BY-LAW BREAKERS.

Taihape Daily Times, 8 June 1918, Page 4

BY-LAW BREAKERS.

Thoughtless people who ride bicycles' on footpaths in. the borough, and persist in driving motor cars without having a rear light burning are to understand that such practices must cease. Many cases of almost providential escapes from serious accidents as well as the happenings of several minor accidents being reported "have magnetised the local police into determined action, and breakers of the law in this respect have commenced to appear in the Magisrate's Court at their pressing invitation. This week convictions were recorded and slight fines imposed on a few offenders, but the Bench took the opportunity to warn the accused that the lightness of the punishment was more an impressive warning than a penalty for the commission of the offence. They were told that in future such breaches of the by-laws would be met with fines that would tend to enforce an observance of the law. It should be understood that the footpaths of the main street, or any other street in the borough, were not constructed for the enjoyment of cyclists, but rather for the protection of pedestrians; a causeway where women and children, as we all other people might find their way from place to place with safety from the dangers of encountering any vehicular traffic, whether it be a bicycle or a farm wagon. There are, however, those thoughtless persons who would invade the rights of pedestrians with their wheels, and risk the injury to life and limb that might result from their folly. There may be a few selfish ones who would filch the rights and privileges of anyone anywhere, but the magistrates have made it plain that footpaths are to be preserved for foot passengers, and that any invasion of their rights will be severely punisheTl. Taihape has become- too thickly populated now to continue country village ways. In the borough the roads are sufficiently good for all wheel traffic, and particular attention is now being drawn to the subject so that should there be any who have formed a habit of riding on footpaths may mend their ways and so escape the attentions of police and magistrate and save their pockets from having to pay rather heavily for their foolhardines*.