Seems fair to me. Make the bicyclists help pay for what they use.

The current systems seems ridicules...the road in front of my place was re-done to make it more bicyclist friendly...it was a lane each way with parking along the curb, now it is a lane each way, a turn lane in some places, and a bike lane on each side, and the curbs were redone to be sure people don't park along them. Who paid for all this? The automobile gas tax. And the Bicycles still just use the sidewalk.

I think it's a good idea to make them register and pay. They are using the roads to get around that they don't help to pay for, plus so many can't be bothered to actually follow the rules and blow through stop signs, ride in the middle of car traffic lanes while ignoring the bike lane right next to it, et cetera. I don't see any good reason why they shouldn't be registered and tagged like cars are required to be.

The fallacy that people on bikes don't pay for the road they're on is tired. I pay for the roads I ride, and some say subsidize those in cars.

BunnyGirl:

I think it's a good idea to make them register and pay. They are using the roads to get around that they don't help to pay for, plus so many can't be bothered to actually follow the rules and blow through stop signs, ride in the middle of car traffic lanes while ignoring the bike lane right next to it, et cetera. I don't see any good reason why they shouldn't be registered and tagged like cars are required to be.

I have the distinct suspicion that someone is full of shit.

Actually, in Florida, sidewalks and roads are both used for bikes. You'll have to license and tag pedestrians, too, since they also use the road.

I have no sisue for this o public roads, which tells me how well they have done sheeping me. Bah. But if I have to pay and register to use that road, they should too.

The bill has been withdrawn.

If adults were the primary riders of bicycles in this area, this bill would make a little sense. It would go along way toward teaching a few of these assholes out here some rules of the road.

I'm not sure though that it's fair to make every five and six year old register their bicycle with training wheels.

Logistically, this would be a nightmare. My boyfriend buys a cheap bike every couple months or so because his gets stolen, even when it's locked up. There's a HUGE issue with bike theft in our neighborhood for some reason. He would have to go to the DMV every 3 to 4 months to get new plates.

Regardless, it is small problem to be solved at enormous cost.

You don't think extra workers will be hired, paid generous salaries, and retire with a pension we can only dream of?

I'm not endorsing or condemning the idea.

It all depends on how you grow up, I guess. In my hometown, everybody licensed and registered their bikes (that was decades ago, I don't know what the rules are now).

As kids, I'm pretty sure we weren't thinking about road use. The licenses were cheap, and kids got a kick out of sticking their shiny new license sticker over the old one. They were some kind of metallic thing, very hard to remove, and bike theft was nowhere near what it is where I live today. Just sayin'.

The Goddess writes:

At a time when police budgets are being cut and there are probably fewer officers on the street near you, think about who will be registering all these bikes and what they might otherwise be doing.

On the other hand, at 10 dollars a pop, that would increase revenue. Also, it might solve the stolen bike problem that sofar's boyfriend is experiencing. You wouldn't be able to ride a bike without tags, because you'll be stopped, and now the police will know what to look far.

At "$10 a pop" would the plan generate any net income? Revenue's great, but it's net income that counts.

Actually, in Florida, sidewalks and roads are both used for bikes. You'll have to license and tag pedestrians, too, since they also use the road.

Yeah, just as soon as you're done putting in adequate sidewalks.

Actually, there is a good reason to tag bikes and register their owners: I've seen more bikes blow thru stop signs and red lights than I have seen cars. If you're going to ride on the road and gripe that the car drivers need to share the road, you bicyclists also need to abide by the rules of the road.

Stop sign? stop. Red light? stop until it turns green. Fail to do so? here's your ticket, have a nice day.

Will having a license plate prevent blowing stop signs? I don't condone breaking traffic laws, but I don't know that this is an effective solution. Hence the bill has been withdrawn.

Nice to see it's been withdrawn.

Imagine what the out-of-state biker would have had to put up with.

You all need to see the ACME License Maker.

You'll love it.

Message to all these meddling lawmakers and politicians who produce nothing useful, cause only harm and destruction and infringement of liberties, while drawing a fat salary from the taxpayer: The party is coming to an end. Financially, there is trouble on the way. Ten years tops. You will learn what "sorry but there just is no money left anymore to pay your salary" means. Will the American people learn a lesson and abolish all this costly crap? I don't know.

"They are using the roads to get around that they don't help to pay for"

They don't? Hey genius, cyclists drive cars and pay taxes too.