Tories want number plates and speed limits for cycles

[pavel]

Hate to say it, but plates for bicycles make sense.  I'm sure people were up in arms when they were proposed for cars, but people got used to accountability.

[ElyDave]

Which of my 5 gets the plate, or is it the individual who is licensed?
How would you deal with hired bikes?
How do you deal with children's bikes, and those children who are below the age of legal responsibility?
Why do you think it makes sense?

[hatler]

Every country that has introduced this idea has realised the folly of their ways and abandoned it.

What do you think it is about this country that would make it work ?

Admin costs would be massive for minuscule benefit.
It would discourage people from cycling.

The country is running out of money and we have climate, obesity, cost of living and congestion crises all eliding into one horrible mess.

Good idea ?

[Diver300]

Hate to say it, but plates for bicycles make sense.  I'm sure people were up in arms when they were proposed for cars, but people got used to accountability.

Accountability for what? We have car insurance and plates because of the huge damage that they do, including a around 5 deaths per day. In my village, two houses have been significantly damaged by cars in the last few years.

Bikes aren't capable of such damage.

The direct costs of a bike licencing scheme would far outweigh any benefits. The indirect costs, from discouraging cycling, and probably putting more cars on the roads would be huge.

(cross post with Hatler)

[hatler]

Getting it wrong in a car could cause so much damage it could bankrupt the driver.

Car insurance is there to protect drivers, not punish them.

The chances of a cyclist doing something similar means that the cost of administering a mandatory insurance scheme would far outweigh any benefits.

[citoyen]

Hate to say it, but plates for bicycles make sense.

You really haven't thought it through.

How do I know this? Because everyone who ever has thought it through (see expert studies mentioned upthread) quickly discovers that the idea is nonsense.

[yoav]

Even the Dutch gave up on number plates for bikes, having tried it. The old number plates can be bought as souvenirs at Dutch antique markets. I have one.

[ScumOfTheRoad]

I am not sure what happens in Switzerland now.
When I was there you bought a plaque from the Port Office for every bike, every year. As I remember they were 10ChF.
I have one of the metal ones, they later became stickers you out on the frame.
You got insurance in return for the 10ChF

[hatler]

No longer required in Switzerland. Abandoned as being not worth the fuss.

[Mr Larrington]

You no longer need a licence for a dog.  Or a radio.  Because cost/benefit wossname showed them to be money sinks.

[ian]

Yes, but if you take £12.50 and proof of ID to your local PO, they'll issue you a Licence to Kill. Not everyone knows this.

[Beardy]

Has anyone pointed out that licensing and insurance has little effect on the behaviour of the majority of motorists, and absolutely no effect on a small subset who just don’t bother with registering or insuring the cars they acquire.

[Wycombewheeler]

Hate to say it, but plates for bicycles make sense.  I'm sure people were up in arms when they were proposed for cars, but people got used to accountability.

do ID cards for pedestrians also "make sense"
Every santandar hire bike in London has an identifying number. These displayed numbers have NEVER been used to track down an offender. So what problem are we trying to solve?
Accountability for cyclists? or soothing drivers hurt feelings?

[quixoticgeek]

Hate to say it, but plates for bicycles make sense.  I'm sure people were up in arms when they were proposed for cars, but people got used to accountability.

They don't for exactly the same reason that mandatory cycle helmets don't make sense.

Cycling is good for society, the more people cycling, the better. The reduction in health care spending alone from a fitter society far outway any costs of the few poor souls who die while cycling.

Any barrier you put in the way of cycling up take will decrease the number of people cycling. Society pays the price. We have a natural experiment for this. It's called Australia.

And that's before we get into any of the practical things. Like where do you mount the number plate on a bike? Does my 3 year old niece who's learning to ride a bike need one? What about an 11 year old? etc...

So, while I have to give you 10/10 for trolling, 0/10 for actual logic behind the post.

J

[Lightning Phil]

You came back after almost 2 years of no posts to post this. Are you a sleeper agent?

[quixoticgeek]

You came back after almost 2 years of no posts to post this. Are you a sleeper agent?

I have no idea where you might think I have two years without posting...

J

[Jaded]

You came back after almost 2 years of no posts to post this. Are you a sleeper agent?

I have no idea where you might think I have two years without posting...

J

He doesn’t.

J

[quixoticgeek]

He doesn’t.

J

Then he needs to learn to use the quotes functionality properly.

J

[ian]

[ElyDave]

What does properly mean, and who gets to define that standard?

 

[Lightning Phil]

He doesn’t.

J

Then he needs to learn to use the quotes functionality properly.

J

I didn’t quote you though, so WTF are you on about?

[Mr Larrington]

I for one look forward to New Forest ponies having number plates, tax, insurance and, where appropriate, a valid MOT certificate.

[Cudzoziemiec]

Technically, it's not called an MOT for ponies, it's a QUAdruped Roadworthiness Rating Equine Licence, but it's not worth arguing about.

[offcumden]

Technically, it's not called an MOT for ponies, it's a QUAdruped Roadworthiness Rating Equine Licence, but it's not worth arguing about.

Made me smile. Even if it's not true 

[Cudzoziemiec]

Technically, it's not called an MOT for ponies, it's a QUAdruped Roadworthiness Rating Equine Licence, but it's not worth arguing about.

Made me smile. Even if it's not true 

Oh yes it is!

I'm here for the full five minutes.