kickstart

Yes, IMO its a bad thing.

A bicycle isn't a motor vehicle, as such you can do things that they can't, can't to do things that they can, and are not burdened with extraneous regulations.
It would do to bicycles what the same bureaucracy did to mopeds, make them more of a hassle then they are worth. Education is sufficient

I rather suffer a few fools on bicycles than to suffer to be on a bicycle.

dynodonn 

If the bill had passed, would that have made South Carolina a "Nanney" state?

B. Carfree

When I'm feeling morose about the state of the western states I spend my time in, it's nice to read a bit of news from the south to cheer me up. As my favorite local politician is wont to say, "Thank God for Mississippi", and, apparently, South Carolina.

Chicago Al 

I don't quite follow your line of reasoning, but I am pretty strict about medication. Also I am out of practice on diapering and will have to take your word on that, maybe it is something to do with recumbent riding.

BTW Rep Nanney (R-Greenville) has only been in the SC legislature since 2009. She is a graduate of Bob Jones University and is a past chairman of the Greenville County Republican Party, and former treasurer of the Upland Republican Womens' Club. Doubtless a nice lady, unless she is confronted with a cyclist.

CB HI

Only in your dreams!

Chicago Al 

Well done. Hopefully this all settled down before too much taxpayer money was wasted. Indeed, the only 'research' seems to have been that the legislator was annoyed by a single cyclist.

The next time some legislator in SC thinks to score some cheap points by beating up on cyclists, this incident will come to mind. Not only were SC cyclists motivated to respond in force, Rep Nanney withdrew post-haste, making her look like the worst thing one can be in politics: a loser. Lesson: don't mess with the cyclists. I strongly suspect that anon06 is correct, that this supposed bill would have been targeted not at weekend-warrior recreational cyclists, but at 'those people' who ride bikes for transportation. It's to the SC bike advocates' credit that they speak for ALL cyclists, even those who don't have lights, much less lycra.

zandoval 

Maybe we do need a three or four party system of government - Then they would be arguing so much no laws could get passed - I feel so frustrated every time I hear the government is going to make me do something, anything...

It sounds like a bad thing but I wonder how they handel this in countrys where a larger majority of people ride bicycles???

italktocats

well that would force the few cyclists into cars 24/7 again

italktocats

handle idiots in government you mean?

rydabent

At least Nanny had the common sense to admit she was wrong, and with drew the bill. How many b'crats do you see that are willing to admit they were wrong. Sure doesnt happen in Washington.

Again helmet laws and bike license bills are just plain stupid in my opinion. Wether it is hatred of cyclist, or B'crats thinking it would be a great source of revenue Im not sure.

dynodonn 

I would say both.

howsteepisit

More likely an attempt to use the only tool that governments seem to think they have - regulation, to solve a "problem". How much of a problem that the politico perceives as a problem is actually a problem is of course problematic.

FBinNY 

Say it isn't so.

mconlonx

I wouldn't at all mind seeing either mandatory study of road use laws in schools or required road use training for cyclists who wish to ride on public roadways.

In my state, we have to pay for private driving instruction, extra for private motorcycle use instruction. Why not a mandatory road use/safety class for cyclists as road users?

If we're going to demand the same level of participation on streets, the same rights and responsibilities of other road users, should we not be held to some minimum of familiarization with road use rules?

FBinNY 

Because it's unenforceable in any practical way, for beginners. No need to discuss other related issues.

CbadRider

I deleted some of the snarky posts. Let's keep things, civil, please.

And if this thread starts getting really political it's going to be moved to P&R.

kickstart

I remember when I was in grade school we were taught bicycle and pedestrian safety (and duck and cover), in high school we had driver education.
If volunteering/community service can be part of the mandatory curriculum, why not road user education.

shoemakerpom

If this was ta pass nation wide I think it should at least require all roads to be designed with a 3 foot bicycle median minimum. Of course that would drive up construction costs in some states but would be safer in the long run.

mconlonx

Pass the class, get a sticker or card on the spot, plus have ID info entered into a database accessible by LEO.

Or just make it part of a school curriculum. Maybe it already is?

No need to get into more formal licensing and registration schemes.

genec

Exactly. Driver education was part of my high school too... and was at least a semester long. Now I walk past elementary schools in the area and see nary a single bike rack... the few kids that do bike to school have to lock their bikes to poles outside the fence. What are we teaching the majority of the students with this "message?"

BTW I do see a few kids cycling... they tend to stick to sidewalks, travel in groups and wear helmets... they also seem somewhat "independent."

FBinNY 

Yes, no need to make it complicated or mandatory. Bike safety is often taught in grade school, but this won't cover the needs of asult cyclists, and since so many have long gaps between "outgrowing" (in quotes so you know I don't see it this way) bicycling as youths, then returning later that whatever was learned is gone.

IMO, dealers could take the initiative here with bike/traffic classes offered, or with a small handout covering the real world of adult cycling rather than the overly basic stuff like wear a helmet and obey the law.

Chris516

Go figure

I don't have a car. But State Farm seems to think I do. Because they keep sending me promos. While we are at this pomposity, why don't we license wheel chairs, too. The do have wheels.

mconlonx

I like the idea of a handout. Although I wonder if it would even be looked at, or just tucked into the equally unread owners manual with the receipt for a new bike and shoved into a file somewhere.

No one thinks they need a bike/traffic safety class, and even when offered free of charge, are sparsely attended.

All this adds up to me vaguely advocating mandatory education, like for any other vehicular road user.

kickstart

I went to a small suburban grade school in New Jersey, there were several rows of bike racks with few open spots. If you didn't take the bus, you rode a bike, hardly ever saw someone drive their kids to school.

mr_bill

One of the local treasures around here passed away this week.

Not a handout kind of guy.

He led free group rides (various options every week, the longest option a metric century) each weekend from a LBS. But in order to participate, you had to start with "the overly basic stuff like wear a helmet and obey the law."

Then came all the hints/tips about "the real world of adult cycling." He welcomed hundreds and hundreds to a new or reborn passion, got all riders confident that they could tackle the paths, roads, and charity rides.

"Love in your heart. Smiles on your face. By nice to EVERYONE!"
"Nobody's left behind."

-mr. bill