The Washington times., 1901-08-11

idly moving vehicles requires that the
riders or drivers approaching each other
shall each be able to judge of the prob
able movement of the approaching We
hicle. no bicycle shall be ridden ON the
streets within the city limits with the
lower end of the handle bars on a plane
lower than four inches below the
top of the saddle at its centre and the
rider shall at all times keep his head in
such position as TO command a view
ahead of not less than 800 feet. This pro-
vision shall not be applicable to members
, OF inc bicycle squad of the police force
Nhlle there Is no specific exemption of
the ambulances from this provision of the
regulations, there can be no doubt but
that the law when framed contemplated
such an exemption as is to be found in
section : of Article Y, which provides
that authorized vehicles of the Police
ana Fire Departments shall have right OF
way In the streets over all others and
the sounding of the bell or gong thereon
shaIl constitute warning and direction
to other vehicles and pedestrians to clear
the road 1t is pointed out that the We
hicles mentioned are unlimited as to speed
and that at the time of the formal ton of
the regulations referred to the entire
ambulance service of the city was oper-
ated by the Police Department and con-
sequently was exempted from the speed
regulation under the law and given right
of way. Although the ambulance is now
owned and operated by an institution in
dependent Of the Police Department. its
service is said to be auxiliary to that of
the department, which Is charged with
the saving and protection of life and
property. Consequently under existing
law it is believed that liberal construc-
ton is warranted in the case of the am
bulance service.
average vehicle to maintain speed of
twelve miles hour there is every rea-
son and equal safety in the movement Of
the ambulance at twice that speed I'm
lev of eli M
atiyes that are kept in charge of the au-
tomobile ambulance which can be stepped
( in half the distance needed by an ordi-
nary vehicle
The greatest pressure will be brought
to bear upon the commissioners to amend
the regulations, If II Is necessary to do
= so, TO ensure the right Of way to the
ambulance. The foremost argument in
, favor of such action is the work that
has been accomplished by the ambulance
and the entire freedom from accident
which has been enjoyed during its use,
although there Is no question but that
they have been run at speeds exceeding
twenty miles an hour. 1t is not thought
that the Commissioners will feel war
ranted in assuming the responsibility that
will unquestionably rest with them should
they persist in restricting the efficiency of
the work accomplished by the ambulance
service. In addition TO being permitted
TO attain whatever speed the ambulance
can safely maintain II is declared that
right of way should be specifically grant
ed it'and a penalty provided for those per
sons who Insist on obstructing its move
ments. The cause of the excessive ring
ing of the warning bell on the ambulance
at the corner of Fifteenth Street and Penn
sylvania Avenue 1t is pointed out, Is the
manner in which the gathering of vehicles
at that corner is permitted In such man
ner as to restrict the free passage OF the
ambulance Complaint has been made To
the police OF the First precinct about the
matter, but IT has been impossible to
obtain more than temporary relief.