The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1900-12-07
VAR OF THE WHEELS
Mix-up of Bicyclists, Pedestri-
ans and Ordinances.
WHEELMEN ARRESTED
BUT POLICE CANNOT TAKE IN
OTHER VIoLAToRS.

There is merry war going on in the
city with the bicycle in the center Of
the tussle. 1t all comes about through
the weird Juggling of bicycle ordinances
by the city council and already involves
wheelmen, jehus. pedestrians, police
and city prosecutor. The police are
jumping on the wheelmen for riding on
the sidewalks. the pedestrians are
jumping on the police for not arrestng
more wheelmen. the wheelmen are
jumping on the police for not arresting
the Transfers who drive on the four
foot strip reserved for cyclists. and the
city prosecutor says so many people
are after him that ne is going to get
out and arrest any and every vi0iator
of the ordinances without waiting for
police complaints.
Cause of the Trouble.
The melee started after the last BIZ
cycle ordinance. allowing cyclists privi-
feges on certain sidewalks, was vetoed
by the mayor. The wheelmen read the
ordinance, but they didn't notice the
veto. Consequently they came up out
of the mud and began skimming along
/ the sidewalks. Sometimes they neglect
ed to carry lights at night and dreamy
pedestrians were forced to execute fan
tastic side steps or shin a convenient
poplar in order to prevent collision.
Some who weren't speedy enough car
ried away muddy wheel marks on their
0vercOats.
These began telling their troubles to
the first policeman they met, and this
set the officers to sieuthing along side
streets in quest of STRENGTHENING
wheelmen. They began making arrests
and then the wheeImen got a chance to
tell their troubles
Want Transfers Arrested.
They pointed out that four feet on
either side of the car tracks had been
set apart for their especial use by the
city. and they wanted to know why the
police didn't arrest Il few Of the team
sters that were usurping these paths
and deluging them with mud. The po-
lice protested that they had no author
ity to make an arrest of this sort until
a warrant had been sworn out. Finally
one wheelman who had played leading
man in several police court matinees
decided to go on a still hunt for lawless
teamsters. 1t didn't take him long to
bag one, and. swearing out a, warrant,
he brought his prey into Judge Tim
m0ny's court. The justice, however,
turned a deaf ear to the wheelman
elOquence. and told the captive to de-
part in peace.
In the meantime complaints kept
pouring into City Prosecutor Ciehfs
Office at such a rate that his desk be-
gan to look like a waste-paper basket
dumping ground. He couldn't 60
out to lunch without being held
up half dozen times to be
told of the iIiQuities that were
being perpetrated by the cyclists.
Finally he arose in his might and swore
by the blind eyes OF justice that unless
there was a reforms ton he would make
warrants against wheelmen as common
in Salt Lake as house flies in August.
Plans Of Wheelmen.
This is the condition of affairs on the
firing line at the present time The
whPaImen are free to admit that thus
far they have got the worst OF the
skirrnishing but their strategy board
is busy studying tactics and they hope
soon to turn the enemy's flank with
another ordinance. c L Berry, Who
is chairman of the committee Of wheel
men appointed to secure Just OTdt-
nance. expects TO be able to get one
through the council that VIII be unOb-
iectionable to any class. The recent
ordinance has been blue-penclled ana
edited until the committee has hopes
that il will meet the approval OF the
council and the mayor
There is also an agitation on loot fof
a special tax of 80 cents a year tor the
privilege of owning a bicycle. 1t is
estimated that there are between 5000
and 5000 wheels in the city, which
would bring in a. revenue OF between
81 600 and 81 600. A tax of this sort, II
Is argued. would not be objected to If
the authorities would use 1t TO keep
maths along the streets in such condi-
fior, that q wheelman could ride at all
sea sons of the year without danger of
J,aiuer rQirpd