The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1897-08-23
bicycling in Russia.

According TO recent report of Consul
General Karel a St. Petersburg, bicycling
in Russia is in its infancy. Nevertheless
it appears there are enough riders there
for the government to have taken the
question In hand and made bicycle regula-
tons stringent enough to give the riders
trouble. In the first place bicyclist in
Russia has 10 know how TO ride That is
not at all a prerequisite in this country
but in Russia nobody is allowed to 90 any
whore near a wheel. it would appear from
these regulations, unless he knows how
TO mount it and spin away at an ordinary
horse car gait. After the rider has gain
cd a thorough knowledge OF how to han
die his wheel, and has reached the point
where he can successfully dodge any mum
Der of vehicles that may be piled up In a
ten-foot street, before he can appear in
public with it, he must first pass an ex-
animation before one of the cycling asso-
Citations in the town or city in which he
may reside. Even that, however. does not
qualify him to be public wheelman, since
he must send his certificate from the cy-
cling association along with an applica-
ton for a permit 10 the city admnistra-
ton. The permit itself is given gratis, but
the city administration charges Sl.13 for
the book Of rules and regulations which
every rider IS required to have.
After an enthusiastic bicyclist has run
this gauntlet and secured his permit, with
number and tag attached, which must ap-
pear in conspicuous view very much after
the manner of a United States license to
sell liquor, the rider may pedal slowly
around St. Petersburg or other towns
and cities on certain specified streets, pro-
vided he conforms to the rules and regu-
lauons, which are about as intricate as
the rule Of three or the equation of the
cyeloid. The kind Of tag, the number, the
time and way in which they are TO be at
tached, are all fixed by the city admins
tration, and must be conformed TO- Each
rider must have his permit and copy
of the printed regulations with him, other
wise he is liable to be ierked up by one Of
the secret police and sent off to Siberia
on some make of wheel that he is not ac-
customed TO riding. Every rider must
keep 10 the right and as near the side
walk as possible but he must pass foot
passengers and equipages on the left. He
must have a lantern and a bell and must
ring the bell whenever necessary but to
ring it when not necessary is against the
law. Every wheelman must ride just so
many feet away from any rider who may
be in front of him; he must ride just so
fast and no faster; he must ride only on
certain streets in st. Petersburg at least,
and on no others; when there Is danger
Of an accident or a mxup he must get
down and hold his wheel stll until the
| danger is past. and he cannot ride at all
when their imperial majesties are expect
ed to pass, during religious professions or
in places where there is a large gather
ing OF people ana equipages. Up to Feb
! ruary women were not allowed to ride
bicycles at all, but since then a few FEM
! mime wheels have been imported. and pub
! lie sentiment against 1t has abated some
what Taken all In all. the ST. Petersburg
| bicycle regulations are no doubt admira-
BILE in their prevention OF accidents. but a
rider who desires TO qualify himself as
an official bicycist viii no doubt find II
about as difhcult as learning the Chinese
| language.