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bicycle
safety
2009/08: Should cyclists have to be licensed and pay registration fees?<BR>
2009/08: Should cyclists have to be licensed and pay registration fees?
What they said... 'Put a registration fee on every bike or a one-off tax on the sale of bikes with the dollars going directly to maintaining and providing facilities they use. There are well over one million bikes sold each year so it would not be hard to raise serious money'
3AW radio host, Neil Mitchell
'By introducing a financial and administrative burden, registration would discourage people from cycling. Families would particularly suffer: riding a bike might become an unaffordable luxury for many kids'
Bicycle Victoria
The issue at a glance
Proposals that bicycles be registered and cyclists be licensed have been made for some years.
In February 2008 the federal Opposition sports spokesperson, Mr Pat Farmer, suggested that bicycles should be registered as a means of raising money toward supplying the facilities and infrastructure cyclists need.
A year later, in February 2009, 3AW radio host, Neil Mitchell proposed that bicyclists in Victoria should have to register their bikes.
A month later, in March, 2009, an online survey, by insurance company Budget Direct, revealed that 60 per cent of of the Queensland drivers surveyed believed that bike riders should be licensed.
Bike rider associations in Victoria and Queensland have spoken against these proposals. The issue has become more heated as governments around Australia spend more money on infrastructure for cyclists and in a number of jurisdictions, cyclists are increasingly involved in road accidents.
Background Bicycles and the law
(The following information has been taken from thee Wikipedia entry on 'bicycle'. The full text of that entry can be found at http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bicycle)
Early in its development, like in the case of automobiles, there were restrictions on the operation of bicycles.
The 1968 Vienna Convention on Road Traffic of the United Nations considers a bicycle to be a vehicle, and a person controlling a bicycle (whether actually riding or not) is considered an operator. The traffic codes of many countries reflect these definitions and demand that a bicycle satisfy certain legal requirements, sometimes even including licensing, before it can be used on public roads. In many jurisdictions, it is an offense to use a bicycle that is not in roadworthy condition.
In most jurisdictions, bicycles must have functioning front and rear lights when ridden after dark. As some generator or dynamo-driven lamps only operate while moving, rear reflectors are frequently also mandatory. Since a moving bicycle makes little noise, some countries insist that bicycles have a warning bell for use when approaching pedestrians, equestrians, and other cyclists.
Bicycles and Australian Road Rules
The Australian Road Rules defines a vehicle in the following manner. This indicates that the laws covering vehicles on Australian roads also apply to bicycles.
A vehicle includes:
(a) a motor vehicle, trailer and tram; and
(b) a bicycle; and
(c) an animal-drawn vehicle, and an animal that is being
ridden or drawing a vehicle; and
(d) a combination; and
(e) a motorised wheelchair that can travel at over
10 kilometres per hour (on level ground);
but does not include another kind of wheelchair, a train, or a
wheeled recreational device or wheeled toy.
Bicycles and the law in the United States, Canada, Britain, Belgium and France
The following Internet site provides links to detail on the laws governing bicycle use in each of the states of the United States and in Canada, Britain, Belgium and France http://www.massbike.org/bikelaw/bikelaw.htm
Internet information
The Bicycle Federation of Australia has a news link section of its site which enables readers to connect to current news reports from all around Australia that treat some aspect of cycling.
The news link page can be found at http://www.bfa.asn.au/cyclingnews/?IntCatId=10
Bicycle Queensland's Internet site, which includes a statement of its opposition to cyclists being licensed, can be found at http://www.bq.org.au/
On March 19, 2009, The Courier Mail, published a news report giving details of the results of a recent survey in Queensland which showed substantial popular support for bicyclists to be required to have a licence. The full text of this report can be found at http://www.news.com.au/couriermail/story/0,23739,25207487-952,00.html
On April 8, 2009, The Brisbane Times published a similar news report to that published earlier in The Courier Times, giving details of the results of a recent survey in Queensland which showed substantial popular support for bicyclists to be required to have a licence. The full text of this report can be found at http://www.brisbanetimes.com.au/qld-news/bike-licence-scheme-gains-momentum-20090407-9yqh.html
In December, 2008, The Medical Journal of Australia published a report on research findings titled, 'Bicycling injuries and mortality in Victoria, 2001-2006'. The report was authored by Mirjana Sikic, Antonina A Mikocka-Walus, Belinda J Gabbe, Francis T McDermott and Peter A Cameron.
