The times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1897-1901, 1900-03-04

Through the efforts of the Maryland
Cycle Path Association, a bill was intro
Guced in the House of Delegates Of the
State Of Maryland on February 16 for the
purpose OF establishing board of state
s.depath commissioners. and to provide
revenue for the repair and construction Of
sidepaths for bicycles, and to protect the
paths from injury and trespsss. The bill
was introduced by Hon. GIosyenor Han
son Of Howard county, and was referred to
the Committee on Roads and Highways.
It contains tn teen sections, which in pa. t
and substance are.
Section l. Be it enacted by the General
Assembly OF Maryland. that the Governor
is hereby authorized to appoint FIVE active
wheelmeu, two Of whom shall he residents
OF Baltimore city, to constitute a bolid OF
State sidepath commissioners. who shall
serve without compensation, except their
actual and necessary disbursements in the
performance Of their duties. and whose
term of office shall be desgna. ed at one
Two. three, four. and five years. and until
their respective successors shall be ap
pointed.
Sec. 9 Such board Of State sidepath
commissioners shall appoint, in like man.
uer as they themselves are appointed
upon the petition CT fifteen resident Whe /
men in any county, a county board OF
sidepath commissioners, to consist Of five
resident wheelmen, upon the approval OF
the county commissioners first hsG and OBJ
tanned.
Sec. 3. Any county board OF sidepsth
commissioners, having first obtained he
sioners, with the advice and consent OF the
board Of State sidepaih commissioners.
shall be authorized to lay out, construct.
and maintain sidepaths along the edge of
any public highway in the county from
which they we're appointed. between the
Travelled portion thereof and the line Of the
abutting property.
Sec. 4. Such board OF State sidepath
commissioners shall, on entering up-n its
duties and in each calendar year there
after. determine upon a form OF license to
be attached or affixed to a bicycle, to be
known as a bicycle sidepath license Each
such license shall be valid during the cal
endsr year for which it is issued, and no
longer. Every person shall be entitled to
be furnished by said board with such BIZ
cycle sidepath license upon the payment OF
a fee Of one dollar therefor.
Sec. D. No person shall drive or propel
any vehicle. except a bicycle, upon any of
the sidepaths now constructed or hereafter
TO be constructed in any Of the counties OF
the State in which a county board Of side
path commissioners have been appointed
no person shall ride or prOpe any bicycle
on any sidepath nov constructed or here
after to be constructed in such county
unless a valid bicycle sidepath license be
attached or affixed in plain view to the
head of the frame or left side of the front
fork, as may be determined by the said
board of State sidepath commissioners.
The remaining sections are devoted to
rules concerning the sidepaths and their
supervision.
The Maryland Cycle Association. through
whose efforts this bill was placed before
the Assembly, was incorporated a year ago
for the purpose of building cycle paths
leading into Baltimore and more especially
Of one between Baltimore and Washing
ton. 1t is working by means Of large
membership in Baltimore and a branch
IN Laurel, and in conjunction with the
Washington Cycle Path Association with a
large membership in Washington and
Prince George county. In drawing I'D the
preceding bill for submission to the Leg
stature, it was thought best to draw it
upon general lines, so that no additional
legislation would be necessary to extend
us WI n III iue lUlUTt, ana also TO enable
the wheelmen of any county to avail them
selves of its provisions in building paths
for themselves should they desire them.
The idea of the association, should the bill
become law. is first to appoint county
boards In Baltimore Howard and Prince
George counties, and build the path to
Washington surveys for which they have
already made at an expense of several
hundred dollars. At the same time every
facility and assistance would be extended
to any other counties desiring aid toward
any local paths deemed expedient by their
wheelmen.
The objects of the bill are two-fold.
First, to provide a simple and efficient
plan, whereby to raise funds for the build
ing OF paths. and second, to protect the
paths from injury when built. The paths
are free to foot passengers.
The idea OF the bill is not an expert
ment. As early as 1895. path was puIlt
by private initiative between ST. Paul and
Minneapolis MINI. and paths have since
been extended to a total length Of over
one hundred miles in the vicinity of these
cities In 1898 was passed the first side
path law. applying only to Monroe county,
New York, but so successful did this prove
that at the next session of the Legislature
it was extended TO cover the entire State.
Under its provisions there we're sold in
one year 170.S5 license tags. and over
four hundred miles Of paths built.
THE GLORY OF THE COWBOY.