The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1897-06-06

ABOUT STREET ACCIDENTS.
Few Remedial Measures Proposed
Are Of Value.

The problem OF how TO reduce the num-
Der of accidents on the thoroughfares Of
Our municipalities now confronts the ad-
ambassadors with greater gravity than
ever before All sorta of remedial meas.
ures are proposed from time 10 time I'm
the various cities throughout the land
Most Of these are useless, many are alb
surd. others are unconstitutional ana
?cw-a very few--are effective The lamp
ordinance ~ good one the only valid OBJ
jecton 10 II being that IL Ia too restricted
The bell ordinance Is looked upon with
slight favor by experienced wheaInen
who believe that the sudden alarm OF "A
bicycle bell Is 10 dtsconcerting that the
warning II IL intended TO give only serves
10 create confusion and multiply accidents
The principle of the speed laws Is excel
lent. bat rs'ie the regulations are EN-
forced with difficulty which permits tho
growth % abuses. especially on the part
81 the mounted officers dressed In citizens
clothing. and. moreover their lack OF UNI
tornstty makes II possible "a vlctlnige in
noccnt riders. Most ~ the speed orii-
nanSes, thoagu operative. are inefficient
since the majority Of bicycle riders in most
Of the citlos. and many drivers of horses
capable Of The feat. exceed the llm!: OF
four. six. eight or ten miles, as the case
may he Twelve miles an hour IS not an
excessive or dangerous speed. even on
crowded thorcug hfarcs. fer capable riders
ami drivers.
The majority Of accidents in the cities
are the result 81 the inexpericnce OF e3-
cycle riders and the careicSsr1sss Of driV-
ors ~ horses. IN Germany and IN sonle
OF the European countries this fact ss fec
csatzed, and before new bicycle rider Is
allowed to SO oGt Nupon tho pubilc high
ways. ne or slao ia required 10 give an ex-
htbltien Of proficiency before duly apnoznt-
ed examiners. This works 70 hardship
upon tire novice. hut Is restriction I'm
fssSsd for his own protection ana tha good
Of others. IL eliminates mat element af
ufscert atnty aTid confusion which y the
snost fruitful source 81 DISASTER. Every
able vaeesnnau knows ina danger arising
from the efrafic movements of the noYi-
tate. ana he breads tire BEGINNER on ms,
festive wheel mere thar troop cf eaue-s-
trans Oh high spirited horss~ or a pack 81
frogic~one dogA
Il wo8ssd DC = wsss move on the part 81
same % t6c common councils % some Of
the larger American cities y they would
substitute a similar regulation Cor She as
suTA ordinances requiring tsle rfnG!n. -
bells AMI the tuning Of corners al the
maximum speed ~ four miles an hour.
Let tbcn adopt an ordinance Un4er tie
comprehensive authority e police rrsula-
sfous which shall pFchicit learners On tie
bicyVla frozn gotns upoa ru1Nch-tTeQueut-
ea streets. ard especially bsoaleVarsiS aad
yArk drives. uata a coz ~ @. capable Judges
has declared thena sufficiently vsrss4I IN tie
has arr II riding % renaeT Il safe Tor thsrs,-
selves anal others Me venture % ASSERT
TAat this would c0Yiate fnuch 81 the ,,r.s.
emf trouble. which Is universally admitted
- require attention. and would sssrt.s-
sh,y re3sua sae nlssaovr Ok street accidents
-~-lssAstnGS