The times., 1898-01-23
Chief Consul Robertsen's Cem-
plaint to MIR. Wight.
HANDLEBAR RULE MAY GO
The Commissioner Requests n State
ment From the Local l.. 4. W. Di-
vision That the Regulations Is
Not Necessary, and Promises His
Aid to Change 1t.

William T. Robertson, chief consul;
/ ". X. Larrimore, vice consul, and
Charles Z. Wood, secretary treasurer
| of the District of Columbia division oi
| the League of American Wheelmen
waited upon Commissioner Wight yes
| terday in reference to the bicycle han
dlebar regulation, recently issued.
Mr.. Robertson stated to Commission
er Wight that by request the new han
dlebar regulation requiring a four
inch drop in the bars was discussed
but was not indorsed by the league; ii
was referred to the committe on priv
ileges and rights, but that no official
action was taken. Mr.. Robertson said
that owing to an error il was taken in
charge by a special committee, appoint
ed several months ago for the purpose
of having certain regulations enforced
and others favorable to wheelmen pass
ed. This committee did not wait upon
the Commissioners, but wrote a letter
Incorporating the four-inch drop, and
did not make any effort to make the
regulation other than the one suggest
ed by the Commissioners. He said that
this was not the voice of the organiza-
ton, and he desired it to go on record
as not being approved by them While
the league would always be pleased
and would uphold any regulation which
would be conducive to public safety, it
did not approve this regulation, said
he.
Mr.. Wight expressed himself in such
a way as to give the impression that it
did not depend upon the approval of
the league as to the passing or up
holding of the regulation.
Commissioner Wight also asked the
L. A. w. officers if they could suggest
regulation that would prevent the
reckless riding; that the Commission
ers had worked on the matter for over
six months and had come to the con-
clusion that the present regulation was
the only way TO do it. The league Of
ficers stated they could, but did not
have the authority to say what change
in the height, if any, would be approved
by the league but would say positively
that the latter part of the regulation,
requiring the rider to hold his head in
such a position that he could at all
times see 800 feet ahead, was just and
reasonable, and should be required for
the safety of the general public.
Mr.. Larrimore then requested the
Commissioner to cut out the portion of
the regulation relative to the height of
the handlebar for a stated period, un-
til ii could be fully decided that ii was
necessary to have such a regulation
His reason for asking this was to save
the riders from going to the expense of
changing the handlebars If it was not
going to be necessary: that there were
hundreds of riders who were depend
ing upon their machines as convey
ance to get to their work, many of
whom We're not at the present time
able to stand the expense of getting
to conform with the regu-
lation. and would be forced to give up
the using of their bicycles, many hav-
ing already done so.
Mr.. Wight stated that this was not
possible, as it would take thirty days
to make such a change operate in any
event.
Mr. Larrimore asked Mr.. Wight if he
could not now drop that portion of the
regulation referring to the height of
and showed that the latter
part of the regulation fully covered the
ground they desired to cover; that if
person used a handlebar so low that
Ii was impossible to see 300 feet ahead
of him. it would be breaking the regu-
lation as much as though the regula-
ton specified that the rider could use
a handIebar of a certain kind.
They thought that all riders, no mat
er whether they used the upturned
lr dropped bars. IL they rode I'm a reck-
ess manner should be arrested and
fined: that fully a dozen riders were
riding without handlebars in their ma
thine and should be arrested at once,
as rider with his hands off of bar
,ouid control the machine, because if
t was necessary the bars could be
quickly used, but without bars they
we're certain it was dangerous, and
should be stopped.
1t was also stated that they could
bring up proof that rider could If he
desired ride as fast and as reckless on
he smooth streets with high handle
,ar as well as with low drop-bar-
Commissioner Wight stated that the |
after was not necessary to prove, and |
'equested Mr.. Robertson to have a
statement placed in the hands of the |
by Monday for the pur- |
,ose of proving that the regulation |
vas not necessary. and if so he thought |
he matter could be regulated so as to |
uit all hands and still correct the
eckless riding that the Commissioners
we're so anxious to stop.
The officers of the league We're very
much pleased with the way Mr.. Wight |
1oked ar the matter, and promised to
i've him good and sufficient proof that
he regulation needed changing.