Is anyone else's city like this?

[Aloner]

In my city, we have the rather unique law(or so I think) of requiring people to register their bicycles and to put liscense plates on them. I don't know of anyone following this rule(Yeah, I put a liscense plate on my bike when I was six that said my name on it).


But, has anyone ever heard of such a law? They also require a bell to be on a bike, although that is certainly not followed, either. And, what do you think about the disobedience of said laws?

[Gordon P]

My city had a law like that 30 years ago.

[late]

Hi,
I like it. If stolen, they know who to give it back to. It also reflects an attitude accepting of bikes, I like that a lot. Do they do any other pro-bicycle things? Which city is this?

[ollo_ollo]

I remember getting one of those stickers for each of our bikes (4 total) back in the 60s but it wasn't ever enforced as far as I know.

[ollo_ollo]

oops, it was in Seattle. Don't know if they still register bikes or not now.

[mike]

Many cities had this rule, but most dropped the rule in the 1960's. Some hangers-on lasted until the 1980's. THere are people who collect bicycle licence plates. I have two.

China used to require bicycle licence plates, but even they gave it up recently as it provided little benefit and required unecessary resources to maintain.

[james Haury]

I think if you do not obey those laws they should hunt you down like a mad dog! You probably removed the tag from your mattress too! :D Just Kidding ,these laws seem to be for your protection and a bell is a polite way to alert pedestrians to your presence .You can find some really small ones if you look around. If you get the liscense for your bike it might slightly increase the chance of recovering your bicycle if stolen. James

[Da Tinker]

New Orleans has a bike registration law, as well.

[orguasch]

I have my bike registered at the Local Police station, it is voluntary, as for bells and light they are the law out here

[N_C]

i don't know if sioux city ever had such a law. but i do know that sioux falls south dakota once had bicyclie liscense tags. i don't know if it was a requirement or law.

i think it is a good idea because the revenue generated for it can potentially go back into the community to improve the bicycle trails and routes.

[The Rob]

Portland does not have such a law, but I wouldn't mind it in the least. I'd be proud.

I have a feeling I'm in the minority, in this town anyway.

[Ebbtide]

"Pro-cycling", not IMO.

In my city, this is just another way to get in my pocket (fees and tickets) and an excuse not to investigate stolen cycles.

I don't really feel I need to ask permission from my government to ride a bike..do you?

I'll just ad this to my long list of "taxes" that do nothing but support bloated pigs:

[Allister]

"Pro-cycling", not IMO.

In my city, this is just another way to get in my pocket (fees and tickets) and an excuse not to investigate stolen cycles.

I don't really feel I need to ask permission from my government to ride a bike..do you?

I'll just ad this to my long list of "taxes" that do nothing but support bloated pigs:

You can guarantee that if they thought there was money in it, they'd be doing it. In fact, the experience in W.A. when they tried it was that it costs more to run than could reasonably be expected to raise from it.

Also, a scewed on license plate is no protection from any thief with a screwdriver.

Bike registration may sound like a good idea, but it isn't, and these days the only people I see advocating bringing it in are motorists with a bee in their bonnet about cyclists getting a 'free ride'.

[Robert Gardner]

Here in California we have a bicycle license scheam that I do not think much of. You register at the local police station, they give you a numbered sticker to put on your bike, and file your registration in a file which goes no further than the local station. There is no charge for this service but it is not worth anything anyhow. If my bike is stolen, it is most likey going to occure outside my small community and the police would still not know anything about who to inform if they were recovering stolen property. In fact when I got rid of my old bike, I just went down to the local station and they tore up my old registration.

[Gordon P]

First bike registration, next pets, and then gun control! ;)

[Poguemahone]

We had the plates years ago-- I see them on occasion on bikes people are throwing out or are at the thrift store. Never thought to grab them. I do not belive there is currently a bike registration law in effect in Richmond.

A bell is sadly innefective when dealing with motorists. I find a good yell far more effective.

[Guest]

I don't think they require that you register your bike here in Chicago, but they certainly strongly suggest it. I think bike license plates would be a bit much for me to swallow. I could just see it now- getting a ticket in the mail or something with my bike license plates for some dumb thing that I now have to go to court to fight.

I kind of like being the anonymous cyclist in the city. I could go for registering my bike, but I wouldn't ever go for putting plates on my bike.

