The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1903-03-30
UNTANGLING OF STREET KNOTS
POLICE TACKLE PARK ROW AND
CHAMBERS STREET TO-DAY.

/
Tramc In Opcration-New Ordinance,
Under Way Governing Incense Mum.
bers and the Rules Of the Road
Capt Alexander Piper is to extend one
step further to-day the new system OF
handling street traffic. He will Introduce
1t at the congested crossing Of Park row
and New Chambers street. This Ia really
junction, where Park row, Chambers
street, Duane street and New Chambers
street traffic meets. Capt Piper said that
perhaps 1t was the worst crowded crossing
Of the city.
Besides sending policemen there to-day
to hold up the vehicles bound crosstown
while the up and down town traffic moves
along, and vice versa, Capt. Piper will
spend some time there himself to observe
conditions and to learn just how many men
will be necessary to manage things there
satisfactorily.
1t has developed that even with all the
publicity which Capt. Pipers plan has had,
and with the experience that Is daily met
with at the several crossings where II is
In operation. not nearly all the people
who are concerned yet understand what Is
happening.
This Is partly due to the fact that the
Officers cannot stop to explain matters to
every one who comes along, partly to the
fact that many Of the drivers who use some
OF the streets have an imperfect knowledge
OF English anyway, and In part to the fact
that every day there Is a large percentage
OF drivers at any single crossing who have
not come that way since the new scheme
has been in operation.
Capt. Piper said yesterday, however,
that he was much pleased to find that most
OF the drivers were quick to perceive that
the new plan is really for their benefit
and works to their distinct advantage, and
30 most Of them adjust themselves to the
new conditions willingly and without
trouble.
To deal with the refractory or ram
bunctious kind the patrolmen are some
what Handicapped now, for to pause in their
work Of regulation to arrest an offender
system, and the ordinances do not as yet |
provide the easy means Of Identification |
which the London police enjoy regarding |
public vehicles:
In London all public cabs land they are
legion), for instance. are obliged to carry
suspended, 30 as to be visible from be- |
hind. placards bearing their numbers in |
large figures which may be read at dis
lance; The bobby, therefore. does not
a cabby who disobeys an order.
He simply records the number OF the
vehicle; headquarters knows where that
number IL stabbed, and the next morning
that driver cannot take out his cab until
he has reckoned with the authorities.
Capt. Piper said that members OF the
Merchants Association are now engaged,
In collaboration with lawyers and MEM
bers OF the Board Of Aldermen. in the prepa-
ration OF ordinances changing somewhat
the system Of licensing, as well as correct
Ing he rules Of he road
The design Is to have the license num-
bers visible from behind, for, as the cap
tain pointed out. the only time any one
wants 10 know the license number, or
dinarily, is when a vehicle is ge- ting away.
II was because automobiles could get away
so quickly, as he said. that the rule was
made recurring, them TO suspend large
sized ini ials where they might be seen
from behind. and the same principle holds
In regard to horse vehicles.
The Capfai said that one plan under
considerat lon also was TO dis inguish. as
between those which are public and those
which are not; or. for instance. In the mat
ter OF cabs. between those which are !
licensed as public hacks and those which
may be hotel carriages. One sugges. ion
was that. for inst ance. No. TOLL should
indicate public licensed carriage. whereas
No, 10l would identify the carriage which
il, but would show that II was not
public licensed hack.
Under the present ordinances applying ,
to the rules Of the road, the police are with
out specific power, the captain said, to
order proper turnings from one street into !
another. Among the changes which the
Aldermen and the Merchants Association ,
and the captain are considering In one ,
all vehicles intending to turn \
10 the right at a corner to keep 10 the curb, 4
while all those wishing to turn to the left
shall be forced TO go beyond the middle 7
,,.A ,,l L. | Il
before making a turn. This would send
al the turning vehicles into the proper line
IF travel on the street into which they !. :
vent. and prevent the corner clipping and !;
wagon going up Broadway and desiring !,
o turn west into Canal street. for instance, !,
ries to butt into the mass OF eastbound
raffic on the south side Of Canal street.
Until the new ordinances are agreed Z,
ipon and adopted. the police will act con- =
'ervatively. as IL Ia not desired to have one .
Yet Of temporary rules put into effect only = =
o be superseded by new Get when the :
aldermen decide what they will do with =
he proposed ordinances now before them. !,
Capt. Piper said that one problem now L
aced In the matter OF extending the new =,
ranic-regulation scheme was Just how "
many men could justly be withdrawn from
ther duty TO make the new order Of things U
Elective. A. present five men are required
4 each crowded crossing to enforce the new
rider, one being the instructor. OF course. =,
u soon as matters get into working order y
he inst ructors will be Withdrawn. but even y
hen four men will Re required at the i'm q
'ortant crossings The Broadway squad a
) reduced just now by the absence Of seven =,
men who are Ill. a.
Another point tn be considered IL how 20 -
make the policeman's signals readily per- ~
eptible 10 the drivers Half the time nov W
he drivers don't see the poloeunsn's raised
ands not Icing la the habit of looking for v
hem In London the policemen wear ~
'hite gloves, which mako their hands u
little more Conspicuous, aud no, all New "
ork cops are particular 10 do this ~
Moreover la London the rules are "a
thoroughly understood and enforced that y
ssrs ~ the stTrsis there insiinotiyely look u
~ the bobby'- signal. or hold up without
thought when others about them are
,Ilhnz up, and IA many oas.s 40 sell is -
le systsin maintained there the bol,lias ~
lerely turn ihsr l,aoks and tfahlo ial,ind
lsll oSlIles 10 a halt
css Piper las i-en CONSIDERING the A.,
ibjea Of slsnallns snd he said thai hs ~
a. inclinsd "a THINK that i,ls pafis Ilnill0d ca
lshi lss Ls,isT for kew York There iIs ~
llioe al tbs oruasAss carry shiis llainis a.
hlch aIs Ialsad 10 siyp llsiile shsD tbs IL,
,lninailduf ~ tia ar,isuii,s bloss hls hlsils
halt that ~ OlH iiInsif ai.d move alans A..
~ ~ il,e Interesting hiIpai M
All la .lIlsllla ~ Az. | -