Quote:
Originally Posted by SwampCreature
I lived in another such town that had bicycle licenses (1960s). There was also a bicycle inspection (reflectors, headlight, etc.) required before the license was issued. I think many towns still have these regulations on the books, even though they haven't been enforced in decades. Kind of like the laws prohibiting riding a horse while drunk.
I want license plates for walkers! I once had a pedestrian run out between parked cars in front of me. He damaged the grille on my car. I want him to pay for it. The b*stard! There should be no free rides.
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Kinda long post.
We are really enjoying the responses and humor and delighted that there is such support for cycling here in TV.
TH and others who have any old
bike tags you are not using, we'd love to add some to our wall where we park the bikes and trikes. We have them from all over and we'll add your name next to yours if desired, when/where you got it, etc. We'll pay the postage and make sure your bike is safe if we meet you.(we help the Boy Scouts and Police with bike safety back north)
Our family MD (specializing & board certified in Allergies, Dermatology, and Sports Medicine) 'prescribed' to us and many of his nationwide disciples and followers, that we move to TV after he and his wife did same.
The biking and vitamin D he recommended are the main reason we and dozens like us have bought, rented, and squatted/visited here for years.
The dozen homes we bought add well into the '8 figures'
We've added big bucks to the economies and tax revenues of TV, Fla, and Sumter County and it's businesses.
Yet, with all that infusion, our primary means of mobility is the bikes and trikes. A fraction of the impact, congestion, footprint, and none of the pollution of cars, trucks, and gas/diesel vehicles.
History is clear, the League of American Wheelmen ('
Better Roads Magazine, late 19th century) was responsible for improving the nation's early infrastructure leading to better5 byways for cars and trucks.
Look at then demographics for biking adults - educated, affluent, eco-conscious, mosty mellow and non violent. Sure, as humans some of us have shorter fuses than we'd like and can get a little rogue and iconoclastic.
Most of us share the same frustrations as motorcyclists (a culture this couple has also been a part of for 40 years) with whom we get along very well since 3-foot passing is easier and the fact that moto's are the main means of marshalling huge bicycle events.
In fact, in our 40 years of motorcycling and bicycling we cannot ever remember anything but the low hand salute (or the peace sign in the old days) whether we're on the iron or in the spandex.
License plates on bikes? They're kinda cute, and while we would covet a real stamped metal tag, many of the more 'serious' of us might hardly welcome so much as a small sticker.The registration of bikes in large 'outside' municipalities can be useful in bike recovery, but if anyone is implying that we should have large tags so someone could ID and 'report' a cyclist, we'd have to wipe off our mature adult nice guy smiles, go back to our bell-bottomed, bearded late 60's rogue-biker selves and say 'get real'
Cyclists are not impeding traffic, we ARE traffic, and yes, we are paying as much tax as 'you' and using a tiny fraction of what it buys.
Oh, about the o
ne-bicycle-per-gate opening proposal? We say please be nice and considerate or be prepared for some huge delays.
We did some math and a demonstration test. Imagine.... a group of 20 cyclists pulls up to the Belvedere gate. They get into single file......cyclist stops....foot comes out of the pedal.... a one-foot-on-pavement scoot up to the gate....cyclist fumbles for the card or pushes button and waits......gate opens....put the card back in the pocket or bag on bike.... get the foot back into/onto the pedal....gate closes....repeat,repeat,repeat.
With an average 'pack' of bikes, the line could be back toward 466 near CVS, NOT to mention the line of cars, carts, trucks, and shuttle buses waiting for those two-wheelers to get through.
Remember, TV cyclists are all motorists too, most are residents, all want the lifestyle to be better for all and have a minimal impact on traffic (hence we use bikes and for the benefit of us all try top stay the heck outs the way)
As far as registering walkers? Not that funny!
On your bike, walking, or in your cart or car, has anyone ever had a close call, run into, or been run into by an oblivious pedestrian texting, phoning, or bopping or headbanging to their earphones?
Here's a fun read about Florida Biking a century ago!!
Enjoy
http://books.google.com/books?id=prs...page&q&f=false
Peace and goodwill on earth and awheel
L and L