Furious Cycling.

Hastings Standard, Issue 127, 22 September 1896, Page 4

Furious Cycling.

A case possessing some amusing features, and of considerable interfest to cyclists, has just been decided in Melbourne.

Two young men, named Frank and j Arthur Jones, news agents of South ; Melbourne, were proceeded against by Constable Rogers for riding in a furious manner on their bicycles along Flinders street.

Constable Bogers deposed he was on duty at the viaduct in Flinders street, when he saw the defendants riding along at a rate of speed which he deemed dangerous to the public, and which he estimated at between 15 and 20 miles an hour. He was no expert in cycling, but could judge the speed by comparing it with that of a tram which they passed on the road. In cross-examination witness stated that accused were in the habit of going along Flinders street in this manner every day, each carrying a bundle of papers which he admitted to be quite as heavy as the bicycle itself. The question of speed being the principal one at issue, the evidence for the defence went to show that it would be next to impossible to get up the speed stated on a bicycle whilst carrying a parcel equal in weight to the machine. D. T. Scott, called as an expert cyclist, deposed that it would be extremely difficult to ride in such circumstances at more than 10 miles an hour. "If," he added, " they rode at the pace alleged, pedestrians would need to be acrobats to get out of their road." Several constables stationed in Flin-ders-street stated that they had seen the defendants almost daily riding furiously along the street. There was a consensus of opinion that the bicycle should be treated as a vehicle under the Act, and the Bench, holding that furious riding had been proved, imposed a fine of 5s against each of the defendants, with 14s 3d costs.