THE ILL-USED CYCLISTS.

Gisborne Times, Volume XLV, Issue 4009, 16 August 1915, Page 3

THE ILL-USED CYCLISTS.

y TREATED WORSE IN GISBORNE THAN ANYWHERE ELSE.

MEETING OF PROTEST AT THE COUNCIL CHAMBERS. SOME STRAIGHT TALKING. i\ . „ CYCLISTS’ UNION FORMED. Cyclists in Gisborne for some years past have. ' been like _ unto the Ismaebtes, The .condition of the streets in -winter time makes cycling in tihio roadways absolutely impossible, while if the man on the wheel takes to tlie. footpath, bis one sneaker put it at a meeting oil Friday night, “theman in blue is waiting for Ihiin.’’ For some time, past, Or. H. E. Mill has been lighting the cyclists’ battles at the Council table,' and endeavoring to get concessions to. amelioraxei their lot. 'The discontent, •which exists amongst local wheelmen against things as they are ciilinjnntccl in a mass meeting at the Bor'ongh Council Chambers, on Friday nigli.t (as briefly reported in our Saturday issue). Upwards of 50 attended, and Mr G. 0. Muuus was voted, to the chair, and! Mr W. 0.

Long was elected' secretary pro tern. The chairman, in opening thci meeting. said he' was like the rest of them ; he had felt that the lot of the cyclist wanted improving, but he had come along to tho meeting with no definite idea as to what was the best lino ol action to take. He must say, however, that lie thought cyclists in Gisborne, were treated Vir v Oiarshl.v. (Hear. hear). If the cyclist 'kept L> the road in wet weather his clothes were splashed with mud while it he took to the footpath a gentleman in blue was waiting for him. The fine of 20s amt 7s costs imposed bv the Magistrate for cycling on the footpaths was very severe one, ami it certainly did not seem to be justice tempered with mercy at all. However, if they did not develop into a Portuguese Parliament, anti till attempt to talk at once, no doubt tlmy would: be able to evolve some method of bettering the condition of tilings. Mr Dow, the convener of .the meeting, said some of them who had been interesting themselves in this cycling question hud' come to the conclusion that tbe v should come 1 1 > that meeting with some concrete proposals. He proposed; that they should go to the Borough Council, si ml ask them to.take all cyclists under their control. A tax of 2s Od or 5s could he imposed upon cyclists, arid- the money con Id) he spent in forming cycle tracks on each side of the main arterial roads. Tie had been informed by Borough Councillors that there was any amount of stuff at Gentle Annie, which would suit admitfiblv for laying down cycle tracks. Cr Hilt bad proposed that the" shouhl ati■point a deputation to go to Wellington a mlsee Sir James Carroll, with a view'to endeavoring to get something done. The cyclists ol Gisborne all owd a deep debt of -gratitude to Cr Hill, who had stood ah mo in battling for their interests. (A''"hiuso.) Tie bad seen, a letter as far bade a« 1912 which proved that Cr Hill had been working hat •d for them. He did not see whv they should: go to Wellington when they could do wliat they wanted here. (Apia,use.) Tf it took 20 years to got file' railway as far as it now was. God knew lmw ion,,; it wotdd take them to get their cycle tracks. (Laughter.) They might all he dead and gone. He hoped, tin re wotdd bo n<> rocrimination ' against Councillors for the state of the roads. TTe was one who believed that the Councillors had dene their very best. They could not make morning porridge cut of sand and mud. The bad state of the roads bad been a subject of complaint for vears past. Despite all that- bad boon done the roads were as had today as they were 15 years ago. He often wend r* d_ where the metal had gone to. “We can'*- use the roads, and tlmy won’t, let ns use the footpaths,'’ the speaker declared. “They could get- three good drunks for the amount, they fine us.” the speaker proceeded. amidst laughter. “That means that they class us as to roe times worse than the drunks.” (Laughter.)’ With regard to the suggestion that they should be allowed to use the footpath, he did not think it would: work. They would not he able to enforce a rule of the road. Nothing could compel a pedestrian to walk there when lie wanted to walk here. With ail due respect to the Magistrate, he thought he was too harsh. He had expressed sympathy with cyclists, but had also said il they could not ust' the road they could get off -and walk. Tho roads were, so deplorable that cyclists could not ride on them. The wheels became so clogged. with mud that they would not revolve. Tie did not see. whv a. man who o wiie<l a. good Li cycle slum Id not be allowed to use it. It was part of a man’s livelihood. . They should approach. the Borough Council in the manner suggested, and ho felt sure that some redress would- he' granted.

