New-York tribune., 1900-04-22
RULES OF THE ROAD.

The season of sports and pleasures on the
road has opened with somewhat more than the
usual number Of accidents, both trfing and
we're. Easter Sunday claimed a long roll of
them i'll this city and elsewhere. and almost
daily before and since that date there has been
record Of runaway, collision, runover or other
misdeneanor or mishap of horse or automobile
carriage or bicycle. Nor is this in the least to
be wondered at Three principal causes not to
name minor ones. contribute to it. In the first
place the number and variety OF vehicles
increasing. Once there was only one class
vehicles drawn by horses. Now there are two
other classes. bicycles and automobile carriages.
And with the cheapening of them more people
are using them. In the second place there is a
constant increase of speed The ordinance regu-
dting speed is violated a thousand times day
by all three classes of vehicles. And in the
third place. there is the element of silence
Steel shoes and tires on stone pavement gave
warning Of their coming. Rubber tires and
indeed rubber shoes. on asphalt are nOiseIess.
With such conditions wonder accidents are
multiplied.
All of which suggests the need of revising the
rules of the road In old days these were sim
pie but sufficient Give pedestrians the right Of
way and turn TO the right. But the old rules
are not adequate TO the new conditions That
fact was recognized when bicycles came into
use. After long consideration il was decided
that these We're vehicles and subject to the
rules governing vehicles Yet their new and
special characteristics. such as their speed and
their silence. made new and special laws neces-
sary, such those requiring the showing of
lights at night and the sounding of bells or
whistles at crossings. In some cases too. the
special privilege is granted of leading wheels
from which the riders have dism0untpd along
foOtpathS. while in other cases special roads are
provided for bicycles. from which all other
vehicles and pedestrians are excluded. It seems
probable that in like manner the new and Spe-
cal characteristics of automobile carriages will
compel the adoption Of new and special ordi-
nances for their government
The question is and then raised whether
the old principle Of The pedestrians right of way
should still he maintained. It must we believe
be answered in the affirmative No matter how
many vehicles of all kinds come into use. pedeS-
trians will always be the majority Neverthe-
less that right must be reasonably and discreet
~ exercised. The pedestrian should not walk
blindly across busy street, nor loiter on the
crossing. 1t is no hardship to require him to
Use Ills eyes and 10 move with reasonable expe-
dition. Certainly the pedestrian has 10 right 10
walk along the roadway where IL footpath is
provided. Few 90 So of course in city streets
but the practice is annoyingly and danger
ously common in the parks. where men and
women. often leading small children delib-
erately and perSistently walk along the macad-
amiZed driveways. giving drivers much trouble
and exposing themselves 10 much peril Such
offenders ought TO bP punished almost AS So
yerely one who should drive with horse and
wagon upon the fo0tpaths.
II seems quite reasonable. too. to require that
ali vehicles. heavy as well light shall dis
play lights after dark. and lights that show
both behind and before. But a restriction might
well be placed upon the briliiancy Of the light.
Its object is TO he visible and not To illuminate
the world candle or small oil lamp will give
a clear. glowing light visible hundreds of yards
away, but will not In the least dazzle the ewes