[Rob Stevens]

What do you think about requiring bicycles to have a license plate like automoblies? Granted they result in very little wear and tear on the roads but in many locales special bicycle lanes have been constructed using gas taxes. By some reports bicycles cause in excess of 50,000 accidents each year in Florida alone. In nearly all cases the cyclist has no insurance that will pay for repairs to the damaged (and innocent) car. How about requiring liability insurance for bicyclists over the age of 16? I expect cyclists to be upset about anything that requires them too pay a fair share or to folow the rules of the road but I hope that some will be understanding of my post.

[k2at]

I have not heard of any municipality charging for license plates on bicycles. It seems upsurd to tax a two year old for riding a tricycle. I guess next you would want to tax skate boards and roller skates. Have som egg nog and enjoy Christmas.

[skip0358]

Be careful asking for things like that. Think of how many GCs are in TV. Where would they generate more money from? And I'm sure they're not all insured either. I haven't had a problem with the bicycle traffic. Your here to relax and enjoy. Slow down, share the road and everyone will be safe and happy.If it isn't broken don't fix it!!

Rob, Care to post some some of those "reports".? Thanks Al

[Robhall]

My goodness, where does it all end. It seems people can't have "fun" anymore.

[Talk Host]

My hometown has been charging for bike licenses since I was a little kid. We always had a license plate on our bikes. It is a small plate about 2 X 3 inches with metal straps that wrap around the frame just behind the seat.

We always kind of felt grown up that we had to have a license just like our parents.

[army one]

IMHO it takes more gas (pun intended) to pedal a bicycle than to walk.

[Larryandlinda]

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.

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 one-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

[skyguy79]

Originally Posted by SwampCreature

I often had problems with drivers getting hot and bothered because I was taking up a lane on city streets. If they even thought about the possibility of being "doored", they would know why a bicyclist does not want to ride up close to parked cars. It never happened to me, but I did see it happen close up as a nearby pedestrian. Not a pretty picture.

It's funny but I was just thinking yesterday about how I was doored back when I was in the 8th grade when a driver parking his car opened his door just as I was passing. No, it wasn't a pretty picture, but fortunately I wasn't seriously hurt. However it was enough that I was taken to the hospital to be checked out. What I resented most though was that this accident caused me to miss my graduation from grammer school where, unknown to me, I was to be presented with the most progressive student award... not that it was any big deal. All it meant in my case was that I went from a total loser at the beginning of the year to a normal student by the end!

[Bogie Shooter]

Originally Posted by Larryandlinda

Kinda long post.

Oh, about the one-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.




L and L

With that kind of a back up.....the guns would probably come out! See thread on gun charges.

[Shimpy]

I've heard many times cyclist claiming that they have the same right to the road as cars and motorcycles, yet they don't have a license plate to pay for that right. I've got to say that the cyclist I've seen in TV are very good. My bad experiences with them were in S. Fla, especially along A1A where they ride 2 or 3 abreast blocking traffic and will not pull over to let a car pass. When you honk at them they either, ignore you, give you the finger, or ask you to get out of the car. I'm not supprised so many of them are run over.
I ride a motorcycle and give them plenty of room as I pass.

[Larryandlinda]

Originally Posted by Shimpy

I've heard many times cyclist claiming that they have the same right to the road as cars and motorcycles, yet they don't have a license plate to pay for that right. I've got to say that the cyclist I've seen in TV are very good. My bad experiences with them were in S. Fla, especially along A1A where they ride 2 or 3 abreast blocking traffic and will not pull over to let a car pass. When you honk at them they either, ignore you, give you the finger, or ask you to get out of the car. I'm not supprised so many of them are run over.
I ride a motorcycle and give them plenty of room as I pass.

We are truly sorry there are such inconsiderate bicycle riders.
Outlaw motorcyclists call themselves "one percenters" but sadly, we too see more that one percent of our fellow cyclers hogging the road.
Thanks to you and all motors for the space


Keep the rubber side down!
L and L

[Pturner]

Originally Posted by Rob Stevens

What do you think about requiring bicycles to have a license plate like automoblies? Granted they result in very little wear and tear on the roads but in many locales special bicycle lanes have been constructed using gas taxes. By some reports bicycles cause in excess of 50,000 accidents each year in Florida alone. In nearly all cases the cyclist has no insurance that will pay for repairs to the damaged (and innocent) car. How about requiring liability insurance for bicyclists over the age of 16? I expect cyclists to be upset about anything that requires them too pay a fair share or to folow the rules of the road but I hope that some will be understanding of my post.

Please post a link to said reports. Thanks.

[F16 1UB]

NO and I don't even ride.

[Tbugs]

I remember back when I was a kid in Minneapolis that we had to have a small metal license plate on our bike. It cost about 25 cents and was issued by the school.

However, down here, it is ridiculous to ask bicycle riders to have a license plate and carry insurance.

It is not even mandatory that your golf cart has insurance - Yes, I know the golf cart cannot go on a lot of roads that bikes can ride on - but they are motorized and there are a lot of places a golf cart can hit a person, another cart, or a car.