As a kid in the 1950s in Denver, Colorado, we went to the local fire station, got a 'safety' check and a license plate for a buck or so. We thought we were big stuff, having our own real license tag just like our parents' cars. I recall a sense of pride in having that little metal license tag on the rear seat stay tubes on my Schwinn!
Fast forward to a concern some of us have regarding our treasured bikes of today: THEFT. I would go along with a mandatory licensing program if the system would make bicycle theft a major felony crime and actually prosecuted bicycle thieves. Seeing bike thieves serving hard time in prison for lifting valuable bikes would really boost my spirits and give me more faith in the 'system'.