Air J. Do Man* asked if an association were formed would the. amount he retained- by the Borough Council or by t hi' association? The Chairman: What would the association want funds for? * Mr Do Mart-: To form and maintain their cycle tracks. v . Flie Chairman: The association would not be allowed to interfere with tlie Borough footpaths. Mr Smith said that he. was afraid that the proposition to form bicycle tracks would network in such a town as Gisborne. He was afraid that the Councillors were old and staid men who did not ride bicycles. They did not realise that cyclists had; as much right to roads as drays or carts. In American they, had! cycle tracks Sinwide. A cycle track had also been laid down in Christchurch, which, had lasted for four years. 'Flic chairman said that 1000 members at 2s (k! would mean £125. This was nothing. This amount, 1 however, would 1 pay interest on a substantial loan • Mr Long read Jibe folio wing letter wlTrr-.Lt had! been received by Mr Dow from Mr AY. H. Col ling wood, Town

Clerk of Palmerston North : £ Tu reply to vour letter of the sth inst.,. I beg to say that the cycle tracks in Palmerston North were made by the Borough Council, and no charge is made to cyclists for their'use. They are simply constructed in a manner similar' to the footways, and are tarred) at intervals. They are- laid alongside the footway with the channel between, and 1 the channel is so graded l ns to become part, of the cycle tract'. * They nra sufficiently* wide to allow two people to pass comfortably. I can assure, the people of Gisborne I,hat the cycle tracks have proved a- very great boon to the community, and arc constantly

"in -use. 5 ’ • Mr Loner mid ho had had the ph-n----swro of using the cycle traits in Palmerston North. Tlir-v wre Jilwmt 4ft -wide. and their maintenance cost praoiicxi.il potliind. If PalniCTSt-oii North could do this, 'why could! not Gisborne ? TTo had visited n eni 1 v every town in Notv Zealand, land considered! cyclists were given loss consideration here than anywhere else in New Zealand. Mr Amvlfv ash'd how wheel tralhc was. hoot off sur-h cvclci tracks ? . Mr Long: “The tracks arp .treated iufvt the* yscUno 1 ilp footpivtlis, Jin-el wived traffic or" horsemen trespassing on them are- fiiied lindu - the by-laws. He: pointed out that there was a /•vefe track all the way from "Wellington to Pc tone. , Mr H: E, Hill read section 166 ot the Municipal Oornorations Arc, showing that’ anyone trespassing on public cycle tracks were liable to fines. Proceeding. he said that he was< very pleas 'd to sop such ft largo attendance to press, this need, of the public. For years lie had been battling along on Ills own. and.it was pleasing to see the cyclists taking a stand for

their rights. He. stated that' under the late Borough engineer (Mr Paterson) the footpaths' of several streets had boon widened to 16ft to allow of cycle tracks being formed on them. Mr H. E. Bright said that Mr Hill hud raised a controversial point. To dear. the ground' he moved that this meeting affirm the principle that separate cycle tracks should be laid down as distinct from footpaths. Mr Do Man* said that where tho footpaths had been widened to lGffc there should not be any necessity to form a cycle track-.

Mr T. G. Lawless said ho had a good deal of sympathy for cyclists, as be had been lined twice- for cycling on tho footpaths. (Laughter.) He did, not think it was much use waiting for their roads to improve. They should approach the Borough Council, and ask for some consideration. A Cyclists’ Union should he formed, which could! formulate a definite scheme,. .Mr E. Oaks said he for one would strongly object to cyclists being tax'd. They had no more right to he taxed than owners of carts, .frigs, or motor cars. (Hear, hear). Tho expense of laying down cycle tracks would not he very much, and tho convenience would be very great. He confidently asserted that 20 per cent of the population of Gisborne used bicycles.

A Voice : Seventy per cent! Air Omlcs said he had put the proportion low. Re was sure that the Borough Council, if the.- were on!v sympathetic towards cyclists, would soon devise a way of helpin'- them. Mr J. 11. Bull considered if cycl’sts were given the advantage of special tracks thev should not object to paying a small tax. Air D. AY. Coleman said lie. agreed with Mr Oaks that it was unfair +o talk of imposing a tax on cyclists. Ho had been in Nelson the other day. Bind saw cycle tracks on both sides of the streets there. In Gisborne instead of bicycles they wanted canoes to get along their roads. Tliev wanted to do a little talking ami agitating to get the Borough Council to do something for them. They had four Councillors person! that night., and three of them had expressed their sympathy with the objects of the meeting. The other was in the chair, and that very fact showed his sympathies were with them. They only wanted to rope in another •Councillor, and they would be rigid, (hailgliter.)

