Originally Posted by Camel
I had thought that you had to properly identify yourself to police these days (??with picture ID/state ID??), when being stopped for cause-if asked. Claiming to be John/Jane Doe would land one in jail for the few days while the wants&warrants are being sorted out...
I don't think you're required by law to always have official ID on you. That's what the whole national ID card deal is about iirc...
I figure most cops won't stop you because there's no way for them to legally verify your ID, which you don't need to carry because on a bicycle you can't do as much damage as a car.
I've always seen licenses as a liability concern, since you're in a hunk of metal weighing a few thousand pounds going pretty fast. On a bicycle you have a much smaller chance of seriously damaging people and property, and a much smaller need for some form of ID to hold you liable in the event of an accident. If anything, the risks of cycling are greatest to the rider, almost the opposite of driving.