The full text of the report can be found http://www.mja.com.au/public/issues/190_07_060409/sik11001_fm.html
In February, 2009, The Medical Journal of Australia published a report on research findings titled, 'Cycling and health: an opportunity for positive change?' The report was authored by Adrian E Bauman and Chris Rissel.
The full text of the report can be found at http://www.mja.com.au/public/issues/190_07_060409/bau10159_fm.html
On January 30, 2008, the New York local newspaper, Gothamist, published a report on an increase in cyclist fatalities in 2007. This was followed by a series of reader blog responses on the issue of cyclist safety and behaviour. The full text of the report and reader responses can be found at http://gothamist.com/2008/01/30/cyclist_deaths.php
On December 25, 2007, SeattlePI.com published an extensive analysis looking at bicycle registration and cyclist licensing focused on Seattle but including provisions in other jurisdictions throughout the United States. The analysis includes significant discussion of opposing points of view. The full text of the analysis can be found at http://www.seattlepi.com/transportation/344924_bicyclelicense26.html
Arguments in favour of cyclists being licensed and paying registration fees
1. Cyclists should be contributing toward the cost of the facilities they use
It has been claimed that cyclists make significant demands on road infrastructure and on medical and Transport Accident Commission (TAC) insurance services.
The latest TAC data shows that in the five years to 2007, the number of cyclists lodging successful claims after an accident with motorised transport rose significantly each year while the number of other claims plateaued or fell.
In 2003, 3.6 per cent of approved claims for taxpayer assistance for medical bills came from cyclists. By 2007, cyclists made up 5.4 per cent of approved claims. This figure is roughly in line with the boom that led to around 22,000 people riding to work at the time of the 2006 census, a rise of around 50 per cent in five years.
On February 8, 2008, the Federal Opposition on sports, Mr Pat Farmer suggested a registration fee be imposed on all cyclists. Mr farmer said motorists often complained it was unfair for cyclists to use roads without paying registration costs. A bicycle levy would make such an argument redundant and could increase government funding for bike lanes, he said.
Mr Farmer further stated, 'We need to work with cyclists and cycling associations to come up with a levy ... so that we've got some money to support them with much-needed infrastructure and
to justify them being on the road.'
Suggestions that cyclists should contribute directly toward the cost of the infrastructure they use were made more vigorously in Victoria once the government announced its plan to inject $115 million into boosting infrastructure and the other facilities they require.
The Victorian Cycling Strategy includes the following. Significantly improving the on and off-road cycling network within ten kilometres of the CBD. Completing cycling networks in the six so-called 'central activities districts'. Completing cycling links in regional centres. Developing bicycle facilities as part of road and rail transport projects. Establishing safe cycling programs in schools.
Developing campaigns to encourage cycling. Conducting a review of cycling accidents, and creating counter-measures. Launching a 'look out for cyclists' safety campaignshing a public bike hire system for Melbourne. Installing 33 bike cages at train stations by the end of 2009.
Even before the announcement of this enormous public investment in cycling in Victoria, on February 26, 2009, 3AW radio broadcaster, Neil Mitchell, suggested that the Victorian government 'put a registration fee on every bike or a one-off tax on the sale of bikes with the dollars going directly to maintaining and providing facilities they use.
There are well over one million bikes sold each year so it would not be hard to raise serious money.'
2. A licensing and demerit point system would be likely to improve cyclists' behaviour
It has been claimed that a licensing system with driver education, driver on-road identification and demerit points for road law infringement might improve the on-road behaviour of cyclists.
On March 19, 2009, one of the online respondents on this issue contacting The Brisbane Times noted, 'I think the licence could be a decent idea. To be honest 90% of bicyclists I see don't seem to have any idea that they are bound by the same rules that car driver's are. Only yesterday I had a guy who was riding on the footpath suddenly switch to riding on the road right in front of me without any indication, he didn't even look behind him to make sure no one was there.'
Though Bicycle Victoria does not support licensing for bike riders and the application of a demerit system, it does support riders abiding by the rules of the road. The arguments it applies could also be used in support of licenses and demerit points for bike riders. Bicycle Victoria has stated, 'We take the view that we are 'in' the traffic system, not outside it. We benefit from being inside the system in a number of ways.
In Australia the bicycle, when ridden on the road, is a vehicle. This status brings rights and responsibilities. For example a motorist, faced with a give way sign must give way to a rider but does not have to give way to a pedestrian. Equally riders faced with a give way sign have to give way to a motorist. We support the need to fulfil our responsibilities, as we want the advantage of the rights.
