THE MOTOR AND CYCLE.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LVII, Issue 255, 7 April 1915, Page 2

THE MOTOR AND CYCLE.

NEWS AND XOTES,

"Nile problem of tratlic control - pears to -bo giving the uutliuritics ' ileal of treble in solving, 'because tin: traffic units are a very mixed lot indeed hut roughly may bo classed as fast and slow. State and civil officials apparently will not dijl'erentiate between the two, but art; seeking to f,V mechanically-propelled vehicle with practically thu same draft of rules that doe:-, rather serv'iee for those of the horse-drawn typo. Fault is found with the superior spied of the motor, regardless of the fact thai wtrc it not for its greater puce the motor xvo'.;i<l have no justification for exi itenee. And it is the mingling of the fa-1 and comparatively slow traffic t'iut is causing most of the trouble. Anothw factor, however, is that because the volume of trailie in city streets is almost daily increasing the normal rale of movement must he quickened to prevent congestion, and it is bore that the authorities fail, since they are indisposed to eliminate all that ma hinder tile continuous flow of traffic.

It is not surprising that in Sydney the 'Government iirnls it necessary to introduce drastic regulations for the better control of vehicular traffic in certain streets. One of the chief of the new rules applies to motorists mainly. It provides that vehicles must not puis on the near aide of stationary tramcars while passengers are enlering or alighting, 'hut may pass on the off side. In certain streets traffic may now travd in one direction only, in which also, heavy, slow traffic may not enter at all. Between the hours of i and 6.30 p.m., when the trams cany big loads, all vehicles, however propelled, and even perambulators, will not be allowed to travel along King Street from i.lie direction of York Street to Maquarie Street, all other traffic being made subservient to the electric tramwayis.

In an article in a Melbourne daily, it was pointed out that one of the most marked features of modern traffic is its mobility, due, in a large measure, it is admitted, to the motor-vehicle, which moves so swiftly and gets away so quickly from any points of congestion. Last week, the Melbourne City Council niave a move—a small one, to be silvern the right direction. Motor busses are not now allowed to pull up at both sid >.- of street crossings. If the cable tramcara had been included in the new regulations a great amount of the congestion would 'have automatically disappeared. The same paper, however, is unduly harsh on cyclists. ]t declared tliey are the terror of every driver, and that they court violent death by shaving so closely motor cars and trams. That, however, is a gross 'exaggeration. It then goes on to say that the Louden Times some months ago seriously discussed the proposal to debar bicwles being ridden in London within four miles of Charing Cross, but 110 nfention was made.of the report of the Snecial Traffic Committee, which states that though power-driven vehicles are twice a t dangerous as those drawn by horses, the cycle is the least dangerous of all vehicles as a cause of accidents. The electric tramcara and horse-drawn vehicles come next, being nine times as fatal as the cycle. The motor cab is eleven times, motor cars 23 times, and motor busses 38 times as fatal as the cycle, it is also worthy of note that tiie cycle ranks as the least obstructive in i,:it official "obstruction table". Each type of vehicle is allotted a certain "factor of obstruction," representing its relative demerit under this head; and the humble bicycle emerges from this test with flying colors, every other vehicle, from the pair horse van to the hand-barrow heing immensely more obstructive to traffic—2o times more in the case of the van mentioned, and 8 times more in the case of the 'barrow. Considering tire extra difficulties; imposed upon the cyclist by the necessity of maintaining equilibrium on two wheels, the human element in his case must be deyeloped to a high degree of efficiency and watchful cars.

Construction that is considerably different from ordinary shock-absorber design is embodied in a new American device. It works b}"! friction, the degree of retardation of spring movement being automatically regulated according to the demands made upon it. A bylinder in which slides a split plunger is attached vertically to the lower spring of the car and an upward extension of the plunger attached to the upper spring, or, in the ease of a semi-elliptic, to the' frame above the spring. A pair of hinged arms, positioned like the arms of "a friction-joint shock absorber, are attached one to the upper and the other to the lower shock absorber _ brackets. Movement of tile car on its springs causes movement of the plunger and the arms; the lower arm is connected to an expanding mechanism, acting on the split plunger, so that tire further the arm is moved the more the plunger is expanded and the greater the friction 'between it and the cylinder. The expander mechanism is adjustable from the outside so that it can be adapted to the car on which the device is installed. The expanding action is effective for both anward "and downward movements. The adjunct is made in three types or strengths, to suit cars from the singleseater Ford (for which there is special de fj gn) to cars scaling up to two tons. Tn most countries where the motor vehicle is used in large numbers every available opportunity appears to be grasped to obtain money from the motorists or to place some sort of restriction on their movements. While Victorian motorists are well treated as regards the fees payable and the purpose for which the money thus collected is used, those in many "other countries merely pay, getting little or nothing in return, they simply are taxed, 'being motorists. Motor cyclists in the State of New York are now 'being threatened with an amendment to the present Motor Vehicle Law which seeks to impose a tax on each rider of 3 dollars (12s (id), and on each dealer or agent ten dollars (about £i 2s). The sponsor of the amending Bill will not agree to a reduction of the fee, in fact, lie says many of the senators are favorable to a five dollar rate. The motof cvelists are striving hard to. haw the Bill defeated in committee. The clause referring to dealers provides that "on the payment of the registration fee of ten dollars, if the application relates to motor cycles only, such manufacturer or dealer may obtain as manv duplicate* of the number plates so desired, upcon the. payment of 50 cents for eacli duplicate. Nothing in this sub-division shall be construed to apply to a motor vehicle operated by a manufacturer or dealer for private use or for hire." The la t two sentences refer to matters which are treated very diffieroiitlv her.' Dealers in Victoria must use their trade numbers most, circumspectly—- , when testing the machines after assemI liling, or when demonstrating to or with j a probable purchaser, and on no other j occasion.