that the idea of registration for cyclists is silly, unworkable and unenforceable

[KihoBebiluPute]

This idea was featured on Radio 4 on monday morning and is also in the telegraph - Nick Freeman (the motorists loophole lawyer) is trying to drum up support for a scheme to force cyclists to register and display a number plate type thing.

I get that there are plenty of selfish and sometimes dangerous cyclists out there, but the numbers of deaths and injuries caused by dangerous cycling is a minuscule fraction of the numbers caused by careless driving and the whole idea seems totally unrealistic to me.

(1) For number plates to work as a reasonably reliable registration method for cars, the manufacture of number plates has to be quite tightly controlled - criminals do clone plates but it's not easy for an ordinary member of the public to get a plate without proof of ownership, and plates are fixed to the correct car and generally stay put. Any kind of wearable registration plate for cyclists would necessarily be something portable and would therefore be so easy to lose or nick that it would be functionally useless as a means of identification because there couldn't be any means to verifiably ensure that each plate was only ever carried by the correctly registered individual associated with that number plate.

(2) cyclists don't come into the world as fully formed MAMILs - and the sight of a 6 year old wobbling along the pavement next to a parent is quite normal. There's no sharp divide between a kid just learning and a fully independent cyclist, no test to pass or license to grant. There's just a gradual build up of skills and road-sense and a gradual reduction in parental supervision. so there's no rational way to define when someone should start being registered (presumably no one thinks it should apply to kids who are just learning)

(3) its frankly stupid to put up any kind of additional barrier to make it more complicated to make a trip by bike rather than getting in the car. It's currently just about a reasonable balance for me for a lot of journeys - a tiny bit of extra hassle to find my helmet and D-lock, but the benefit of not having to find or pay for parking balances that enough that some fraction of the car-miles I might otherwise make, generating traffic congestion and pollution, gets turned into the green alternative of cycling. Upset this balance by making it a legal requirement to wear and carry this proposed registration plate and the net effect will be to drive up car traffic at a time when we should be doing everything we can to achieve the opposite.

I also think they should pay road tax.

Why? No one else does.

Why? No one else does

What?

@AuntieStella

I agree with you it's likely to be unworkable.

But my goodness, wouldn't it be lovely if cameras could catch bike number plates and there be a chance of penalties for those jumping the lights (so you can't cross safely on the green man) or for cycling on pavements forcing pedestrians to swerve or be hit.

It's not just deaths, it's consequences for those who can't share nicely

This.

I agree with you OP, but this discussion is just bringing out all the bike haters again. The main issue in the UK is not 'aggressive' cyclists but lack of safe, well-made cycling routes. Where I come from there are cycling lanes throughout the town as well as along (but not on) country roads.

Cars have reg plates because drivers do not have a right to use the roads. They are tolerated under license.
Cyclists (and pedestrians) have a right to use the road (except for very specific cases like motorways).

I think it’s a great idea. Number plates and insurance, and hi viz clothing should be worn at all times

We have great numbers of cyclists, and lots of clubs using our roads, all of whom bunch together, refuse to allow cars to pass and are generally obnoxious spitting as they go, shouting loudly and are very rude

In the local town they ride on pavements and care not one jot about pedestrians, don’t use lights at dusk ( lots of bikes don’t even seem to have any) and are aggressive.

There are very few nice cyclists in my opinion. They use the roads, they pay tax like anyone else

Although it’s not called ‘road tax’ everyone knows what people mean by it. The money you pay 6 or 12 monthly to use the road. Don’t know why people get so wound up and touchy about it.

I dont think it is practical. If you're the kind of cyclist to cycle in big groups in front of cars wearing a balaclava then you're not going to comply. There are lots of practical issues.

I think that they should concentrate on electric scooters, at the moment they are going incredibly fast on pavements and weaving in and out of pedestrians and mainly ridden by teenagers without helmets, I regularly see two people on one wobbling all over the place. I'd say the average scooter user is more dangerous than the average cyclist

@ChardonnaysPetDragon

Why? No one else does

What?

See my username. There is no such thing as road tax.

Can’t believe the name change. Blimey.

I don't see the problem with attaching registration plates to the back of bikes. It would be like with cars - doesn't prove who was driving, but it lets you trace back to the registered keeper.

Surely registration plates would be beneficial to cyclists? If it's a bit of extra effort to try to pull off the plate and replace it, wouldn't it help reduce casual bike theft too?

You could just start selling adult sized bikes with plates. Most people who learn to cycle learn to cycle when they're small, so kids learning to cycle would be on smaller bikes, and those could be exempt from plates if so inclined.

Although it’s not called ‘road tax’ everyone knows what people mean by it. The money you pay 6 or 12 monthly to use the road. Don’t know why people get so wound up and touchy about it. confused
Because it's a vehicle tax and vehicles with low emissions don't pay any, so the anti-cyclist ramblings mean that some people apparently want human powered pedal bikes to pay more vehicle duty than some cars.

@Sparklingbrook

Although it’s not called ‘road tax’ everyone knows what people mean by it. The money you pay 6 or 12 monthly to use the road. Don’t know why people get so wound up and touchy about it.

VED is based on emissions. So bikes would be zero rated.

Cyclists (and pedestrians) have a right to use the road (except for very specific cases like motorways).

Maybe that needs to be changed. Cyclists are in charge of a vehicle on wheels, pedestrians aren't.

@Sparklingbrook we all pay “road tax” through general taxes, even cyclists and non-drivers. The yearly tax you’re thinking of is a vehicle excise tax which is related to emissions levels… which is why cars that are less polluting pay much lower costs. Bicycles cause no emissions so it seems fair to me.

@Sparklingbrook

Can’t believe the name change. Blimey.

No name change. Been using it for years.

Why pay road tax? I thought that there was a move towards green modes of transport not paying tax. Like electric cars. How would that fit in? Surely we want to be encouraging people to do more exercise and get fitter, not making it more expensive. I agree we need to do something to try and get people cycling better but paying out cash isnt going to stop people going through red lights. It's just going to make them feel more justified in using pavements surely

no test to pass or license to grant

I do think this is something that should be addressed. Letting people on the road on a vulnerable method of transport without any need for training is dumb.

There is no such thing as road tax

You know exactly what posters mean by that. You can go on splitting hair but it's petty and won't help your cause.

Yabu op. Cyclists need to be accountable. Most I've encountered are fucking dicks. They need to pay road tax and insurance, at least. And not just ride off when they take a wing mirror off.

@PyjamaFan

But cyclists who break the law and injure pedestrians should have to face the consequences.

All the problems you list can be discussed and sorted out. I expect similar arguments were made when car registration first came in.

This 👆🏻

"You could just start selling adult sized bikes with plates. Most people who learn to cycle learn to cycle when they're small, so kids learning to cycle would be on smaller bikes, and those could be exempt from plates if so inclined."

What about teenagers with adult sized bikes? I was using an adult sized bike from 14

They also need to be insured somehow.

What about teenagers with adult sized bikes?

Then a teenager has a bike with a registration.

VED would be zero for a bike anyway.
But we have no hypothecated taxes. Roads are paid for out of general taxation so cyclists are already paying as much for them as motorists.