Roughstuff: Your "Europe" example belies a very simple difference between the US and Europe. In Europe, cycling is a very different thing. It's encouraged. It's even cosmopolitan. In some major cities, there are more bikes than cars. In Amsterdam, you can grab a bike off the street (a public one) and ride it non stop and then leave it for the next person to pick up.

They line up for local crits after the Tour just for a chance to see their heroes.

In the US, the general population is apathetic / indifferent toward cycling, and in some cities, like NYC, they're downright antagonistic. Creating a registration system in Europe wouldn't change the cultural influences toward cycling. Doing so in the United States, where the support for the sport / activity is already weak would utterly destroy it.

Something tells me that thought hasn't escaped Councilmember Provenzano.