The San Francisco call., 1899-05-09
THE BICYCLE NUISANCE.

DECENTLY the police have done some good
E[work in the enforcement OF the law and have
won general commendation for their energy and
for their success We hope to attract their atten
ton to the bicycle nuisance which, unless some ex-
ampes are made, threatens lie and limb public
streets and in places of general resort
Order No. 2o32. approved November e. 1895, to a
great extent covers this subject We not aware OF
any amendments or supplements to this order, which
upon its face far il goes seems to be sufficient tor
its purposes The first section prohibits careessness or
immoderate speed and limits the maximum speed over
street crossings and intersections six miles per
hour 1t further provides that warning bell should
be sounded at all such places and wherever pedes-
trians are encountered The next section requires
every rider OF bicycle on public street or highway
to keep his feet on the pedals thus making scorching
or coasting on thoroughfares a nsdemeanor. The
third section denies the right OF bicycles to the side
walks and the fourth condemns the practice OF carry
ing upon them children under the age OF 10 years.
The fifth section directs all bicycles to keep to the
right The two last sections the most important,
because one OF them for violation OF any Of the pro-
visions OF the order aixes the penalty OF fine not
exceeding $500 or OF imprisonment in the County
Jail for a period not beyond six months, either or
both and the other specifically charges the Chief OF
Police with the duty OF enforcing the order.
iatons that is not violated day by day and night by
night in full view OF the police the streets and in
the parks Of San Francisco. The modern centaurs
are more reckless and more dangerous than their
antetypes. Many OF them seem to imagine that they
constitute kind of arisocracy. with machinery sub
suted for their legs, and that they down any
unfortunate man, woman or child with impunity.
Many serious consequences OF this reckessness have
already been observed and the bicycle accidents
constantly increasing simply because in this respect
as in great many others, the law is not enforced.
few wholesome examples would be a service to the
community.
The business of manufacturing and selling bicycles
has become very extensive in the United States, and
several corporations and houses with large capital
which control this branch OF trade reaping large
profits and exerting ilegitimate influence in munic-
ipaltes, not only in preventing the enactment Of
proper laws but in obstructing the administration OF
such law as there is In San Francisco as under
stand the fact, there effort made by a resou-
ton offered in the Board OF Supervisors to compel ali
riders OF bicycles at night carry warning lamps but
under pressure it defeated failed to pass This
is illustration OF the difficulty OF securing Just mu-
nicpal legislation The virtual suspension OF the ex
sting order proves that either through inerness or
for other such law as there has not been
effectively applied
We call upon the Chief OF Police to do his duty as
it is expressed in section 6, and upon the Board oil
Supervisors to require the use OF lamps by the noe
turnal army OF centaurs and to make sueh other
amendments and additions the order as will pract
caly secure the public safety and prove that in this
municipality human beings OF as much importance
as the trade in mechanical contrvances