Address The Council

To the Arm Arbor City Councii: In my preliminary criticism of the blcycle ordlnance I alluded to the unreasonableness of compelling riders lo carry a lighted lamp iii broad daylight, also to the restrictions as to the use of the hands on the handle bars and to the uncertain and vague clause regarding the ringing of the bell. In this communieation I wijl state at the outset that the best element of blcycle riders desire an ordlnanci' of some kind for their own protection as well as for the protection of pedestrians, but the ordinance should be re-isonable and recog-nize the wheel as a legitímate and useful method of travel and not as a subject for ridicule. There are more blcycles used ioday throughout the country than any other meáns of locomotion, perhaps almost as many as all other means of travel comblned, and the same protection should be accorded it as is given to other vehieles. The fact that a few silly numskulls use the wheel and act like fools should no more be made the pretext for unreasonable laws than the fact that because a few drunken rowdies who ride wildly through our street ba made a pretext for stringent laws against all teamsters. Arrest the drunken driver as well as the fooi scorcher, but do not enact an ordinance as if you wished to revenge yourselves uponthe entire communlty of riders for the acts of a few simpletons. I am satisfied that the councilmen of Ann Arbor do not intentionally mean to annoy citizens who nde the wheel, and believing so I wish to make the following suggestion: Let the councii appoint a committeo to eonfer with a commlttee tu be si lected by the wheelmen and let these gentlemen draft an ordinance which will meet the wishes of all parties interested and be a complete protection to the entir? community. I know this can be done. I will mention one or two things which might be considered by such a committee. One Qf the vilest things in this city is the promiscucus seatteiing of glass bottles, crockery, etc., in the streets. Not alone does this entail serious loss and annoyance to wheelmen but it is a cruelty to the dumb creatures dfiven through the streets and should be severely dealt with. In few eities would this be tolerated as it is here. The ordinance should cover the throwing of glass, crockery, nails and similar dangerous articles, in f;ict it would not harm if an ordinance was enacted preventing rubbish of every kind from being thrown in the streets, which make such an unsightly appearancs in one of the prettiest places, naturally, m the country. Another thing which should be considered, is the constructing of bicycle paths along stated streets at the side of the sidewnlks. In early spring and during continuous rains it is imposslble tu use the wheel for days at a time. The wheels are barred all right from the sidewalks, and. this is proper; they cannot use the ïttêèts, and some provisión fehould be made so that wheelinon could reach wherever they wiah to travel, just as provisión is made for pedestrians. This can be done with but slight cost to the city and great convenience to hundrods of ta-xpayers, v, hi pay for the keeping of thé streets in repair and rarely ue tliew. Jh wheel has come tú flu.y. il !: one of the modern improvênjents and innorRtions hke ihe telephone. telegraph, ífé;, áiíS tUe sooner we recogr.ize this the better for all. In many of our cities this right is alre;1y reeógnized and provisions made for their convenience, and Ann Arbor must be as wi.le awake and progressive as the others. Section 1 of the ordinance shoulO be also changed. Twelvè miles an hour is too fast riding through the streets of the center of the city. Eight or nine miles is rapid enough anywhere within one mile of the court house. The writer of this will endeavor to have a, committee of wheelmen appointed, and if the councii wil! appoint a like committee I feel sanguine an ordinance can be framed which wiil be entirely satlsfactory to every or.e.