i wont happen - its not even worth discussing....but since Im here ill let everyone know why this wont go any further than the occasional nut job asking for it..
So.....(what is it with this photography forum and cycling topics!?) here goes in no particular order....
Most would say that the reasons for bike registration as as follows......
1 - they will stop red light jumping: Well they wont, and here's why. On a recent crack down in antisocial road activity in London 4k cyclists and 10k motorists where fined. They where not fined because they did or did not have number plates, in fact number plates played no part in them being caught at all (so why have them?), they where caught because police actively stopped them and caught them. Had the police not don't so, those registered, licensed motorists would have continued to break the law day in day out.
2 - "ill be able to report a bad cyclist": No you wont. Countless cyclists have helmet cams that record all kinds of nasty stuff everyday. Unless someone is hurt for the most part the police don't care. And if someone phoned the police with a number plate and it will be their word against anothers. It will result in nothing.
3 - "it will stop hit and runs": No it wont. 10 hit and runs by motorists happen every day in London alone (i know...bonkers right?). Do you think any one takes down their number plate?? They don't. Things like this happen far to quickly, blink and you miss it.
And heres a bunch of reasons other than the above....
1 - there are estimated 30 million bikes in the Uk - collectively they and their owners are responsible for 2 (on occasion its as low as 0) deaths a year. The time, effort, money, extra policing is simply not even remotely worth it. Compare that to motorists (20 million cars I think), are responsible for just under 1800 deaths last year.
2 - Kids - Will it stop with Kids, if so at what age. Will a 15 year old be exempt? Will the police actually spend time stopping every 16 year old just to find out they are 15?? At what age will registration start?
3 - physical practicality - as mentioned, 30ish million bikes. Number plates to be successful would need to be as large as ones on cars. Bikes have small frames, might be fitted with lights, might have panniers. Fitting it in a safe and or convenient manner will be difficult, potentially impractical. Also, note the conversation we had the other day where people expected a cyclist to hug the curb. That will be fun with a number plate sticking out, getting close to cars on on side, and pedestrians on the other.
4 - It will discourage cycling - Yeah I know, many people would love that. But hear me out... Every cyclist is one less car, one less car is less pollution, less road wear, more lives saved (directly and indirectly), more money in the pot of the NHS etc. The benefits of getting people out of cars cannot be over stated enough. Not just for people like me, but for kids, for oaps, for the unfit, the unhealthy, for future generations. Cycling to work actually saves the treasury money vs that of taking a car.
5 - there have been a few nations who have tried it...Its been so successful that its been abolished every time - too expensive, unenforceable, no real benefit etc..
Why is it right to encourage cycling over taking a train, or driving
You say that as if perhaps we should encourage car use?
A number of reason (some of which you will see above). But cycling is safe, it does not pollute, it frees up road space, it does not damage the road - Unlike a car, which does pollute, does damage the road, does kill many people directly and indirectly.
Its common scene to encourage one over the other.
Quite honestly, for the preservation of their own lives, the paint of the publics cars, cycling should be discouraged IMHO.
Or you know...Considering the danger motorists pose, perhaps blaming the vulnerable is a bit arse around face?
Why should we have that system, it should be a fault based system irregardless of the mode of transport
The problem there is we are assuming that modes of transport are equal. We know they are not. If I cycle in to your car you are free to get out, brush yourself off, and contunue with your life. If you drive into me on my bike or on foot i wont be doing the same thing anytime soon. Pretending everyone's someone equally responsible is madness.
Why example should a car driver be liable for the injuries sustained to a cyclist if the cyclist runs a red light and goes into the path of an oncoming car. Why should a cyclist be liable for the injuries to a padestrain if the padestrain walks in front of them causing the collision with the bike and their own injury.
This is a valid point is precisely why "strict" liability wont happen in the UK.
What is more likely is a form of "presumed" liability. Presumed liability happens on the roads all the time - Ever heard that if you drive in to the back of someone you will be "presumed" liable. Well same thing would happen but for everyone. Staring it HGV, then cars, then cyclists/horses, then people. Every group looks out for the one below. But, if you are found to have put yourself in danger all bets are off. But in situations where its a one persons word against another, the more dangerous party will be found liable
It works really well on other countries. No one complained about it. The insurance companies are fine with it. In fact, apparently insurance companies think its great. It speeds up the process no end,
There's no need to be driving faster than 20mph in a street, anyway.
Bingo.
What many fail to realize is in most cities and towns the average speed of traffic is around 17mph. This means cars speed up to 30, then slow down to nothing really quickly while they wait at traffic lights. Lowering the speed limit not only smooths this process out, but it saves lives. And arguably adds nothing of note to journey times.
You can test this yourself on your drive in.....You might notice that occasional cyclist who keeps catching you up at the lights
In what way is it healthy to cycle in heavy traffic choking on my diesel particulate exhaust fumes? I bet my ride inside a car to work is far healthier unless you cycle on a segregated cycle path in a countryside. Any other form of cycling should in fact be outlawed.