That's just dorky.

Koffee

[Harry]

First bike registration, next pets, and then gun control! ;)

Here in Switzerland we must register bicycles! This is actually an insurance against civil damage in case of an accident. Dogs are also registered and so are bang-bangs! Nobody complains. Maybe we are fools :)

You can be a danger with your bike. I have been pedalling on an off for 45 years and have had and indeed caused some scrapes in my time. When I was 12 i was run into by a big guy and suffered torn ligaments. I still get pins and needles in the leg!

There is no "Free Ride".

[Dchiefransom]

"Pro-cycling", not IMO.

In my city, this is just another way to get in my pocket (fees and tickets) and an excuse not to investigate stolen cycles.

I don't really feel I need to ask permission from my government to ride a bike..do you?

I'll just ad this to my long list of "taxes" that do nothing but support bloated pigs:


I don't feel like I need to ask permission from the government to drive a car, either, but that's registered. Using the roads safely is a privilege, not a right. I wish the police would start ticketing the wrong way cyclists and others that flagrantly break road rules that can injure others. If they don't have a driver's license, treat them like they do out-of-state drivers in many areas. Take them directly to the court house and bring them before the magistrate. Pay the fine or bail right on the spot.

[megaman]

In my town they required registration and gave you a little license plate. For a buck. That was 20 years ago. I don't think even then they made much money on it. The frame serial # was also on the registration. In theory that would prevent someone from registering a stolen bike. Then I stoped riding for about 12 years. I've never went to find out if registration is still required. But at least getting it registered and if everyone in town knew that, then it may cut down on theft. I understand in La Crosse they still require registration but no one does it.



I don't feel like I need to ask permission from the government to drive a car, either, but that's registered. Using the roads safely is a privilege, not a right. I wish the police would start ticketing the wrong way cyclists and others that flagrantly break road rules that can injure others. If they don't have a driver's license, treat them like they do out-of-state drivers in many areas. Take them directly to the court house and bring them before the magistrate. Pay the fine or bail right on the spot.

I agree throw them in the clink! But in this town they don't really hold anyone under 13 responsible for anything.

[John E]

A few years ago, the city of Oceanside began requiring bicycle license stickers and fining riders of nonstickered bicycles $35. One major ambiguous issue was whether residents of nearby cities need a license when cycling in Oceanside.

I do not mind putting license decals on my workhorse bikes, and my UO-8 still sports a (long-expired) 1973 Los Angeles Bike License sticker, but I really do not want to put one on the Capo, after splurging on a beautiful new paint job!

[franklen]

My borough has a bicycle registration program, don't recall if it is voluntary or required, but I went ahead with it when I moved here last year. Only $1 per bike, and 10 minutes at the borough offices. Can't hurt and its even possible that the shiny little silver registration sticker would prevent someone from taking the bike. Unlikely but possible. And its always good to have your bikes serial # on file in an additional public and regulatory location, but here's hoping I never have to find out how good thier record keeping and tracking down of stolen bikes are! They recommended putting the sticker on the bottom of the bike under the BB where some serial #'s are located, but I put it up in the handlebar frame area where it would be visible. I also live in a smaller borough and want to be prepared if I ever have to confront the local authorities over any bike issues. I consider it being proactive.

[willic]

I wish the police would start ticketing the wrong way cyclists and others that flagrantly break road rules

In that case I would be ticketed every time I returned home on my bike,as I live half way down a oneway street, and I`m damned if I am going to circle the one way system of the town to get home. After all I am hardly restricting traffic on a cycle,its not a Low Lowder.

[joeprim]

Allister and Gordon
You have a way with words!
Joe

[Dchiefransom]

In that case I would be ticketed every time I returned home on my bike,as I live half way down a oneway street, and I`m damned if I am going to circle the one way system of the town to get home. After all I am hardly restricting traffic on a cycle,its not a Low Lowder.

Hopefully you're doing it carefully. Here in the Midwest U.S. there is a guy on trial for manslaughter that crossed over the center line on a trail and hit another cyclist head-on. The second cyclist died. It could result in several years in prison.

[phoenyix]

Sure the City I live in has a bike registeration program where you register it with the police department for about $0.50 for the life of the Bike. :D