New-York tribune., 1899-07-14
CYCLING.
MIXED UP OVER THE NEW BICYCLE
ORDINANCES.

UNCERTAINTY OVER THE LIGHT AND SIDEWALK
REauLArloNs-A MOUNT VERNON JUDGE
SEEMS TO HAVE ERRED-BUIIDERs
TAKING UP THE THOR
oUGHFAREs
Considerable uncertainty continues to exist re-
garding the ordinances relating to lights on oi-
cycles and riding the sidewalks. The decisioh
of Judge Schatz at Mount Vernon on wednesday,
that a wheelman had a right under the law 10
ride upon the sidewalk caused considerable discus
sion Yesterday wherever wheelmen congregated
According to the Mount Vernon Judge a cyclist
under the present laws can do almost anything
that he wants to do According to well posted
officials OF the League OF American Wheelmen'
who also lawyers. no ordinance exists which
permits wheemen to ride upon regular sidewalks
1t does permit them to ride sdepaths in the
suburban districts. There is considerable differ
between sidepath in the country and side
walk in a city. When seen yesterday Isaac b.
Potter. the ex-president Of the League OF Amer
lean Wheelmen and a man who has had much 10
do with drawing up most OF the laws In TINS
State affecting wheelmen, said: Il have not read
the decision referred to- So far as ! know there
is no law in this State which will permit wheel
man to ride upon A sidewalk" John B. Uhle. another
prominent League Of American Wheelmen ohiclal
and lawyer, said the same thing. as did also w .
Bull the secretary treasurer Of the division Tor
this State. The section in the Collins law regard
ing sidewalks is as follows: ITO regulate or pro-
hibit the riding OF any bicycles, ricycles similar
vehicles upon the sidewalks within the limits of
any city town village, except that no city. town
village shall have any power to prohibit the
riding OF any bicycle upon any sidewalk within the
limits OF such city town or village when said SIDE
walk shall have been shall be hereafter con-
structed solely at the expense Of the wheelmen or
cyclists by and with the consent Of the officers
having Jurisdiction therein. unless the road or
street In front Of said sidewalk is paved with
some smooth and permanent pavement like asphalt
or brick, and maintained in condition suitable for
the use Of cycles. The term sidewalk as used
In this act means any sidewalk laid out such
by any city, town village. by the owners or
the abuting land, which is reserved by custom for
the use OF pedestrians and which has been special
~ prepared for their use. but not including foot
paths or portions Of public roads lying outside OF
the thicky settled cities and towns which worn
only by travel. and are not improved by the public
authorities or by the abuttng owners; TO provide
that every person violating any such ordinances
Of s for each onfense and in case Of the non
payment Of such fine by Imprisonment mn c IN do,ia ae
Of such fine in the discretion q the M court or or
& 70 Mo Sy n Ows or ff Syaw ar
lation respecting the use Of bicycles or tricycles
except provided in this act and except % as pro
or hereafter made by city. town or village In
respect TO bicycles or tricycles snail nave any
force or ehect.
There Is one point in Brooklyn where the police
men compel the wheelmen to dismount but little
attention is given to the motormen on the trolley
cars That is in front of the Willink entrance OF
Prospect Park in Flatbush-ave The cars come
down this hill at terrific speed at times. and 1t Is
a wonder that more accidents have not happened.
One of these ran into a wagon yesterday In
which three men sitting causing serious
accident. One Of the men In the wagon
was killed and both OF the others were
badly injured and cut up The accident
was witnessed by several wheelmen, one Of
of whom turned out to be one OF the road hogs Of
the day 1t was a long time before the ambulance
arrived some OF the onlookers estimating half an
hour and the whesman In question d1r came up Wn
II was not enough to do the injured men any good:
nde he the wfs bottle ed for 'ahP he h
he refused to do and he also refused to let boy
whiskey. When the ambulance arrived one Of the
men was dead and the corpse and the two Injured
or No explanation was given for the long delay
OF the ambulance In arriving at the scene
Wheelmen are complaining Of the manner in
which contractors take up the public streets with
building material and to the condition OF some
Of the streets and wheelways On Eighth-aye. at
One -hundred-and eleventh and Northumberland
twelfth sts much Of the thoroughfare has been
Il
is left for wheemen and pedestrians near the car
tracks When the asphalt is wet it is a dangerous
place for even an expert rider. bicycle police
man was appealed to yesterday, and he said that
he had made several complaints TO the captains
and sergeants at the station houses regarding this
and other distractions but that no attention had
been paid to the matter. There is a nasty rut In
the Boulevard at Ninety y-ninth-st., which extends
clear across the street. Many falls have happened
at this point. Several women have been victims.
and one of them had to be carried to drug store
near by for treatment over in Brooklyn the
obstructed with building and street repairing
terials. In Schermerhorn and Court sts big piles
weeks obsructing the thoroughfares. Why the
stone should be left there so long is what Is both
ering the residents and wheelmen. Complaint Is
also made against much reckless driving by truck
men In schermerhorn-st The rain OF "Wednesday
washed many places the old Cycle Path
leading to Coney Island, leaving big mud patches
II hns many Of psffSs fonndaon whstooS the G deuge in
much better shape.
Wheemen has started in the West. and the man
ner In which the dates have been asked for shows
that the clubs, promoters and tracks are satisfied
with the arrangement. The circuit will move East
ward in time for the international championships
at Montreal and the League Of American Wheel
men championships at Boston. The rumors that
the outlaws would conduct four days meet at
Boston during the League OF American Wheelmea
meet there created considerable merriment The
outlaws are now abandoning their tracks, and
their failures to hold successful meets show that
they will be compelled to make a stand al one or
two tracks before long and abandon the others
Some of the tracks have already applied for rein
statement to the League Of American Wheelmen
Racing Board. and others will do so before long
The League Of American Wheelmen circuit is as
follows: July 49, Ottumwa Iowa. Ottumwa Bicycle
Track Association; July - St Paul Mimi North
western Cycle Company; July % and y, ottumwa
Iowa. Ottumwa Bicycle Track Associations July 3D.
Chicago, Ravenswood Athletic Field; August <
Detroit, Mich, e. y. Hines August 8, TO- II and
II, Montreal. Canada. International meet August
16. II, Is ri 49, Boston National meet, August %
Providence z. l. Crescent Park Track; August 26,
New Bedford, Mass; August 30 and 81 Wilkes
barre. Penn, West End WheeImen: September 2
Philadelphia Associated Cycling Clubs; September
26; Mineola Long Island Alexander Sehwa bach.
The remaining dates on the circuit will be assigned