Second, since we are in the system, the road authority has a responsibility to meet our needs. The VicRoads bicycle program invests at least $4m each year on improving the bike network making it safer and more attractive to ride.
Third we benefit from the controls the system exerts on other users. The number of cycle deaths each year in the 80s was around three dozen, today it is usually less than 10 and has been as low as 3. This is because fines and penalties have significantly reduced poor behaviour by motorists including speeding, fatigue and drink driving.
In this context we support the principle of penalties for bike riders. Support for this principle is the basis of our "prevent collisions" approach in which we speak both to motorists and to riders about the things we all need to do to prevent collisions. '
3. Cycling can be a hazardous activity and should be more tightly regulated
Cycling injuries have risen dramatically in Victoria in recent years. Research by doctors at The Alfred Hospital and Monash University has found the number of cyclists at emergency departments between 2001 and 2006 had risen 42 per cent, hospital admissions by 16 per cent and major trauma by 76 per cent.
The study, published in The Medical Journal of Australia, found that almost 26,000 cyclists were treated in hospital emergency departments over the five years. Of this number, more than 10,000 were admitted and 47 people died.
In a letter published in The Age on April 14, 2009, Graeme Butler indicated his belief that cyclists and cycling were dangerous and that a registration system would make them less so. Mr Butler wrote, 'As a bike rider, car driver and, more importantly, pedestrian, I believe cyclists should be registered, if only to allow for their identification. Too many times when walking on shared paths in the inner city, I have been bustled by macho (male) cyclists who ignore dismount signs. When challenged, they shout abuse. Typically, this is on the narrow Yarra River bridges where people of all ages and sizes mix it with the two-wheeled cowboys. It is road rage transferred to the bicycle, so maybe some road principles also have to apply to cyclists.'
On January 30, 2008, a reader responded to an article in the New York local newspaper Gothamist with the following judgement. 'Unfortunately there is a simple reason why the number [of cycling casualties] has increased, and it's one that is very politically incorrect to discuss-cyclists do not obey traffic laws. Drivers and pedestrians are forced to obey them, while most cyclists ignore and often flaunt them.
How many times a day do you see a cyclist riding head on into oncoming traffic? How often do you see them run red lights or dart between lanes without signaling. Frankly I'm surprised that only 23 cyclists died last year.
Drivers take a lot of heat for being the source of street fatalities, but if people realised the laws applied to everyone the numbers would fall.'
Some of those who have had experience of a bike registration system claim that greater regulation would contribute to driver safety in other ways.
On March 19, 2009, one of the online respondents on this issue contacting The Brisbane Times noted, 'Over half a Century ago when I was a kid in Cae Town, South Africa we paid 2/6 a year to licence our bicycles. The rational was safety. To obtain the licence we had to present our bikes for inspection and the brakes, steering, tyres and warning bell were checked out as being OK. We then were given a metal token shaped for that particular year that was attached to the RH front axle.'
4. A registration system would allow for bike and cyclist identification
It has been claimed that cycle registration complete with an identification number for all bicycles would do a great deal to promote responsible driving and would allow car drivers and others to hold cyclists accountable for their misbehaviour.
On March 19, 2009, one of the online respondents on this issue contacting The Brisbane Times noted, 'We should have bicycle registration. I do not mean huge fees; I instead suggest a means by which those bicycle riders who believe the road rules do not apply to them may be identified and reported.
I am tired of continually being put in a position where I risk another life through no fault of my own. I am in a car and I feel unsafe on the roads, why do bicycle riders feel they are indestructible?'
On the same day another respondent to The Brisbane Times asked, 'How do I report to the police who was riding a bike that caused an accident if there is no registration plate on the bike? Who do I pursue for compensation if some miscreant biker scrapes their handlebar along the side of my car if there is no registration plate on the bike? etc etc etc. The government forces us to register our cars for several reasons including putting a unique identifier on the vehicle. Good enough for us to be culpable for our actions, why not for bikers? I say 10 bucks a year and license plates front and rear.'
Another respondent to The Brisbane Times further suggested how such a bike identification might operate. ' I don't have a problem with bike rego as long as it's free with your car rego. If you don't have car rego, then a small fee would be applicable. The rider could then have the option of attaching plates to their bike or wearing a Hi-Vis bib with rego number on front and back... Cyclists do need to be accountable on the road if they want to mix it up with other vehicles.'
Budget Direct spokeswoman Richelle Ward said drivers were tired of putting up with cyclists who regularly flouted the law but could not be reported.
