A REGULATION WANTED.

Star (Christchurch), Issue 7119, 7 June 1901, Page 2

A REGULATION WANTED.

We are glad to notice that at last attention has been directed to the heed for regulating cycling traffic on the occasion of a fire or. of an alarm of fire. When an alarm is given and the brigades are called out, 'the first thing certain people do is to. make for the Fire Brigade -Station. Then., when the engine st arts >' they mount their bicycles ancj, accompany it on its mission. The danger of the pro ceeding does not appear to strike them. They ride furiously along en either side of the engine, < or directly in front of it, -itterly. regardless of the risk they are running. That the risk is very great they themselves would be the first to admit after a moment's reflection. One cyciist has only to fall, and even if be escaped being run ov.er by the fire engine, he would be pretty certain to bring down some of his companions, and- in the confusion which would follow it would be fortunate, indeed, if no serious accident happened. It makes the observer shudder to think of what might have occurred last night when the engines were on their way to a fire in. Sydenham. As they tore down- to the scene they were preceded actually at an interval of but a few yards, by a band of cyclists, to each one of which a slip meant a serious accident, if not instant death. It goes without saying that some check ought to be placed on this practice. If the public has not sufficient good sense to avoid risks of this nature, it is the duty of the authorities to protect it from itself. That is one reason why the practice ought to be stopped. Another, and even a bettsr one, is that those people who endanger their lives in this way also interfere with the engines. It is the obvi&us duty of a fire brigade to reach the scene of a fire with' as little loss .of time as. possible* and it. cannot". dp this if its : driver has tot devote the. greater part of his; attention to tie task of avoiding other- traffic. • ' -. . " . -.