The Anaconda standard. [volume] (Anaconda, Mont.) 1889-1970, 1899-06-29
THE BICYCLE NUISANCE
The Law Is Being Grossly Vio-
lated.
"A MENACE TO CHILDREN
The Duty of Every Parent to See That
This Thing is Stopped-Police
VIII Do All in Their
Power.

Great Falls, June 2s.-Yesterday even
ing an old resident of the city came
into the Standard office and, without
preface, said: II never knew until 1
read the Standard of Tuesday that
there was an ordinance prohibiting the
riding of bicycles on the sidewalks of
Great Falls. The custom has been such
that, in the last few months particu-
larly, ! have seen more riders on the
walks in the residence portions of the
city than in the street. and I am told
that 1T is the practice with emany of our
best citizens to turn in on to the walks
as soon as they leave the business
streets. Sunday afternoon 1 walked
down toward my home on the south
side and as l reached Rev. Mr.. Ander-
sons house on Seventh street south I
encountered five men riding wheels on
the walk, and, more than that, they
We're racing. Naturally, gave them the
walk, as ! thought they We're taking
sufficient risk of limb without my en-
gaging in possible mix-up. / am in
clined to think that your proportion of
bicycle riders who use the walk rather
than the street is altogether too low. /
should make it four-fifth instead of
three-fifths.
"Of course, the danger is to unpro-
tected women and ito little children.
There are rowdies who ride wheels as
well as rowdies who walk and women
should be protected from them equally
as much as from the latter. Then the
children are in constant danger. 1t re-
quires such a slight fall or throw to
infiict a fracture Of the skull upon the
innocents that 1T is inconceivable how
a n w
children at all can permit himself to
violate the ordinance and by riding on
the walk imperil she life and limbs of
these innocents. Every parent should
take it upon himself ITO see that this
thing is stopped and, although 1T is not
very pleasant TO enter complaint In the
police court against an otherwise good
citizen, it is his duty if he desires to
protect his children. The fine imposed
for this offense should be at least $40
and it would be better if the maximum
fine was imposed in each and every
case A few would pay and then the
others would deem the risk too great
and stay where they belong, in the road.
| earnestly hope that the matter will
not be allowed to drop until there is no
further necessity for agitation"
He was assured that the agitation
would be continued in this column, at
least, until the safety Of every woman
and child in the city who has occa-
sion to use the sidewalks of the city was
assured A number of others have ex-
pressed their approval of the article
and signified their willingness to in
dorse any movement which should Sc
cure to pedestrians, and especially Wo-
men and children, their common rights.
Chief Guerin of the police department,
when interviewed by the Standard rep
resentative said very emphatically:
GO ahead Whatever l can do or the
police can do ito stop this outrage will
be performed most cheerfully We are
anxious to stop this or any other viola
ton of the ordinances, but. as you have
stated, it is impossible with the present
force to cover the entire city at one
time. But if you can bring specific yio-
lations to our attention, we will prose-
cute them fully"