Ms Ward has stated, 'A lot of people feel very strongly about this. It's nothing sinister but a lot of people are saying they get nervous when bicycles do silly things on the road ... they feel cyclists should be held accountable. The problem isn't (children) on the road. It's when cyclists are ducking in and out of traffic and running red lights.'
It has also been claimed that a bicycle registration system would assist in the identification of stolen bicycles. A number attached to each bike and linked to its ownership would make it harder to sell on stolen bikes. Though Bicycle Victoria does not support bike registration as a whole it has noted, 'An appreciable benefit of bike registration would be that it would make recovering stolen bikes easier and the reselling of stolen ones more difficult.'
5. Bike registration would give city planners and others a clear indication of bike ownership
Bicycle riding is encouraged in many cities, states and other jurisdictions because it is seen as health-promoting and environmentally friendly. It also reduces pressure on roads. Many governments have developed long range plans to foster bicycle riding in their jurisdictions. These plans usually have quite detailed targets, outlining the number of cyclists it is hoped will be riding regularly by a particular year. For example, on March 22, 2009, the Brumby Government launched the Victorian Cycling Strategy, a $115 million plan to get more people cycling. It aims to increase the number of cycling and walking trips in inner Melbourne by 15,000 and "grow cycling" in the rest of Victoria by 2020.
Currently, within Australia, Some planners have claimed that requiring bicycle owners to register their bikes would give more accurate figures of bike ownership and probable use. Some of those who support bicycle registration claim that more accurate figures of bike ownership would increase cyclists' power as a lobby group.
In Madison, Wisconsin, in the United States, about 20,000 bikes have valid registrations, said John Rider, bicycle registration coordinator. The $10 registration lasts four years.
Mr Rider claimed the program helps transportation planners, 'get a handle on how many bicycles we have in the city so we can have some more say in trying to have bicycle facilities... It gives us a voice.'
The authors of a study indicating increased incidence of accidents and injuries involving bicycle riders in Victoria (that was recently published in The Medical Journal of Australia) warned that they had not been able to source accurate data on the number of people cycling in Victoria to see if this had increased in line with injuries. Registering bikes would give a far more reliable indication of the extent of bike ownership.
Arguments against cyclists being licensed and required to pay registration fees
1. Those who ride bicycles already pay taxes for the facilities they use
Those who claim that cyclists should not have to pay bike registration and other fees typically argue that most bike riders are already paying a range of other taxes that fund the services they use.
On March 19, 2009, one of the online respondents on this issue contacting The Brisbane Times noted, 'I am a cyclist and nothing annoys me more than the spurious argument from some motorists that as I don't pay registration on my bike I don't have the same rights to the road they do. My wife and I own 2 cars on which we pay registration, I pay council rates on my house, I pay more income tax than most people and I pay my share of GST on whatever I purchase. I think I'm entitled to use road infrastructure.'
Another respondent contacted The BrisbaneTimes on the same day to make a similar observation. 'One of the great fallacies that always comes up in this argument is the idea that registration and licensing solely pays for roads - it doesn't!! The cost of the road network is largely paid for out of consolidated revenue and is far higher than the small amount collected in licensing and registration fees. Secondly, the majority of adult bike riders actually do own a car and pay rego and licensing - they just choose not to use it most of the time.'
Mr Harry Barber, the president of Bicycle Victoria has also stated that most cyclists were also motorists and so already funded the TAC through car registration fees.
Mr Barber also indicated that if non-drivers were asked to provide TAC funding then it would have to extend to pedestrians and public transport users, because they were also at risk of being injured by a car.
An editorial published in March 2007 in the Illawarra Bicycle Line stated, 'Bicycle riders' registration fails to take into consideration the contribution cyclists already make towards cycling
infrastructure, not only do we pay income tax on the moneys earned to fund our cycling habit, we are also slugged with 10% GST and the host of other taxes and government charges passed on by retailers, that is, payroll tax, company tax, land tax and the list goes on.
If we consider the average cost of the 1.47 million bicycles sold in 2006 at $500 each and an average 25% income tax then we contributed $125 in income tax and $50 GST per bike, a total contribution of 257.25 million dollars without taking all the other taxes into consideration. Add to that all the taxes paid on new tyers, repairs,cycle helmets etc and then ask where all our contributions are going. Not into cycling infrastructure.'
