Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1899-06-28
THINGS ON WHEELS.

The automobile. being "A novelty,
has yet TO establish reputation
for such merits az It possesses.
Just now It is the subject OF
| litigation. and until judicial minds
have Investigated its status and
judicial eyes have scrutinized It's
operations no one can predict fits future.
| The fact that the horseless carriage has
been forbidden TO operate in one of the
parks Of Chicago directs the eyes 81 the
public to the tribunals OF that city. for
the matter will be contested and the
legal precedents there established most
likely will be followed In other States.
It is different with the bicycle. This
machine now boasts a decided legal
status, and has been mentioned by name
in many legislative bodies. The Amcri-
can and English Law Encyclopedia. that
voluminous accumulation of legal wis
dom. which is generally consulted by
our lawyers. devotes thirty-two pages to
tho steel horse" and quotes scores OF
cases in which It has been considered.
And. by the way, this eminent author
ity comedies that the bicycle is a vehl-
Gle, and as such entitled to all the prlvi-
leges and prerogatives which Other We
hicles enjoy. The law Of the wheel, to
quote our authority, IS not sui generis.
1t is mainly an application of old and
well-settled principles to new conditions.
And many questions which arise IN re-
ference TO the bicycle, but upon which
no decision directly involving 1t is avail
able, may be solved by the authorities
pertaining TO instruments whose legal
status is similar, The wheel, being
vehicle. is subject to pretty much the
same restrictions as other vehicles, es-
pecally in the matter Of highways. Cases
involving the bicycle, or, rather. its pie
beian forerunner. the velocpede, are re-
ported as far back as 1870, and since then
tricycles and kindred, inventions have
frequently been discussed in court by
lawyers. Nay, more. the per1mbulator.
or go-cart. that cosy receptacle Of time
rant infants, has been the object Of jul
dicial investigation. so that the whole
considered.
AS we have said, the bicycle, or, rather,
its rider now enjoys many privileges On
our highways. According to the prece-
dents set, he must turn 10 the right on
passing other vehicles, and they must do
likewise. Indeed, he must follow che eti-
quette Of the road and conform to many
ancient customs to say nothing of sta
tutory requirements and rules imposed by
city ordinances.
The Virginia Legislature, at its session
of 1856 passed a law requiring bicycle
riders to dismount when they saw that
their vehicles had frightened horses, and
it imposed a fine Of from 81 to s. Cor the
non-observance Of this rule. During the
session Of 1S97-'9S our Solons, who by this
time had begun better to appreciate the
wheel. amended the existing law rs to
rates of toll on railroads, and declared
that bicycles should he deemed baggage
ana transported on the same terms as
other baggage.
Later on, when the hNrse!ess carnage
shows its mettle and proves ITSELF pub
lie benefactor, we may expect 20 near OF
its receiving equal courtesies at the hands
of the law, though as yet its movements
are regarded with suspicion. OF course,
we do not mean by the term "horseless
carriage" a vehicle drawn by a mule.
This latter combination, however valua-
BILE for practical purposes, will never
command respect. The mule is the "flius
nullus" Of the equine race.