Cyclists Should Pay Registration!

They should be licensed and have registration plates. I am sick of cyclists flaunting the road rules, and its about time these lycra louts were made to pay to use the roads. After all, drivers have to pay to use the roads, so why don't cyclists?
What would be the pros and cons of this?

You would be able to report the rider if they broke the road rules, for one. As it is now, you can't report them as there is no way to identify them. If a driver breaks the rules, we note the rego number and report them. We cannot do that with cyclists.

Bike riders have bath paths created especially for them, yet they refuse to use them. They insist on riding on the road, two or three abreast, holding up traffic. Have you ever been stuck in peak hour traffic behind a cyclist who is riding on the road, and not in the bike path provided? Its maddening.

They run red lights, they cut you off, its annoying. And they get away with it because there is no way to identify these people.

Some may say that if we make cyclists pay registration, we'd have to make skateboarders and kids register their bikes. But skateboarders and kids don't ride on the roads, so therefore they don't have to pay registration.

Others may say that forcing cyclists to pay registration will discourage people from riding bikes. But it will help motorists, knowing that they can report an errant cyclist who breaks the road rules.

Opinions?

 

No, hell no, (*)(*)(*)(*) no!

Cycling: envionmentally healthy; healthy for the planet, healthy for the cyclist; reduces obesity, reduces heart disease, encourages an overall healthy lifestyle, reduces HC burden. Increases a persons positive ouotlook on life. Especially at a time when people are taking less exercise and eating far too many calories.

Car: The opposite of the above.

 

So its okay for cyclists to hog the road, break the road rules and act like menaces, just because cycling is healthier? (*)(*)(*)(*) that.

 

Cycling should be banned. It's dangerous. I spent a good half hour last night discussing it with my friend, who had 3 serious road accidents while cycling, one of which almost took his life. He said people invariably misjudge the speed of a cyclist and in his worst accident, a woman saw him coming and just stepped into the road right in front of him. He swerved to avoid, but the handlebar caught her and threw him from the bike. He was in hospital for some time, but she walked away from the accident and was never found.

The rest of the conversation related to his 22 year old son, who was knocked from his cycle and killed by a hit and run driver just before Christmas.

And my best friend, whose husband was a cycling fanatic, had 2 really serious accidents where he went to hospital but survived and was killed when he came off his bike about 2 months ago.

The whole thing is a nonsense. I too, am sick of not seeing cyclists until the last minute as they come up on you in blind spots and are too narrow to be seen, driving behind them and having to bolt out into the middle of the road to give them enough room, last week being stuck behind 3 who just wouldn't move and we were on a single track country road, so couldn't over take....

Plus...here they do cycling lanes. But on the riverside, where people used to walk, some half witted twit has painted the cycle lane not on the road, but on the pavement (sidewalk). On the inside of it. So they cycle along the inside right next to the river and the pedestrians have to walk on the outer edge of the pavement, next to the cars. Now if you have a dog or small children, this is a safety hazard. And you don't hear them coming up behind you, to reel in your dog or your child. And you can't even stand at the rail and look at the river in peace for them shooting past at speed. It's not at all safe.

If they must cycle in public places and roads, there definitely should be regulations and a test they need to sit and they should be required to register. You wouldn't let any other vehicle on the road without ensuring the driver knows the basics of road safety. These people are a risk to public safety.

 

And you think your proposal will fix this? It's a backlash, admit it.

And very very few cyclists act this way; I know as I used to ride in a pack every morning in Sydney.

 

I am saying that there needs to be a way to report errant cyclists, and making them get registered will help with that. Some cyclists do the right thing, but most of them ride in the road, forcing cars to slow, and merge into the next lane. They cut you off and come out of nowhere, and abuse the drivers.
I would prefer they get off the road entirely - use the bike paths made especially for you, not the road.

 

I voted no. Doesn't Australia have rules of road usage for cyclists? If so the police should be enforcing them.

 

There are road rules for them to follow, but because there is no way to actually identify them, the cops can't find them and fine them, which is why making them get registered would help.

 

I hope they all start congregating in McD'd car park!

 

I'm glad you survived it. My friend's husband also used to ride in a pack as a member of Inverclyde Velo, he rode every weekend for leisure. He also rode to work every day 30 miles each way and altered his route to take the back roads and avoid traffic, after his last accident. It didn't save him though. He hit the brakes on a deserted road and as these people have their feet fixed into the pedals, he and the bike flipped and the handlebar went through his temple regardless of the helmet he was wearing.

It's too dangerous. That guy had years of experience and was known as the most cautious of his team of cyclists, by no means reckless in any way. No matter how much care you take, you are taking the life of you and everyone around you in your hands when you cycle.

 

I agree. If they have to do it, get them off the road and into designated paths. Not lanes painted on the road. Separate roads where they're not a danger to drivers and the pedestrian public.

 

They already do. Old men come in wearing their tight lycra shorts. Its revolting.

 

hahahahaaha!

 

It's our decision and franksly Viv, you're over reacting. There are deaths horse riding and skiing etc...

 

Cities rarely accmodate this. Where I live there's a designated cycle highway outside cites, but car drivers take second place in cities; they slow down and give us priority, which is how it should be. Cycles were invented first, we are not poluting the environment, cars are.

 

Hey! Back away from the lycra! It's very practical!

 

Tres sexy!

 

Y'all need to get serious.

Anyone braking the rules should be fined, obviously. Police should set-up routine controles, e.g. around October you see massive police controles on cyclists in the morning and evening... (to ensure safety, that everyone has working lights, etc.).

What also should help is traffic education from since you are in kindergarten, we often made trips with school to the "traffic try-out area". There were bycicles and go-karts, and an entire real-life traffic environment was created for us (traffic lights, etc.) and there would be "real police" that handed us fines and we had to pay them...

During our P.E. exams in primary and in secundary school we got tested at least once a year on our bycicling skills, etc.

Anyways, cycling isn't dangerous -- traffic is.

 

Yes, everyone is to give you priority. That's exactly the point, you're getting carried away with yourselves. What are you, cyclingnazis? People should be able to walk in safety without the threat of some speeding cyclist hitting them and you don't all even nearly observe safety or even rules of the road. Plenty of you run red lights and bump onto the pavement whenever it suits you, even in the city centre. How do you know if you're above the speed limit?

Walking was invented before cycles, btw.

FFS do you wax your legs as well?

 

It's not your decision. If you are affecting other people, they have rights equal to yours. There is a fine line between what is reasonable and what requires legislation to protect people from themselves. Whether you agree or not, you are on the road and interfering with road traffic and pedestrians. There is a completely legitimate case for making you accountable and it would help you lot as much as protect the rest of us from your antics. ;p

Horses and skiers tend to stay off the main thoroughfare for the most part.

 

To be honest,...

I think it speaks loads of a person character if they start (*)(*)(*)(*)ting about cyclists on the road.

Poor them.

I always get annoyed by the (*)(*)(*)(*)ers when it's raining, and they sit sheltered in their cars, refusing to give the cyclist a brake and don't let him pass when the traffic rules don't oblige him/her to do so.

 

I know cyclists act that way here where I live---so I assume its worldwide. They just don't see themselves as breaking any rules because they think rules only apply to cars.

 

running with scissors too.

 

The road leading from my work to my house---two lane road with no passing for miles---is a riding trail for cyclists. I know eventually there will be a head-on collision--there are too many close calls.

 

God no. We need to encourage cyclists to reduce pollution, that means providing incentives to cycle or even disincentives to use cars.