New Jersey lawmaker proposes licensing bicycles

[The Straight Story]

New Jersey lawmaker proposes licensing bicycles

A New Jersey lawmaker has proposed a bill that would require people who ride bikes to register said bikes with the Motor Vehicle Commission. In exchange for ten dollars, bikers would receive a little license plate for their bike. How precious! And if they don’t? They’d be looking at $100 fine.

Aside from the asininity of registering a bicycle with the Motor Vehicle Commission, there’s just so much here to laugh at. Unless it actually happens, which it probably won’t—although, maybe that’s putting too much faith in 21st century government. And, really, any faith in government these days is probably too much faith.

After the government starts requiring bicycles to be registered, just think of what they could regulate next. Once every bike is licensed, the MVC might as well impose safety regulations governing things like tire pressure and handle-bar bell clarity. And baseball cards in the spokes? No way! What a safety hazard. It’s almost like people want their kids to skin their knees. Irresponsible. And all you little girls out there: handle-grip tassels shall hang no more than two and a half inches.

Pedal breaks will be banned. (Seriously, those things are a menace. I can’t count how many times I fell over backwards trying to stop when I was a kid.) Instead, hand breaks will be required on all new bikes, and all cyclists using pedal breaks will have a six month grace period, during which time they’ll be responsible for retroactively fitting their bikes with MVC-approved hand breaks.


http://washingtonexaminer.com/blogs/opinion-zone/2011/01/new-jersey-lawmaker-proposes-licensing-bicycles-whats-next

[somone]

1. How about taxing some rich people

[Hannah Bell]

16. wouldn't be prudent. 6-year-olds aren't a powerful interest group.

[MadHound]

2. Tax revenue is down,

Gotta get money from somewhere, heaven forbid we tax the rich.

I can see it now, a picture of a cop pulling over little Suzy for biking without a license.

[TheCowsCameHome]

3. Pedal "breaks"?

Great writing by the Examiner, whoever the hell they are................

[silverweb]

6. Brakes activated by pedal instead of hand grips?

I'm not sure many bikes still have them now, but they used to be pretty standard.

[Pancho Sanza]

13. You are a voice in the wilderness...

:eyes:

[TheCowsCameHome]

24. Sloppy writing by a newspaper reporter, would you agree?

Four times in one story.

[sarcasmo]

4. 10 dollars for each bike the taxing of the poor continues, just sad.

[AsahinaKimi]

5. Take it a step further...

Mandatory Insurance for each Bicycle rider... CAUTION: SLIPPERY SLOPE AHEAD!

[The Straight Story]

7. Well, a biker could swerve out in front of me and cause me to crash, so they need insurance

I am sure someone in the insurance industry is working on this right now, and others will tell us that it should be that to protect others and save money....

[AsahinaKimi]

17. Yeah..

I can't wait for the new GEICO commericals...
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cdy3orO6tQA

[-..__...]

23. "Biker"?

I hope not.

At least not the real thing...

[Scout]

8. licensing of a bicycle is new to you? that's been around for years

along with licensing your dog.

:shrug:

[The Straight Story]

9. Hmmm, I don't usually ride my dog to work. (nt)

[Hannah Bell]

15. mandatory licensing of bikes? not in my state.

[silverweb]

10. Talk about increasing the bureaucracy!

The town I grew up in (in NJ) had a local ordinance about licensing bikes. I don't remember if there was any charge or not, but if there was, I'm sure it was nominal.

The police department also ran a manditory "bike safety" program every spring for new licensees. It was a huge event for all us kids, dragging our bikes out after the winter, and had a celebratory atmosphere.

I thought this was a good idea on a local level, but making it a STATE-run program would be a complete boondoggle.

[name not needed]

11. Well, that's just fucking stupid.

[Pancho Sanza]

12. We kids back in the early 1950s were happy to buy license tags for our Schwinns

I'm not sure if it was mandatory but I think it was...they cost a whole dollar (that was 4 movie tickets) but we thought they were cool...and our serial numbers were on record in case someone stole our bikes...but of course nobody ever did. :-)

Who wrote this originally, and why can't they spell "brakes"??????????

[Hannah Bell]

14. it wasn't mandatory.

[Pancho Sanza]

18. Okay! I wasn't really sure, I'm so happy you confirmed it for me!

Do you miss living there way back in those days?...I do too, sometimes! :D

[madinmaryland]

19. Damn Straight, Skippy. There should be a fine for smoking while riding a bike!

They're worse than a car!

:D

[-..__...]

20. Great idea...

I hope it succeeds.

I also think that this proposal doesn't go far enough.

There should be a requirement that bicyclists take a written exam to demonstrate their knowledge of the rules of the road and safe bicycling.

Be required to wear a helmet at all times along with safety equipment and/or clothing that makes them visible.

Require some form of insurance.

Be held more accountable (fines/ticketing/citations), with regards to infractions and traffic laws.

Don't like it?

You want to play... you have to pay.

Walk or take public transportation instead.

[Dappleganger]

21. When I was a kid we had a bike license.

My parents made me pay for it, too (this was in VA Beach). Why is this such a problem?

[Sen. Walter Sobchak]

22. Not far enough,

They also need to require cyclists carry insurance and criminal sanctions equal to those against a motorist for leaving the scene of an accident.

[lib2DaBone]

25. Tax their shoes.. tax their feet.. tax the food they eat....

..but above all.. DO NOT tax the wealthy...

[jp11]

26. What a steaming load.

Greedy people looking for new markets to bleed people dry touting safety as the call to arms.

While yes I agree many 'cyclists' can be a menace, I often lament their existence on narrow roads where they must ride several abreast hogging the road there are many other people who aren't cyclists (read enthusiasts) just riding to get around or to go to work, etc and aren't in full spandex, helmets with mirrors, etc, hogging the road. But the answer isn't punishing everyone with stupid things like carrying insurance for riding a bike or licenses.

[mentalsolstice]

27. I just got back from vacation where cycling was the preferred mode

My husband cycles all the time, unfortunately I do not so much. We went to Grayton Beach, FL for our holiday vacation. Several years ago my husband bought me a fancy "town" bike (Electra Townie, I do love it when I ride it with any regularity). However, I can't ride it with any consistency because we live in an area with no bike paths, hilly, blind curves, etc. He rides with a group, on a fancy Trek, so he's more protected.

While on vacation, I regretted not knowing how to ride my bike better, the gears were confusing, and I kept wanting to put on the pedal brakes. The confusion led to having a crash. But licenses for cycling are BS.