Air Itowley said that if a few feet were reserved alongside the footpath, and no mud was allowed to be flumped down there, the cyclists would soon make tracks for themselves. Mr Somervell said that under the Police Offences Act it was tin offence to ride on the footpath. The Council , would be helping the cyclists greatly if they defined the width of the footpaths. The chairman said that they had no idea - what the Borough Council was up against. They bad no money. He bad asked for the cost- of putting a little . tar on a short piece of street the other dav. and bad been surprised to find it would -ost. ITO. Engineers were expensive individuals. Mr Rowley s idea wa.s a good one. but- wlmt were the Council to do? Were they to fine every unfortunate individual who drove his cart or trap over the path reserved for i-vclists? Air Carson seconded Afr Bright s moiion that distinct cycle tracks should be laid down. Air Smith said that the cost of hiving down an asphalt track 12 inches wide and 1) inches thick on each side of the road from the Borough boundary at do Lauiotir Hoad to the Borough boundary at Lytton Road would’ onlv cost £215. Tie moved as an amendment that- a deputation approach the Council. asking that tip’ be done. r The chairman said that lie was a train (hero was no chance of this. They wore leaving out a]l the other streets except Waiuui Road and Gladstone Air Bright pointed out that- M> Smith's amendment only aimed at what be (Air Bright) was striving for. Air Bright’s motion was then put, and carried unanimously 'Mr Bright then moved: "Unit t«t<? Borough Council be requested to define. on. su ,'h mads as a committee ol this meeting determine cycle track, within, the meaning of the Municipal Corporations Act.’- ~ Ml- Corson seconded the motion, contending that it was either cycle tracks on the road or nothing. Tiie motion was carried unanlAJr (Idler t. moved, and Air Hill seconded, that in the event of cycle tracks not being obtainable on the roads cyclists be allowed to cycle on portions of those streets which nad wide footpaths. Mr Coleman opposed the motion. He said that to allow the cyclists to use the footpaths would be dangerous They should insist that cycle t-iaek.-be roscrvtnl on tho roads. The chairman pointed out thatpolice and not the Borough- Council were the persons who had sole say ■ • to whether cyclists should he allowed to use the footpaths or not. The motion was lost, IS voting fm and 19 against. , Afr Bright, then moved that th _ Borough. Council be asked to b ■ shingle those streets winch v.eie to hi used bv cyclists. . Council lie-asked to impose a tax ol 2s fid on adult cyclists, .ami to subs. disc the- amount raised in this wn\ - for t. the money to go tow aids t cost of providing cycle tracks. Mr Smith suggested that it won he better to form a Cvchsts Uni u There would be a great deal of onpo sition to taxation. . p Air Coleman said that if ’"'A ’ , bad to be paid by cyclists it won Id have to-be as Mr Bright- suggested. ' With mtmv of them the first haltcrown would be the hast. Ho 'vas opposed to taxation m any fomi. ine> would have to tax visitors. ’l’lie Chairman: Cyclists ai e tax ! in Auckland. , . Mr Colenmn: I rode a oycle m 1 Auckland, and was not- registered. Mr Long : You were very luck j ,

th Mr Coleman: I don’t see why the cyclist should be taxed any more, than the man with a. dra.v or a gig. Afr F. S. Malcolm: Half-a-crown is n °Air Coleman : No, but lam against th Alr > Bright pointed out that, cvelists at present were paying a good deal in involuntary taxation by way ol fines. Would it not be better to pH 2s 6(1 and save this? , Mr Rowlev said it would cost a good portion, of the halr-erown to see that the registrations were carried out. x.i would oppose, the motion, first, ol a as being unfair and secondly as mg useless. . Tlie motion to impose a tax on cyclists'of 2s 6d per year was lost- »5 an overwhelming majority. Air Rowley thou moved that a Cyclists’ Association bo foimpd ■• conserve tho interests of cyclists in Gisborne. - . , AT . T.l-.e motion was seconded by M Smith, and carried. A provisional ooni"ii ttefl. . of Afessrs Rowlev, Hid. Bright, Don, Lawless. A. Wade; and Long were a - pointed to put the Association, m tum. n od appoint a deputation to wait upon the Borough Council. \ vote of thangs to tho chairman terminated an enthusiastic meeting.