How Do They Ticket Those Cyclists Without Licenses?
October 4th, 2009
Just over two weeks ago I wrote a couple of posts suggesting that the move afoot to license cyclists had more to do with restricting peoples freedom than than any benefit that may incur. Oh no, I heard, and heard… How can you give tickets to people that don’t have licenses?
Of that 184 tickets police issued to cyclists, 49 went to bikers whose bikes didn’t have a working bell. Forty of the tickets were issued because the cyclist didn’t have proper working lights, and 38 were issued to cyclists who were riding on the sidewalk. Other citations were given to cyclists who didn’t stop at red lights or who made improper lane changes.
Handing out tickets has never been the issue, police have been doing so to cyclists for years, just as they do to pedestrians. And therefore, it is not what the licensing issue is about.
And note to all the people who claim this is about lousy bicycle drivers being unsafe on the road, the most tickets handed out where for… not having a bell.
freedom for the individual is the only truly progressive policy, pimply minions of bureaucracy
As I read it, all the tickets were issued either for safety infractions, (ie nor having required equipment installed, or said equipment not being in working order) or violations of the traffic code. Or are you of the opinion that cyclists are above said code?
I will point out that I also ride a bike and being aware that I have no airbags or other safety devices am very careful to stop at red lights, and signal my intentions well in advance, as well as always using a bike path or lane if one is there.
Ahhhrrrggg, that should read not, not nor…durned spill chigger…
I am of the opinion that licensing, as some are suggesting, has nothing to do with the safety code and that this blitz proves my point.
The safety code can be enforced without licensing bicyclists.
True, assuming that the cops catch them in the act, and actually follow through. I wonder if the license here refers to a drivers license, or a registration number on the bike itself? The latter might make it easier to nail scofflaws and requiring bikers to have liability insurance might also not be a bad idea.
I’m not a fan of the nanny state, but if people will not respect the rights of others or take responsibility for their actions, then society must rein them in to protect the majority.
When I grew up in Brantford, every bike had to have a license (even little kids bikes). No license, and your bike went into the cops trunk and daddy had to go to the police station and get it back (license in hand). The police sold the licenses, and they came around to all the schools in Sept. and did a safety session on safe riding, signalling etc. (in those day few adults rode a bike, and virtually all kids rode to school). I started to ride to school at 6 (about a mile) and even at that age everyone signalled, stopped for stop signs etc.
The solution now could be the same. Throw a couple of chains and combo locks in the trunk of every police cruiser and green hornets vehicle. See a bike without a license and chain it to the nearest light pole. Call it in (actually just enter it into the computer in the cruiser) and have a contractor run out and pick it up. If you want the bike back, show up with a license and $100 (I’m sure the towing contractors would love to get $50 to pick up a bike and store it, the other $50 can go to the city). Bikes not picked up in 30 days get auctioned off.
“Other citations were given to cyclists who didn’t stop at red lights or who made improper lane changes”
This is my biggest complaint about cyclists. The stop sign does not mean anything to these people. I have seen a parent going through a stop sign and her two children followed without looking for traffic. In fact, once I saw a cyclists stop, I gave that person $5.00 for being the first person to actually stop. I have no pity for those who get hit by going through a stop sign.
I asked a bike dealer why a reflector weas not on new bikes, and he said it was to heavy. That was the dumbest answer I ever heard.
I think some things should be standard when selling a bike: A. bell B. reflector C. lights and a helmet with a reflector on it. In the evenings, a biker might have dark clothging, no reflector and they wonder why they get no respect.