2. Bike riding is an environmentally friendly, healthy activity which governments are seeking to promote
It is generally acknowledged that bike riding has major health benefits for cyclists. These benefits advantage the individuals concerned and also the society as a whole. A recent editorial published in the Medical Journal of Australia states, 'Cycling, the fourth most popular physical recreation in Australia, is increasingly being used as a means of transport. As a form of regular physical activity, it confers substantial health benefits that are accessible to people of all ages... evidence is growing that cycling has health-enhancing effects... In a large Danish cohort followed up for 15 years, a 39% reduction in all-cause mortality was observed in those who cycled to work, and this was independent of participation in sport and other physical activity.
Other large population studies have shown the effects of commuting by bicycle on reducing mortality and cardiovascular risk among Finnish women, and similar risk reductions for Chinese adults in Shanghai. Ecological observations have noted lower rates of obesity in regions with high rates of cycling.'
The Victorian premier, John Brumby has stated, 'We are losing more people from the non-communicable diseases than we are from the communicable diseases for the first time in our history. These are all the lifestyle diseases.
The best way to counter a lifestyle disease is to keep fit and to keep healthier. And you can do it walking, you can do it running, or you can do it cycling.'
Preliminary results from a study undertaken on behalf of the Federal Department of Health and Ageing found cyclists saved more than $82 million in public health costs, almost $64 million in traffic congestion-related costs and $9 million in greenhouse gas-related costs.
Governments around the world are seeking to encourage bicycle use both for its health benefits and its environmental benefits. The Brumby Government has just announced its Victorian Cycling Strategy. Roads Minister Tim Pallas has said that the Government's new cycling plan was about cycling's emergence as a 'mainstream' activity. 'We are mainstreaming cycling as a legitimate transport mode... (Cycling) is good for your personal health. It will get your blood pressure down, it will get your cholesterol down. It also takes pressure off the public transport system and our road system,' Mr Pallas said.
It has been claimed that requiring cyclists to be licensed and to pay bike registration would cut
across government attempts to encourage citizens to take up bike riding. The Victorian cyclists lobby group, Bicycle Victoria, has stated, 'By introducing a financial and administrative burden, registration would discourage people from cycling. Families would particularly suffer: riding a bike might become an unaffordable luxury for many kids.'
a similar point has been made by Gordon Black, director of the Bicycle Alliance of Washington. Mr Black has said, 'We want as many drivers as possible to give up driving their cars.' Mr Black believes compulsory registration would create a 'potential barrier' to cycling. He added, 'We want to make the access to bicycling as easy as possible.'
3. Registering cyclists would raise little usable revenue
It has been claimed that the cost and difficulties of administering a bike registration system would make it at best revenue neutral. It would not be reasonable to charge bike riders a large fee and the difficulties of deciding who should pay (with respect to age of rider and frequency and nature of bicycle use) would be considerable.
On March 19, 2009, one of the online respondents on this issue contacting The Brisbane Times noted, 'I just can't see the benefits of the scheme. It will be revenue negative (cost of the scheme will be more than implementing it) and I can't see police enforcing road rules on cyclists anymore than currently. Then there will be the huge debate over who should be licensed - 12 year olds out with their mates? It's just unworkable.'
A VicRoads spokesman said it did not have the resources to make bicycle registration a viable option.
Queensland Greens MP for Indooroopilly, Ronan Lee, has stated that any move to license riders would be unworkable. Mr Lee noted, 'You can't license an eight-year-old riding his bike to school. It would just add another layer of bureaucracy and would actually discourage people from getting out of their cars.'
Cycling Promotion Fund, a bicycle industry lobby group, said a levy would discourage bicycle use.
'There is no country around the world which has registration for bicycles, and the revenue raised would be quite low,' said the organisation's program director, Rosemarie Speidel.
Arthur Ross, pedestrian-bike coordinator for the city of Madison, Wisconsin, USA has said, 'Certainly, I would not want to see program funding tied to bike registration. We need a whole lot more money than we're ever going to raise through bicycle registration.'
4. Pedestrians and the users of wheelchairs are not registered or licensed.
It has been repeatedly pointed out by opponents of a registration fee being imposed on cyclists that this would be excessive and inequitable. Those who hold this view note that a similar registration fee is not proposed for pedestrians to cover the cost of their use of pavements, bridges and other walkways.
In a letter published in The Age on April 14, 2009, Dave Cole wrote, 'Before we register cyclists to pay for their mostly non-existent infrastructure, shouldn't we first register pedestrians to pay for their footpaths? And if having car registration does not count for cyclists, then it should not count for pedestrians. On the other hand, if I had to pay bicycle registration, I would ride in the middle of the lane. Is this what people calling for it want?'
