel men. It is a striking case of the power of organized cycling and great argu. ment for the organization that repre- sents the sentiment of the army of bi cycle riders Chief Consul Philip W Westlake of the Connecticut division L. A. w., and other officials of that or ganization and Arthur Perkins, attor ney, of this city, worked against botf the tax and lantern bills as being ob noxious to the great body of riders.
 Misunderstanding Between Cyclists
 and Drivers.
 One of the chief sources of annoy ance to both cyclists and drivers o1 horses on the public highways is the in ability of each to understand what i' expected of the other. As an instance may be cited the fast riding cyclist not necessarily scorcher, as he whizze' past sensitive horses, so close some times as to almost brush their nostrils when crossing in front to regain hi! side of the road. The wheelman doeE not do it maliciously, 1t is simply lacl of forethought. On the other hand few drivers have any idea that cyclists mus of necessity exercise care in the Sc lection of the best parts of the road and seem to think it ridiculous that { bicycle cannot always go where ve hicle can. They have never experienced the sensation of a side slip while sud denly crossing a greasy or wet ca track. or been forced to ride ove broken glass because drivers were un willing to yield an inch of road. Th' worst transgressors of the laws of thu road are women, who almost invariabl! prefer to ride or drive on the wront side, why, no one can tell. A little fore thought on the part of users of tn wheel and drivers of vehicles would prevent many unpleasant incidents ant annoying accidents.
 Increase of Interest of Racing.
 Interest in the sport of cycle racip! seems to be gathering force as eacl season passes. The attendance a meetings throughout the country anc
 I, ny h.