It seems to me that in the discussion on licensing bicycles that many people are hung up on the license part of it. I think the major effort should be on education. People---starting with kids---should have some kind of educational course in how/where to ride their bicycles. They should know the rules of the road and what is expected of them. And that education should not come from their parents--people who are likely as not to be unaware of the traffic laws.
When I tell people about driving a car in Germany, they are always amazed that the accident rate is not higher there. I know that the difference is that German drivers are consistent and disciplined in their driving (for the most part). In one example, Germans always pass on the left. Here in Texas, the law says that you should pass on the left, but if you feel like it, don't worry about it--just pass on the right! The result is that drivers do not know which side people are likely to use. In Germany, you just know that you won't be passed on the right, so you can move to the right easily if you are the slower vehicle.
So, it seems to me that the problem is: how do we get the public educated about proper cycling rules and laws without putting a license fee into the mix?
The cycling community can't even agree on much of anything and, based on that, you want to license a First Amendment Right. Maybe you should join the National Reasonable-regulation Association, NRA, and get some experience in civil rights advocacy.
"Pat" <[email hidden]> wrote in message news:[email hidden]...
Quoted message said:
So, it seems to me that the problem is: how do we get the public educated about proper cycling rules and laws without putting a license fee into the mix?
"Doug Huffman" <[email hidden]> wrote in message news:[email hidden]... : The cycling community can't even agree on much of anything and, based on : that, you want to license a First Amendment Right. Maybe you should join : the National Reasonable-regulation Association, NRA, and get some experience : in civil rights advocacy.
Well, every other vehicle that uses the public roads has an education course that must be taken prior to use of these roads. If a bicycle is a vehicle like we keep claiming it is, why should it be different from the other vehicles?
As for your claim that I want to license a First Amendment Right....1.) my post was about education, not licensing, and 2.) what makes riding a bicycle on public roads a First Amendment Right?