A similar point was made by another letter writer to The Age, writing on the same day. Grant McHerron wrote, 'Heck, yeah, let's register cyclists. But don't stop there. Those damned pedestrians are using footpaths (and often roads) that cost a lot to build and maintain. Let's put rego plates on them so we can get back money from them and track the annoying ones who step in front of traffic and ignore "Don't walk" signs. Yes, I'm being sarcastic. Registering cyclists will not stop them riding more than two abreast and blocking traffic, or zipping through red lights. Create a red light/speed camera system for cyclists that generates significant revenue and watch how fast things change.'
5. Cycling is not a sufficiently hazardous activity to warrant licensing and cyclists are already regulated by law
It has been claimed that bike riding is not a sufficiently dangerous activity to require a licensing system.
On April 8, 2009, one of the online respondents on this issue contacting The Brisbane Times noted, 'Licenses are only necessary for inherently dangerous activities that put the general public at risk. Cyclists rarely hurt anyone but themselves. Head down this track and it won't stop at bicycle licences - it will be skateboards, inline skates, rockclimbing, bushwalking -- heck probably you'll need a licence and insurance before you leave your property. The job of government is to include as many people as they can in as many activities as they can -- not to bar all but the fortunate by dodgy license schemes.' It has further been argued that if government authorities and others are concerned to improve cyclists' safety then they should extend biker education programs and driver education programs on safely sharing the road with cyclists.
Bicycle Queensland has argued that licensing bike riders is unnecessary because most cyclists know the road rules. A spokesperson for Bicycle Queensland, Ben Wilson, noted, 'Cyclists are already accountable under the same laws drivers are. Most cyclists have a driver's licence, and if they break the law, they get a fine.'
Similar points have been made in United States publications. Washington cyclists already follow many of the same rules as motorists. In most states bike riders obey the same traffic rules as cars. However, they are also allowed to travel on many sidewalks and some highways. If a cyclist violates a law, such as running a red light, police can issue the same ticket a motorist would get.
It is also generally the case that the ticket will not go on a cyclist's driving record. However, that is not the case in at least one state, Florida, where cyclists accumulate points that jeopardise their driver's licenses and inflate their insurance rates. In fact, Florida establishes a 'dummy record' for underage cycling law-breakers. Juveniles must pay any tickets on that record before they can get their first licence.
Further implications
In the short term it seems unlikely that governments will require bicycles to be registered or cyclists to be licensed. Many countries are seeking to increase the number of people who regularly use bicycles, both recreationally and as a means of transport.
For example, in Britain, 'Cycle to Work' is a government tax incentive encouraging employees to bike to work, reduce their engine pollution and improve their health. It has tax advantages for both the cyclist and their employer and either means the cyclist gets a bike free or through a salary-sacrifice repayment scheme.
In Victoria, the Government has recently committed to spending $115 million to improve bicycle- related infrastructure and fund bicycle education and safety programs.
Increasing the costs associated with cycling by requiring registration and licensing would act as a disincentive to potential cyclists. However, as bicycle promotion strategies take effect and the number of cyclists using the roads increases, then the need for regulation is likely to become greater. The rising cost of petrol, alone, is likely to cause a dramatic increase in the use of bicycles.
Once governments are no longer worried about having to woo their citizens onto bicycles, then it is probable that they will begin to look at what additional regulation would be useful.
Registration appears a likely medium term measure. This would probably not be for revenue-raising. Registering a bike and requiring the rider to wear a registration number is a simple way to make bicyclists less anonymous and hold them accountable for any breach of road laws they commit. Cyclists who plan to make regular use of roads, for example, by cycling to work, may also be required to take training and be licensed, for their safety and that of other road users.
These initiatives are likely to occur once governments and road authorities judge that bicycle use has reached a critical mass. Greater numbers of bike riders makes regulation more necessary and removes governments' concern about discouraging cyclists.
Newspaper items used in the compilation of this issue outline (NOTE that there are several more newspaper items in the Internet Information section.
AGE, October 15, page 12, news item (photo - ref to claims of an over-close relationship between Bicycling Victoria and the Victorian Government) by Clay Lucas and Jason Dowling, `Injuries on rise as more cyclists enter city'. http://www.theage.com.au/national/injuries-on-rise-as-more-cyclists-enter-city-20081014-50o4.html
