IMPOUNDING CYCLES

Taranaki Daily News, 24 August 1935, Page 22 (Supplement)

IMPOUNDING CYCLES

OFENCES BY THEIR OWNERS. MOTOR UNION SUGGESTION. The necessity for some effective check on cyclists offending against the regulations, a check that is not in force at the present time, caused considerable discussion at the annual conference of the North Island Motor Union at New Plymouth yesterday and a resolution that the advisability of impounding offender’s cycles should be placed before the municipal association for co-opera-tion in an application to the Transport Board. The suggestion that cycles should be impounded emanated from Auckland. At the start of the discussion Wellington strongly urged some methods of registration, such as a number plate issued at a nominal cost. It was considered, however, that the necessarily enormous work involved, as well as the difficulties of checking the frequent transfers of cycles, would completely defeat registration. It was announced, too, that by T paths for cyclists were in the experimental stages, and one was being laid along the great South Road from Auckland by * the Main Highways Board. In introducing the remit that cycles should be registered Mr. E. A. Batt, Wellington, said that recently traffic inspectors had stopped 180 cyclists at the mouth of the Mount Victoria tunnel, Wellington, and had taken their names and addresses for offences under the regulations. Most of the offenders were 'boys, who gave fictitious names and addresses and who could not be found. The time had arrived when cyclists in their own interests should be registered. “I suggest that cyclists should be made to wear collars like dogs,” said Mr. N. F. Little, New Plymouth. “The whole thing is ridiculous and a matter for the cyclists themselves. There are enough regulations now and motoring associations should devote their tifne to seeing that those regulations are being followed instead of formulating new ones. What should be done is that associations should support the building of by-paths along the main highways, the cyclists contributing towards the cost.” The problem was becoming urgent and important, said Mr. G. W, Hutchison, Auckland, who suggested that the cycles of offenders should be impounded. There- would always be the trouble of getting wrong names. Regulations for registration had been devised at Wanganui 15 years ago and the by-law was still on the books, said Mr. F. J. Hill. With transfers and other things, though, the regulation was hope-

less. The municipal authorities could deal with the question better than anyone else.

The impounding suggestion was a very good idea, said Mr. M. H. Wynyard, a member of the Main Highways Board. The registration with plates would be unwieldly and impounding would get away with all difficulties. The Main Highways Board was experimenting with cycle by-paths and had agreed to widen the shoulders on bends where accidents might happen. Mr. N. R. Bain, Wanganui: It would be dangerous for policemen to be given the power to impound cycles. If an .accused cyclist were acquitted the policeman migh't get into serious trouble.