as I'm always asked at my job, "what's driving this new law/rule/procedure/whatever". Seems like none of the lawmakers ever ask this question.

It's obviously not safety. As mentioned in other posts, I don't see any requirement for a safety class or bicycle education.

It can't be the money. At $10 a head every five years, I fail to see how this would really generate any real revenue for the state. It would cost much more to run the program.

I do think it has to do with a lot of blowback from the ragbrai and the general anti-bike feeling that comes from the public generated by huge bike events such as these. Same feelings from the people on the Seattle to Portland ride. Anyone remember the comments by the residents after the cyclist was killed by a drunk driver? It made me never to want to bike through that area again.

People are more than happy to accommodate cyclists when they are in little groups, not interfering with their daily lives. When you have thousands of cyclists going through your town, causing major disruptions, even for just a few hours out of the year, those residents get pretty pissed off. Is it justifiable for them to get pissed off? Probably not, but they want their pound of flesh and will take it any way they can get it.

This is a pure political "cover your ass" move to placate the people upset over the lawsuit, and the ragbrai in general. It does nothing at all but make the people pissed off a little less pissed off and that's what politics is all about.

You'll see plenty of "about time these god damned cyclists are held accountable for their bad actions!!!" posted after any of these stories about the licenses. Will licenses actually hold the few bad cyclists accountable? No, but it doesn't really matter. Just like the internet stalking laws that were hurriedly passed with little forethought. They placate the masses.