The times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1897-1901, 1900-03-04
MOVING FOR CYCLE PATHS
A Bill introduced in the Maryland
House of Delegates.
A state Commission Suggested Its
Dnties Defined-0niy licensed hi
cycles Are to BE Eatitlcd to the
Benefits of Paths Constructed I'm
der the Measures Provisions.

Through the efforts of the Maryland
Cycle Path Association. bill was intro
Guced in the House of Delegates OF the
State of Maryland 90 February 16 for the
purpose OF establishing board of state
s.depath commissioners. and to provide
revenue for the repair and construction OF
Gidepaths for bicycles. and to protect the
paths from injury and trespsss. The bill
was introduced by Hon. GIosyenor Ham
son of Howard county, and was referred to
the Committee on Roads and Highways.
II contains tn teen sections, which in pa. t
and substance are:
Section /. Be it enacted by the General
is hereby authorized to appoint five active
wheelmeu, two of whom shall he residents
OF Baltimore city, to constitute a boaid OF
State sidepath commissioners. who shall
serve without compensation, except theii
actual and necessary disbursements in the
performance OF their duties, and whose
term of Office shall be designas ed at one.
two. three. four. and five years. and until
their respective successors shall be ap
pointed.
Sec. 2. Such board Of State sidepath
missioners shall appoint, in like man
ner as they themselves are appointed
upon the petition CT fifteen resident whe J.
men in any county, county board OF
sidcYath commissioners, to consist Of five
resident wheelmen, upon the approval OF
the county commissioners first hsd and OBJ
tanned.
Sec. 3. Any county board OF sidepath
commissioners, having first obtained the
n nf ptv lie
sioners, with the advice and consent OF the
board OF State sidepath 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 CT the
abutting property.
Sec. 4. Such board of State sidepath
commissioners shall. on entering upln its
duties and ir 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
endar 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
fee OF one dollar therefor.
Sec. .. No person shall drive or propel
any ftHiNlt, d DtCtEtt, upOl any OF
the .idepaths 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 propel any bicycle
on any sidepath now constructed or here
after to be constructed in such county.
unless a valid bicycle sldepath license be
attached or affixed in plain view to the
head of the frame or left side OF the front
iork. 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 year ago
fer the purpose of building cycle paths
leading into Baltimore and more especially
of one between Baltimore and Washing
tom 1t is working by means of large
membership in Baltimore, and branch
in Laurel, and in conjunction with the
Washington Cycle Path Association with
large membership in Washington and
Prince George county. In drawing up the
preceding bill for submission to the Leg
iSlature, it was thought best to draw it
upon general lines, so that no additional
legislation would be necessary to extend
its work in the future, and also to enable
tne Wneelmen oil 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 a 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. Al 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-foId
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 carly as 1895, a path was puIIt
by private initiative between St. Paul and
Minneapolis, Mimi. and paths have since
been extended to a total length OF over
one hundred miles in the vicinity of these
cities. In 1893 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 were sold in
one year 170.S50 license tags. and over
four hundred miles of paths built.