Commuting - Driver's License

Does having a driver's license make one a better cyclocommuter?

No and neither does riding a bike make you a better driver. Well... at least for me.

Does having a driver's license make one a better cyclocommuter?

Yes, because you're aware that if you get ticketed while cyclocommuting by virtue of having a driver's license the police will actually be able to identify you...so you have to ride "better"...:D



:roflmao2:

So you took nothing away from driver training (if required in your state)?

I know there are plenty of foreigners in my neck of the woods who, due to state law, never had to sit through a driver's education class, and they drive like ****.

Possessing the knowledge required to obtain a DL is more important than having the actual state issued card, but another consideration is that level of knowledge is considered the bare minimum required to get a DL. Better to know more.

I think it's so ridiculously easy to get a DL in the U.S. that there's no reason to not have one unless it has been revoked.

So the short answer to this question is: Yes.

What made me a better driver was driving. The licensing tests are a joke.

I was first licensed in California, where we had to sit through about a week's worth of classroom training before we were even issued a permit.

I feel like the classroom education taught me a lot, but of course the experience taught me more.

I have one, but they don't lapse in the UK I just never drive :D. Had one for 2 years and haven't driven more than 10 miles, yet in 12 months I have done over 2000 miles on my bike :)

What made me a better driver was driving. The licensing tests are a joke.

+1 - No substitute for experience... riding or driving.

I recently renewed my license after not having one or a car for 8 years. My license was only 7 years lapsed.

I don't think a driver's license makes one a better cycle-commuter. I do know that awareness of the rules of the road is helpful but many drivers don't know them.

What made me a better driver was driving. The licensing tests are a joke.

Absolutely. For my test I had to drive about 300 feet down a deserted suburban road at 7 AM on a Sunday morning, take one right turn, drive about another 300 feet, and pull over. That's it. And for that they gave me a license to drive!

I got a CDL. Woohoo!

I got a CDL. Woohoo!

With a Clean Record.

Having a driver's license doesn't make one a better driver. Why would it make one a better bike commuter?

I have a driver's licence which is active. I took my test at thirty but didn't buy a car until a year or so later. Haven't owned a car for most of the last 27 years. I own a car now. The car is not insured (hasn't been for 6 months) and won't be until I take a holiday to the interior.

I don't need to drive in town.

I have one, but they don't lapse in the UK I just never drive :D. Had one for 2 years and haven't driven more than 10 miles, yet in 12 months I have done over 2000 miles on my bike :)

Anyone I've ever talked with who's learned to drive/ride in Europe thinks the US system is a joke. Especially the motorcycle riders.

I maintain a license for ID purposes and car rentals when out of town. Also plan to buy a car this year. We have 3 part tests: written, on road driving, and parallel parking with cones.

I used to drive 100,000 km a year and in the past 27 years have not had an accident or a ticket... I went car free several years ago and now might drive a few times a year.

If it was not for that and ID purposes I would not need a DL.

Yes, because you're aware that if you get ticketed while cyclocommuting by virtue of having a driver's license the police will actually be able to identify you

Why? I never actually CARRY my driver's license unless I'm driving.

Does having a driver's license make one a better cyclocommuter?

Correlations mean little in regards to cause/effect.

I imagine that having driving experience would make one a better cyclocommuter if you are cycling on roads. It allows you to have the mindset of both a driver and a cyclist to better aid you in anticipating what a driver might do. It certainly can't hurt. I know that being a cyclocommuter has made me a "better" i.e. more aware driver - I'm 1000% more aware of cyclists on the road.

what made me a better driver was driving. The licensing tests are a joke.

+1.

Does having a driver's license make one a better cyclocommuter?

No, but being a cyclist makes one a better driver.

Of course one should know the rules of the road, but you don't need a license to do that.

i'm 23 no license. everything i need is within biking distance, and if i'm going out dancing or to a show then i have freinds that drive and i'll pay for gas or parking or drinks.

imo its really important to know the rules of the road from both a drivers and cyclist point of view. k

Does having a driver's license make one a better cyclocommuter?

Does owning an orange coffee cup make one a better cyclocommuter?

I imagine that having driving experience would make one a better cyclocommuter if you are cycling on roads. It allows you to have the mindset of both a driver and a cyclist to better aid you in anticipating what a driver might do. It certainly can't hurt. I know that being a cyclocommuter has made me a "better" i.e. more aware driver - I'm 1000% more aware of cyclists on the road.

Agreed.

I don't think having a license at anything makes one better or worse. It would be the execution of the act that the license was for that would determine competency.

I'm with JeffS on this one.

I've always thought our roads would be a lot safer if everyone had to ride a motorcycle for 12 months before being allowed to drive a car. If nothing else, it would weed out the truly incompetent.