Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1897-04-23
WHEELING IN EUROPE
Laws Of the Different Countries Be-
garding Cyclists.
POINTS THE TOURIST SHOULD KNOW
Regulations as to Deposits and
Their Refund.
RULES GOVERNING RIDING

A few years ago wheeling tours of Eu-
rope were extremely rare. Now the con-
tinental trips accompanied By the bicycle
are becoming more and more common.
There is one thing that handicaps the Or
binary American cyclist, and that is the
ignorance of the laws OF the countries
through which he may pass. The wheeling
tourist is often victimized; every country
may have a different set of regulations,
and the tourist having no knowledge of
these, suffers.
The State Department has made an eff
fort to remedy this condition of affairs:
not, indeed, to encourage such touring, but
for the protection of American visitors
abroad. c. W. Chancellor, the consul at
Havre, France, has compiled the rules,
regulations and laws relating to the intro
duction Of private bicycles into European
countries for touring purposes. His report
is dated March Is, and digest of the same
will undoubtedly prove Interesting to those
who contemplate European trip.
France.
The duty or bicycles brought into France
is $4S.25 every Odd pounds, or about %
cents per pound, dead weight. Americans
arriving in France with a cycle not for
sale, but with the view of cycling through
Tie country, are TetutEeu ~ uSpoSit
same amount as If the wheels were for
sale. This deposit is returned, however,
when the cyc.ist leaves the French terri
tory. Where the deposit is made a leaden
seal is attached to the frame of the bicycle
and the custom house mark stamped upon
it. A tourist can leave the country by any
frontier town and reclaim the deposit 1t
is not necessary to inform the original GUS
tom bureau of the intention of leaving the
country.
The law imposes a tax of 81 per annum
on every cycle. The year begins on the date
of payment of the tax. In case of sale
the same tax will be collected from the
purchaser without rebate. Residents are
required to make declaration at the may
oralley within thirty days after having
bought or come into possession of a wheel.
Should the declaration not be made within
the time specified, the tax will be doubled.
This tax. however, is only collectable frcm
residents. Tourists are not required TO pay
it. The revenue from this tax amounted in
1896 to 1,GJO,000 francs This money is APP
piled to the improvements CT the public
roadways.
BY a ministerial decree of March 1 many
OF the obnoAoIs restrictions formerly i'm
posed on cycling have been removed. THIS
is mainly due to the activity OF the Touring
Club of France. A Synopsis of the decree
is as follows:
Each wheel must be provided with
gong OF bell capable of being heard at a
distance of fifty yards; plate bearing the
name and address CT the owner must be
be lighted by SHUTDOWN.
Cyclists must take the right on meeting
a vehicle, and when passing one must take
The. left. slowing UP and sounding their
he'll.
DRIVERS of vehicles and men on horse
back must go to. the right on the approach
of a cycle, SO as to leave the wheelman a
space of at least eight feet in width.
in crowded thoroughfares the cyclist
must dismount and lead his wheel, -
1t is forbidden for cyclists to form
groups so as to obstruct the public ways, or.
pass through funeral corteges or military
PROFESSIONS. '-'ss; -
Cyclists are forbidden to ride on pave
merits or footpaths reserved for pedestrians
rxcenting when in the country where the
roads are being paved or mended. In cases
where it is permitted to ride on footpaths
the riders must moderate their speed when
meeting pedestrians
The minister of public works has issued
n decree requiring all French railroads TO
transport cycles as baggage. making them
responsible for any damage. The amount
Of indemnity depends in which class Oirst,
second or third the wheelman is travelling
The French authorities will not nut a
duty on cycles that are brought into the
country for a short time. \ return ticket
or a card of membership in the Cycling
Touring Club of France will be sufficient
evidence to custom house authorities that
the bicyciist is bona fide tourist though
it is right that he should know that the
duty is chargeable, can be insisted upon
but would be refunded on leaving the
country.
Germany.
The duty is s. every 222 pounds being
about cents a pound. No restrictions are
placed upon tourists, and no deposit is re-
quired. Complaints are very frequently
made by American riders over obstacles
and delays caused to their travels by the
vigorously enforced laws governing the use
of bicycles on the public roads of the
country.
Cycling on the public streets and roads is
subject to minute and most carefully en-
forced police regulations. particularly in
Saxony brakeless wheels in some part of
the empire being prohibited. Every wheel
must bear the name and address of the
owner. though the American rider will come
within the law by tying his card to the
Wheel: The lamp has to be placed high on
the wheel. and kept burning from half an
hour after sunset to half an hour before
sunrise.
A bell or gong is demanded in all parts
OF the empire Riding on roads exclusively
intended for pedestrians. or on elevated
footpaths, is strictly prohibited Two BIZ
cyclists may ride side by side when it can
De done without blocking the thoroughfare
or annoyance to other riders or vehicles;
otherwise, single file is the rule When
meeting with other bicycles, or, further
when approaching passages of the road
where 1t is not possible to see clear dis
lance. or when going down a steep descent
the rider is obliged to give frequent and
measured distance signals with his bell as
matter of strict precaution in avoiding
collisions, and to excite the attention Of
roadsters in the vicinity.
cycling at an extraordinary speed COM
monty known as scorching. is forbidden in
all parts of the empire. At very steep down
grades of the roads the cycler must dis
mount and guide his wheel until the de-
scent is passed before remounting Cy-
clists are also required to dismount at any
time when called upon by the police off,
Gals to do so. and are obliged to give such
official any Information he may deem
necessary to demand. For disregard of
any of the above rules and regulations a
fine not to exceed sixty marks (s14 2s) NAV
be imposed, or Imprisonment in Jail for
not more than two weeks, or both, may be
inflicted for each offense.
Austria.
The duty In Austria is $12.O6 for each
wheel when imported for sale. Under
recent decree SO has to be deposited by
riders who are touring, at the custom
house. The tourist is also required to
make and swear to q declaration that the
bicycle In his possession Is not for sale.
and that it is his intention to remain onIy
temporarily In the country. When leaving
the country the money will be refunded
nAus