The Washington herald., 1921-11-04
Would Regulate Pedestrians.

To the Editor. The Washington Herald:
In The Herald Of Saturday, Octo-
Der %. there appeared an amusing
diatribe by one J. R. Munroe. Of
Riverton. La. against the outlaw"
who in this case appears to be every
owner or driver Of a motor vehicle.
II this were an isolated instance,
1t would hardly merit notice. but
unfortunately IL Is typical of the
/ attitude taken by the unprogressive
toward any new condition which en-
tiers into and affects our fixed habits
and opinions. But a few brief years
ago it was the fiend incarnate who
had the temerity to ride a BIZ
cycle; by the same element he
was regarded as a pestilence which
must be overcome and eradicated at
whatever cost; every bicycle rider
was represented as a speed fiend-a
"scorcher." he was usually called
who took especial delight in seek
| ing out and running down helpless
women and children. The fact that
probably so or 80 per cent Of the
riders were perfectly sane and re-
liable persons who exercised every
precaution to prevent accidents. rode
at moderate speed, complied with all
the regulations (fool and otherwise)
| imposed upon them, and otherwise
conducted themselves even as you and
| l. was entirely overlooked. The fur
Their fact that, in a collision between
cyclist and a pedestrian. the cy-
clist almost invariably suffered the
greater injury. both in person and
property, did not appear to appease
the wrath Of the fossils who proved
immune to the lure Of the wheel.
Mr.. Munroe suggests system OF
audible signals to indicate a driver
intention to turn at a corner, ex'
planning that a walker cannot hear
a hand signal made from his rear
This he would supplement with e
wig-wag nag or semaphore mounted
on the front Of the car. to be dipped
in the direction the driver wishes &c
turn. Aside from the addition tc
the babel Of unnecessary noises We
already have, he appears to forget
that a driver has but two hands and
two feet with which to operate hi:
car. Incidentally, the hand signals
appear to have been found generally
satisfactory, and are gradually be.
coming standardized throughout the
United States. They are well un
derstood by motorists. and even g
noticeable percentage of the non
motoring public are beginning to grasr
the idea that they have some mys.
FERROUS meaning. While primarily fol
the guidance Of the following or ap-
preaching car. these signals are easily
understood by the pedestrian who
will deign to notice them. Seriously
we already have such an inequality
between the regulation Of vehicles
and pedestrians that II Is high time
some attention were devoted to a
safety first" campaign directed to-
ward the latter.
As already intimated. the present
writer believes Il Is time for the
worm to turn. Here in the decitizen
lied District Of Columbia We are
! told the police have no authority OF
law by which they can regulate the
pedestrian. A strange condition. I'm
deed! Whenever a police regulation
bearing on a particular class is pro-
mulgated. we are reminded that the
| District Commissioners have general
authority to make regulations for the
good and orderly government of the
District and that such regulations
| have the full force and effect OF
law; and II you don't believe 1t, buck
up against one of them. II this
Is the case with respect to health.
traffic and building regulations. why
Is the regulation OF pedestrian trafhc
excepted? Is 1t a lack Of law, or a
lack Of disposition to attempt such
a seemingly hopeless and thankiess
task?
In any event, the writer would
suggest for the earnest consideration
OF the Board Of Commissioners the
following traffic provisions, some 81
which II is hoped may commend them
selves to the alleged ''autocratic OF
i ficials;"
J. Post q few 1tndred sfgrs along
the curb In the dokntown section