Deseret evening news. [volume] (Great Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1867-1920, 1900-06-09
THE BICYCLE NUISANCE.

New YORK June 4, 1900.
To the Editor
Dear Sir Enclosed please find clip
ping. an account Of bravery on the part
of a policeman. who risked his life IN a
mix W with bicycle riders. In sending
you this. it Is with the sincere hope that
you VIII call the attention OF the coun-
cllmen " the city 20 this heroic act,
that Il may prompt them 30 protect the
people Of Salt Lake city by either rul-
ing the bicycle of the sidewalk or put
ting the pe0nle into the streets.
salt Lake has a record for injuries
received by people on sidewalks that
should cause some action to be taken
Since leaving home. May 2Oth, TO this
day, I have been IN many towns and
cities and In not one has the bicycle
hend been found on the sidewalk
astrlde the 'byck"
win the council give back the side
walks 10 the people, who, through
necessity ana maybe choice. walk, or
grant the boon Of turning US on and
put us In the road? X.
The act OF bravery referred TO In the
foregoing letter written By a salt Lake
physician now IN New York. IL thus
mentioned By the Journal Of that city.
"A swiftly moving hanson cab was
going north IN the East Drive when
COyle started 90 pilot the woman with
the baby carriage across the road. He
was half way across when two BIZ
cyclists scorching down hill appeared.
Tie "a once realized that either the cab
or the bicyclists would run him and
his charges down. and thrusting the
tWo as far behind him as possible he
stood still as the cab passed on one side
of him.
Both bicycles struck him. knocking
him down and throwing their riders 10
the ground but the woman and her
child escaped without a scratch
"Coyle. despite his injuries promptly
arrested both bicycllsts for fast riding.
The policeman was just Of the sick list
as the result of injuries received In
stopping a runaway horse
The ordinance now under considera-
ton by the city authorities, as the
Deseret News has already explained,
does not meet fully the demands Of the
walking public Further, 1t is not very
likely 10 be enacted by the council But
something viii have 70 be done for the
protection Of the rightful users Of the
sidewalks in this city, particularly Of
ladies and children. To provide for this
merely during four or five months IN
the year. IS almost absurd To Danish
bicycles from AN the sidewalks in every
part,of the city would perhaps be I'M
necessary Therefore Il would seem
that either a new measure should be
introduced, or some amendments must
Doe made TO the ordinance that has been
proposed.
We sucrst that the troubles COM
plalued oi~tould be avoided by forbid
ding the idmg o. bicycles on the side
walks az ary time, within certain de-
fined limits. embracing those parts Of
the city which are more crowded than
others. All the sidewalks IN the busl.
ness streets and those Immediately adj
Jacent. should De freed from the dan
ger that threatens pedestrians. and all
vehicles should be compelled 10 take to
.hF streets when they are In use.
While we have strongly advocated
na right Of the people TO the free use
Doe sidewalks In this city. We have
Il no desire TO deprive the riders Of
.0. wheel Of any proper privilege. There
H. many children as well as adults who
u the bicycle. and an should enjoy Il
W.hih reasonable regulations. There
ar. many rough streets within city linn.
.tf but outside Of the business and
crowded parts where a bicycle could
u0t be used except on the sidewalks. II
the "scorcher could be suppressed or
kept on the sidewalks entirely, there
would not be so much objection TO the
wheel IN those portions OF the city thus
indicated.
Why not define a given district. en-
braclng all the parts OF the city which
are often crowded in which no bicycle
may be- run on the sidewalks. and en-
force the law against "scorching'
everywhere within the municipality?
We believe that would satisfy the
masses Of the people, would be a rea-
sduable regulation. and would not inter-
fere With the rightful privileges OF the
great number Of patrons Of the wheel.
Who viii Introduce a measure recogniz-
Inc the immediate demand. and at the
same time the reasonable wishes Of the
nnmerous RIDER OF the popular "blke?n