The Mankato free press. [volume] (Mankato, Blue Earth County, Minn.) 1879-1924, 1899-06-09
SIX MILES.
Council Limits Speed of Bicycle
Riders.
An Ordinance Passed Last Night Permit.
ting Sidewalk Riding with Strict
Limitations.

Gil Friday, and it was passed under
suspension of the rules after having
been amended in several particulars.
AS passed, it will no doubt be generally
acceptable to both wheelmen and the
public, as it meets the case of both.
Wheelmen have felt that they should
be permitted to use the sidewalks when
the roads are impossible, while pedes-
TRANS have objected to sidewalk riding
on account of fear of accident. If the
new ordinance is lived up to, both
ought to be satisfied.
The ordinance as presented by Mr..
Daily allowed the use of the walks
when the roads are impossible every
where except on Front street from
Vine to Marshall and on Second street
from Vine to Byron, and the cross
streets in that district. Riders using
the walks were to be required to dis
mount when coming up to or passing a
pedestrian.
Mayor Currier said that many citi-
zens had spoken to him on the subject
during the past two or three weeks.
Some had said that they would not get
out of the way of bicycle rider again
but would be run over and sue the city.
1t was a matter rather difficult to solve.
Much could be said from the stand
point of the bicyclists. but the interests
of pedestrians should probably be taken
into consideration first, as they are
more liable to be injured.
Aid. Weed said that the question
would arise as to when streets are im-
passable. He could ride in the mud,
but it was not pleasant.
Aid. Jordan said that there is com
plant of bicycle riders crossing the
slough on the sidewalks when the
street is little muddy. Ladies have
been frightened by these riders, who
go flying along the walks
Park Superintendent Blake spoke Of
children riding with irregular move
ments, and little children coming from
the park being endangered by wheel.
men who ride fast He would.favor in
Guiding West Front and West Fourth
streets in the prohibited district.
Aid. Jordan said that some of the
wheelmen ride with humps on them,
and their heads down so that they can.
not see anything. He had been run
into by one of these. He would have
people go as honest people do, either in
carriages or on foot
Mr.. Klughertz said that he uses his
wheel to go to his work. The kick is
generally made by people who own nc
sidewalks. In Minneapolis they have
bicycle paths to factories and they are
better than Mankato sidewalks. Men
going to and from work on wheels are
allowed to go on walks in certain dis.
tricts. There is law prohibiting the
throwing of broken glass, etc, on the
streets, yet this is done on Sixth ar d
other streets continually. He thought
that laboring men should be protected
in Mankato as we'll as elsewhere. In
the cities, bicycle paths are built where
sidewalk riding is not permitted.
Engineer Thompson said that he like
others had moved out where there was
room and rents were cheap, thinking
that he could ride to his business. He
thought that no harm was done tc
pedestrians or the walks, while the
bicycle riders are benefited. He did
not favor bells, but would have riders
dismount on passing people. He
thought that enough people are in.
terested in riding to help enforce the
ordinance.
In reply to question from the
mayor, City Attorney Daley stated
that the supreme court had ruled that
a bicycle is vehicle, but he held that
the decision does not rule wheels off
from the walks as they do not take up
more room than person does. He
knew that there was some complaint,
and that there are some crazy riders
who come up, ring bells and dash by
people There are many laboring men
who go to their work early in the morn
ing and use their wheels. He thought
that the ordinance protected the pedes-
TRANS.
The ordinance committee reported
favorably upon the ordinance, and the
report was adopted, Aids. Deebach and
Jordan voting no"
The ordinance was given it's first
reading and the rules were suspended
and it had tits second reading. Aid.
Meyer offered an amendment to cover
the objection of Aids. Deebach, Jordan
and Leonard, so that the ordinance for
bids any sidewalk riding whatever on
Front street from Lafayette to West
Fourth street or on West Fourth street
to the gate of Sibley park. This was
adopted, and Aid Jordan also secured
the adoption of an amendment limit.
ing the speed of riders in the streets to
six miles an hour. He maintained that
1t was dangerous to pedestrians for
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