Scots may require registration of bicycles

[iago]

How can they even require registration? Last night, I stripped a bike apart into each of its individual pieces in like 10 minutes. Completely down to the bare frame, so that can go and be powdercoated. If you can completely change every piece on the bike, and then go paint the frame.. the only possible way of "registration" would involve some sort of identification number. And that would not be possible on old bikes, nor would it be easy to enforce with the amount of bikes that are stolen these days.

The idea seems like a decent theory, but if you think about it for a minute, it's preposterous. Do I have to contact the Department of Transportation every time I paint my frame a different color, or change the wheels?

They could just make everybody get a license plates, the same way bike couriers (at least here) have.

Boom, done, next.

[Quik]

How can they even require registration? Last night, I stripped a bike apart into each of its individual pieces in like 10 minutes. Completely down to the bare frame, so that can go and be powdercoated. If you can completely change every piece on the bike, and then go paint the frame.. the only possible way of "registration" would involve some sort of identification number. And that would not be possible on old bikes, nor would it be easy to enforce with the amount of bikes that are stolen these days.

The idea seems like a decent theory, but if you think about it for a minute, it's preposterous. Do I have to contact the Department of Transportation every time I paint my frame a different color, or change the wheels?

They could just make everybody get a license plates, the same way bike couriers (at least here) have.

Boom, done, next.

Easy to steal plates / such a hassle if you have multiple bikes / old bikes don't have any sort of mounting or standard for it on the frame. Oh, and it'd be terribly hard to enforce, I'd imagine.

[rabbit]

How can they even require registration? Last night, I stripped a bike apart into each of its individual pieces in like 10 minutes. Completely down to the bare frame, so that can go and be powdercoated. If you can completely change every piece on the bike, and then go paint the frame.. the only possible way of "registration" would involve some sort of identification number. And that would not be possible on old bikes, nor would it be easy to enforce with the amount of bikes that are stolen these days.

The idea seems like a decent theory, but if you think about it for a minute, it's preposterous. Do I have to contact the Department of Transportation every time I paint my frame a different color, or change the wheels?

They could just make everybody get a license plates, the same way bike couriers (at least here) have.

Boom, done, next.

Bike messengers in Philly....that's pretty much them.

[iago]

How can they even require registration? Last night, I stripped a bike apart into each of its individual pieces in like 10 minutes. Completely down to the bare frame, so that can go and be powdercoated. If you can completely change every piece on the bike, and then go paint the frame.. the only possible way of "registration" would involve some sort of identification number. And that would not be possible on old bikes, nor would it be easy to enforce with the amount of bikes that are stolen these days.

The idea seems like a decent theory, but if you think about it for a minute, it's preposterous. Do I have to contact the Department of Transportation every time I paint my frame a different color, or change the wheels?

They could just make everybody get a license plates, the same way bike couriers (at least here) have.

Boom, done, next.

Easy to steal plates / such a hassle if you have multiple bikes / old bikes don't have any sort of mounting or standard for it on the frame. Oh, and it'd be terribly hard to enforce, I'd imagine.

Most of those have the exact same issues with cars, and the same solutions, too.

[Camel]

He has a point about pedestrians, though. What if a pedestrian walks across the street on a red light, and causes an accident? That's the same situation that was posed, except a pedestrian instead of a bike.

The other issue is, if a cyclist causes an accident, why should it be up to the driver's insurance to cover it? (same with pedestrians)

The issue is the same if you replace the cyclist with an uninsured driver. The bottom line is it's all covered by the same "uninsured whatever" clause in the insurance, and you're only penalized if you're found to be at fault anyways.

Are you suggesting that the pedestrian/cyclist/uninsured driver should have to pay out of pocket to fix your car? If a branch falls off a tree and kills your car, should the tree pay out of pocket?

[Joe]

That has nothing to do with registration, and everything to do with insurance/you being arrested.

I just made you say bikes don't need insurance. You lose.

[Quik]

How can they even require registration? Last night, I stripped a bike apart into each of its individual pieces in like 10 minutes. Completely down to the bare frame, so that can go and be powdercoated. If you can completely change every piece on the bike, and then go paint the frame.. the only possible way of "registration" would involve some sort of identification number. And that would not be possible on old bikes, nor would it be easy to enforce with the amount of bikes that are stolen these days.

The idea seems like a decent theory, but if you think about it for a minute, it's preposterous. Do I have to contact the Department of Transportation every time I paint my frame a different color, or change the wheels?

They could just make everybody get a license plates, the same way bike couriers (at least here) have.

Boom, done, next.

[img ][ /img]Bike messengers in Philly....that's pretty much them.

You just posted a picture of some random emo-wannabe trendwhore fixed gear rider. What was the point of that, again?

