The record-union., 1898-02-02
SPEED AND LOCAL LAWS.

The community is now officially in
formed of what the judgment of the
Street Committee of the Trustees is
concerning speed ordinance regulations
in the streets of the city. Yesterday
the Record Union gave full synopses
oil both ordinances introduced by the
committea. 1t is not claimed probably.
that the ordinances are perfect. But
we think from reading them that the
impartial mind will arrive at the judg-
ment that the committee has made
great advance.
Practically, we have no ordinances
regulating speed at present. There is
one that aims to do so, but it is 50 ridicu-
lousy absurd that it has remained a
dead letter upon the statute books OF
the city for thirty years. The new
laws are offered to be enforced, if adopt
ell and approved, not to become sounding
brass, but to be actual, effective laws.
The committee has wisely raised the
speed for vehicles drawn by animals
through business sections from five to
seven miles an hour, and permitted
maximum speed of ten miles an hour
outside of business streets. One Trus-
tee in open meeting expressed the de-
sire TO fix the rate of speed allowable
at seven miles an hour all over the
city. That would be a grave injustice
TO business men. 1t is scarcely posi-
bic 10 do delivery business profitably at
any such rate. At that rate of speed
it would take unnecessary time to de-
liver goods. Clearly there should be a
distinction made between movement
through streets where traffic congests
and streets where travel is light This
is an age of rapid transit, and no un-
seemly and harsh regulations should
be made to check it, yet the safety of
pedestrians must be conserved. This,
IT would seem, has been done by the
committee in fixing a lower rate of
speed for business sections, namely,
seven miles an hour, without check at
crossings, which means that about
three-quarters of a minute shall BE-
consumed in going one block and max
ing one street crossing. But to con-
tinue that regulation throughout the
city is not demanded by public safety
or by reason.
The fact Is that most vehicles drawn
by animals now move through the bust
ness streets at rate of ten or twelve
miles an hour, which is too fast by far.
as must be conceded. is dangerous to
pedestrians. and is not allowed in we'll
regulated business communities What
we want to do is to arrive at wise and
Just medium. Los Angeles has just
passed through an agitation on this
subject, and has settled down at last
upon a reasonable schedule. That is
what must be done here. It would
seem that the Street Committee has
come as near to it as could be expected.
Its plan is certainly worth a trial.
The same may be said concerning the
committees advice relative to riding
bicycles. 1t is advised that the speed
in business sections shall not exceed
eight miles an hour, but crossings shall
not be passed over at more than five
miles an hour. This really brings the
average speed down to something lower
than that allowed by the committee to
vehicles drawn by animals. Then there
is added schedule OF regulations that
further insures the safety OF pedestrians.
The only difference of opinion concern
ing them apears to be about the bell
provision. But that may be easily adj
justed so as to secure safety and still put
upon wheelmen no unjust burdens. On
the whole. the Street Committee has
done remarkably Well. and it's work
should not be ripped UP by mere theo-
rists who have not tested the speed of
vehicles OF different orders
What We want is a reasonable ord.-
nance, and then enforce it, If it is rig
Idly enforced any weakness in it viii de-
velop. and the good sense of the commu-
nifty will suggest needed amendments.
One of the great difficulties in our city
has been and now is the non-enforce-
ment of local laws. Our ordinance