FBinNY 

Why not save the time, effort and expense of maintaining a licensing structure, and simply have some of one time good for life course. Even if people forget the particulars, they'll at least remember that there things to know about riding safely in traffic. It doesn't even have to be a separate thing, simply squeezed into school curriculum.

As experience with motorists prove, licensing doesn't guaranty knowledge or skill, so instead of licensing we should cut to the chase and talk about education, including ongoing education via PSAs.

spivonious

Even with a one-time course, you'd still need some way to track that it had been completed. I also agree that we need to make motorist licensing much more stringent, similar to how the UK does things. The current system hands out licenses to people who can drive around the block without hitting anything.

I'd love to see a requirement for drivers to ride a bike on the road as part of their training. I know it made me a much safer driver once I started commuting by bike.

RPK79

Just pretend it is a link to the huffington post. If you're too good to even watch the video how can you jump to the conclusion that it is void of any facts or knowledge to impart to you?

I-Like-To-Bike

I will let others clicky-click on every URL that gets posted, even when it it is to a known prime source of BS. My conclusion stands that there are no bike commuting issues being discussed on this thread, just more car culture yaking w/o bicycle commuting content.

Gnosis

+1

mstraus

It could have been worse, he could have done this in two separate trips from home. I understand a car is convenient for many our our errands, even those that are within a potential biking or walking distance. It will be hard to convince many people to bike or walk instead of drive, but if they could at least plan their trips to be more efficient. It amazes me how many people will run out of the house multiple times a day to run errands that could have been combined in one trip.

mstraus

I do think it is valuable to learn to drive and get a license even if you don't plan to have a car but do plan to be a cyclist on the roads, as roads are primarily dominated with cars.

I also think part of getting your drivers license should be riding a bike in traffic to learn first hand what its like. Maybe then drivers would be more sensitive to cyclists.

Brennan

I've read that one of the contributing factors to this trend among young people is they can't operate their smartphones while driving. Many prefer to use public transportation simply because they can phone-surf for the entire trip.

Axiom

I just got my learners permit a few days ago and should have my license by January. I'll be 20 on the 13th of January. Cars are an interest of mine but driving where I live doesn't seem necessary. The only thing that pushed me to get my license is Highway Patrol.. which obviously wouldn't work without a license..

psee

I'm 24 and have managed without a license this far. Will have get one though as pretty much all employers require you to have one. Absolutely no interest in cars and i rather get around by other means of transportation.

bmontgomery87

This.
And emergencies arise in which you may need to drive (legally) when you typically don't.

FenderTL5

I have three kids, aged 24, 21, and 17 - there's one learner's permit between them.
My oldest has no desire for a DL. She prefers the bus, walking, or biking.

I-Like-To-Bike

Do the "kids" prefer to live at home or in the dorm?

CACycling

I work with youth and rarely see any of them getting licenses before they are at least 18. My sons both got theirs at 16 (they are 21 & 23 now). Both use a combination of driving, cycling and public transit. My sons have shared a car and that has worked out well for all of us. Younger son now has it to himself as older son is working in Rwanda for a year.

RubeRad

OP video @ 1:18, "But on the other hand, I do have to have this hair..."

Put yer fingers through it, man -- yer on camera!