The Saint Paul globe. (St. Paul, Minn.) 1896-1905, 1897-05-13
RIGHTS of CYCLISTS.
They Seem to BE Negative Under tho
New Ordinance.

New Ordinance.
To the Editor of the Globe. -4e
A d1spassionate reading OF the new bicycle
ordinance justifes the assertion that 1t was
manly vindictiveness. That body of grown
men, elected by the people to represent them,
should give way to such an exhibition Of in
justice towards large and influential class
were 1t not that the council has itself given
the index to its own mediocrity. Parity Of
reasoning necessitates the conclusion that
weak puerie body, such as the city legs-
lature has shown itself to be, is incompetent
70 administer upon other questions which
may come before it and which are of par
s @n1uuna Importance to our welfare: 1t is
Iesuiatlng the using of bicycles, while it
eonIalns drastic provisions as to the con-
u t1u OF tne riders of bicycles in their rela-
lion 70 otner persons, has not a word de-
signed to those other persons as to bicycle
riusrs. Inc rider of wheel has no rights
b bue 81 la ms. ordnance. save those conveyed
py the said restrictions and regulations: he
must approach pedestrian wariIy s.,ise''
ms bell as prescribed by section 8, and cob
tanning recognition by said pedestrian he
ly and humbly. Suppose the pedestrian. how
ever does not vouchsafe this boon Of "recog-
milton" to the rider and does not permit him
SO eDe pass w what, shall the rider do then? Re-
any way In the city, will, of course, comply
win the ordinary rules of good sense, un-
der such circumstances, but it is lament
able fact that there are nearly as many peo-
pc In the town who wilfully and maliciously
oDstruct the bicycle rider as there are riders
70 De thus annoyed. There are great many
i more VINO carelessly or wilfully and ma
hclous-y throw broken glass, tacks and other
substances, likely to or designed to injure the
bicycle, into the street, or upon cycle paths
Ihere are numerous creatures who with MAJ
Ice damage a wheel whenever opportunity
offers. There are drivers of vehicles who de-
signedly expose the bicycle rider to physical
Danger. there are yet many, very many more,
who do not observe the rule of the read when
meeting wheelman. The list of offenses
against right and common decency com
mitted by the non-rider against the rider
might be much extended, but those men,
tloned are enough to substantiate the claim
tnat there Is no iota of equity or fairness in
an ordinance which seeks to unfairly hamper
and restrict very large class of citizens
IN the exercise of a natural right to use of
the bicycle for business or pleasure.
No rider of wheel would object to a
fair, honest ordinance. They, on the con-
trary. are extremely anxious that such
to comply with the law that is - but to
apply such term to the presel8 -dinancs
passed by body SO wholly unrepresentive az
the present city council would be gross
abuse OF language. Talking of the abuse of
language, is it not disgraceful that a law,
whatever its other faults may be- passed by
our council should not be written N English?
Section 1 declares that bicycle riders should
not ride on 1.-The sidewalks both sides of
Summit avenue" and other streets. Now,
AID. kaldunski, or even our mayor who may
possess unusual qualifications or restrictions
would find it extremely difficult to ride on
the sidewalks on both sides of Summit ave-
nue. mounted upon any grade of bicycle
as yet invented 1t is required by this or6i-
nance that all bicycle riders shall carry a
lighted lantern attached to the front fork
or hub after sunset. A lamp thus attached
is dangerous to the property, limb or life Of
the rider, and the only possible gain by the
requirement Is that lamps placed higher I'D
sometimes dazzle another wheelman approach
ing, but this dazzling is not a serious matter
and is only one Of the numerous annoyances
incident to the carrying of a lamp. lamp
is protection to the rider only; it enables a
person approaching with team to distin-
guish the wheel in the darkness. All riders
should be required to carry a lamp where it
can best be seen by such drivers at night;
and so should every vehicle. Why discrimi-
nate against the bicycle rider? No who
is not an absolute fool thinks that the rider
of a wheel would for a single moment court
collision either with a pedestrian or any
other object in his path. Such collision is
fraught with very much more danger to the
wheelman than it could possibly be
to pedestrian. In this latitude
there are in summer nearly two hours OF
daylight after sunset; can the provision re-
has set, have had its origin in anything
else than a determination to harrass and
injure the wheelman? Under this law,
early morning rider must carry lighted
within the dead line at the rate of eight
miles an hour, but outside of the limits only
six miles an hour is allowed. 1t is a wonder
that the city groans under innumerable ills
when it is at the mercy of such body of
men?
But, in all seriousness, it is a good thing
that this ordinance has passed. We know
what such a council is capable of. The wheel
men of this city possess the power to do the
community service of infinite value. They
sufficient in votes to control the result
in any city election. They only need organi-
cation, and regardless of party, any wheel
man who would vote for man for mayor, or
member of the city government, or for
any position of trust whatever, who voted
for the present bicycle ordinance, must be
a craven. Under this ordinance, any minor,
even any child, is liable to arrest and deten-
ton over night, over Sunday, in the city
lookup, with the superadded companionship
of felons and vermn, and for what? Not
having a lamp lighted in broad daylight Or
for not knowing the exact location of the
dead line. Much lesser infamy than the
operation of the ordinance has brought
war to nations. Is there more despotism in
Russia or Poland? Does our present city
government fairly represent the average in
telligence of the city? God forbid Can the
wheelmen of the city or county submit to
this outrage? It is understood that the or
dinance is not stringent enough to suit the
mayor. Pray sir, why do you not enforce
the laws on the books? Should you not be
impeached for conniving at the violation Of
the law? Justice.
st. Paul, May u.