genec

Uh Steve, you are just making too much sense... do you actually expect politicians to really think like you?

Try to remember our President just sold bombs for oil... to a country from which 80% of the 9-11 terrorists were raised.

Ya gotta start thinking like a politician if you want to fit in... just consider: "how can I profit from this." Perhaps you can open school in Iowa to teach "cycling ed."

bizzz111

as I'm always asked at my job, "what's driving this new law/rule/procedure/whatever". Seems like none of the lawmakers ever ask this question.

It's obviously not safety. As mentioned in other posts, I don't see any requirement for a safety class or bicycle education.

It can't be the money. At $10 a head every five years, I fail to see how this would really generate any real revenue for the state. It would cost much more to run the program.

I do think it has to do with a lot of blowback from the ragbrai and the general anti-bike feeling that comes from the public generated by huge bike events such as these. Same feelings from the people on the Seattle to Portland ride. Anyone remember the comments by the residents after the cyclist was killed by a drunk driver? It made me never to want to bike through that area again.

People are more than happy to accommodate cyclists when they are in little groups, not interfering with their daily lives. When you have thousands of cyclists going through your town, causing major disruptions, even for just a few hours out of the year, those residents get pretty pissed off. Is it justifiable for them to get pissed off? Probably not, but they want their pound of flesh and will take it any way they can get it.

This is a pure political "cover your ass" move to placate the people upset over the lawsuit, and the ragbrai in general. It does nothing at all but make the people pissed off a little less pissed off and that's what politics is all about.

You'll see plenty of "about time these god damned cyclists are held accountable for their bad actions!!!" posted after any of these stories about the licenses. Will licenses actually hold the few bad cyclists accountable? No, but it doesn't really matter. Just like the internet stalking laws that were hurriedly passed with little forethought. They placate the masses.

sggoodri

To put what I said before another way, this bill is designed to create pain for cyclists who travel on the most useful roads for bicycle transportation, with no benefit to the users of those roads - cyclists or motorists - in terms of improved safety or convenience.

This does no public good, and so on principle, anyone who supports personal liberty and efficiency in government should oppose this bill. Cyclist advocates would do well to seek the assistance of libertarians and small-government advocates in opposition to this bill.

Dchiefransom

Are road user specific fees and taxes in Iowa funding the building and maintenance of the roads 100%? If not, then maybe that should be pointed out publicly in opposition viewpoints.

RKDNE

I license 2 vehicles each year, consequently I am already paying for the road. Every time I ride a bike, I am saving a little wear and tear on the road surface that I've paid to use.

What is next in Iowa, license every piece of farm equipment that uses these roads? A tractor does not pay road use, but I would think has the potential to do more damage to the surface when going to the field.

mconlonx

Monday, the bill was passed on to the Transportation Committee. Heres a status page for the bill (Senate File) if you want to track it:

https://coolice.legis.state.ia.us/Coo...2&hbill=SF2006

In other states, the committee would be required to have a public hearing at some point, but I'm, not up on Iowa legislative process. Anyone know for sure?

How many who live in IA have contacted the sponsoring senators and their own? Wouldn't hurt to copy your Representative, either. Now that it's in committee, write a letter, could be the same letter to each member, addressed to each of the individual committee members. Copy your own senator with any correspondence. And if the bill comes up for public hearing, attend and register your support or opposition.

People complain that they don't have a voice in gov't. You do, but you have to do it according to their established protocol. Which means letter campaigns and showing up in person to oppose legislation you might find egregious. Don't count on anyone or any advocacy group doing it for you. If you're from IA and you oppose it, and don't do anything beyond ranting about it on BF, then when it passes, you've got no one to blame but yourself.

While I'm pro-bike licensing, I'm more rabidly for people getting involved in gov't again. If you don't like it, get out there and do something about it. Even individual opposition can be effective--you don't need to be an expert or lobbying for some group.

genec

Actually that is a misconception... license fees do very little to pay for the road, general taxes tend to go to the bigger state and city budgets which in turn pay for roads, along with developer fees (which home owners pay in purchasing a home.)

License fees hardly pay enough to maintain the license agencies.

RKDNE

Agreed. I know of a Federal programs to improve infrastructure that 80% of every $ is overhead, meaning only 20% is actually applied to the end result. My belief is that all of these type of programs really only serve one purpose, to make jobs in a service oriented economy.

genec

And create red tape... from which apparently red carpets are made, upon which politicians can tread.