How can they even require registration? Last night, I stripped a bike apart into each of its individual pieces in like 10 minutes. Completely down to the bare frame, so that can go and be powdercoated. If you can completely change every piece on the bike, and then go paint the frame.. the only possible way of "registration" would involve some sort of identification number. And that would not be possible on old bikes, nor would it be easy to enforce with the amount of bikes that are stolen these days.

The idea seems like a decent theory, but if you think about it for a minute, it's preposterous. Do I have to contact the Department of Transportation every time I paint my frame a different color, or change the wheels?

They could just make everybody get a license plates, the same way bike couriers (at least here) have.

Boom, done, next.

Easy to steal plates / such a hassle if you have multiple bikes / old bikes don't have any sort of mounting or standard for it on the frame. Oh, and it'd be terribly hard to enforce, I'd imagine.

Most of those have the exact same issues with cars, and the same solutions, too.

Heh, not really. How do you expect to make sure a certain plate is registered to the bike it's on? It's not like you can compare with the rider's biking license unless you actually, you know, require people to have a license to ride bikes.

Requiring registration for bikes is like requiring registration for guns. Sure, it may help sometimes, but there's always ways to avoid dealing with it. Get caught up with an illegal bike? Who cares. Leave it somewhere and go get another.. they're cheap and easily available.

[rabbit]

How can they even require registration? Last night, I stripped a bike apart into each of its individual pieces in like 10 minutes. Completely down to the bare frame, so that can go and be powdercoated. If you can completely change every piece on the bike, and then go paint the frame.. the only possible way of "registration" would involve some sort of identification number. And that would not be possible on old bikes, nor would it be easy to enforce with the amount of bikes that are stolen these days.

The idea seems like a decent theory, but if you think about it for a minute, it's preposterous. Do I have to contact the Department of Transportation every time I paint my frame a different color, or change the wheels?

They could just make everybody get a license plates, the same way bike couriers (at least here) have.

Boom, done, next.

[img ][ /img]Bike messengers in Philly....that's pretty much them.

You just posted a picture of some random emo-wannabe trendwhore fixed gear rider. What was the point of that, again?

Because that's what they are all like.  Ever try to get an emo-wannabe trendwhore to "conform" to something like registration?  Not gonna happen.

[iago]

Heh, not really. How do you expect to make sure a certain plate is registered to the bike it's on? It's not like you can compare with the rider's biking license unless you actually, you know, require people to have a license to ride bikes.

Requiring registration for bikes is like requiring registration for guns. Sure, it may help sometimes, but there's always ways to avoid dealing with it. Get caught up with an illegal bike? Who cares. Leave it somewhere and go get another.. they're cheap and easily available.

Would requiring a license to ride a bike be such a bad thing? I mean, if you're on the road, it's assumed you should understand the rules of the road. Requiring a driver license to ride a bike with traffic actually makes sense.

True enough comparing it to gun registration. I think the insurance aspect of it is more important than registering it, really.

[Quik]

Heh, not really. How do you expect to make sure a certain plate is registered to the bike it's on? It's not like you can compare with the rider's biking license unless you actually, you know, require people to have a license to ride bikes.

Requiring registration for bikes is like requiring registration for guns. Sure, it may help sometimes, but there's always ways to avoid dealing with it. Get caught up with an illegal bike? Who cares. Leave it somewhere and go get another.. they're cheap and easily available.

Would requiring a license to ride a bike be such a bad thing? I mean, if you're on the road, it's assumed you should understand the rules of the road. Requiring a driver license to ride a bike with traffic actually makes sense.

True enough comparing it to gun registration. I think the insurance aspect of it is more important than registering it, really.

Wait until you're a dad, trying to teach your kids how to ride a bike. But first, field trip to the DMV to get your bike license!

[rabbit]

Nope!  First is a field trip to the DMV/MVC for a bicycle permit.  Then after ~6 months (depending on the state) span and accumulated 60 hours of riding with someone who's been licensed for 3 years you go on another field trip for your license.  Of course, you can get it a year earlier if you take a course, but then you can only ride at certain times of the day, and then after a year of that you get your full license.  And then you have to go back when you're 21.

[CrAz3D]

Easy to steal plates / such a hassle if you have multiple bikes / old bikes don't have any sort of mounting or standard for it on the frame. Oh, and it'd be terribly hard to enforce, I'd imagine.

Same applies to motorcycles

That has nothing to do with registration, and everything to do with insurance/you being arrested.

I just made you say bikes don't need insurance. You lose.

WTF?

I asked why register cars?  You talked about running a bike into a house.  I responded that has to do with insurance.

Bicyclists SHOULD have insurance, because the DO cause damage.  Look at any large campus with bikers.  What happens when the knock someone down (seen it)?  They dont/cant pay for medical treatment.  What about bikes involved in car accidents?  Damage to fenders can happen easily, and be pricey.

[iago]

Heh, not really. How do you expect to make sure a certain plate is registered to the bike it's on? It's not like you can compare with the rider's biking license unless you actually, you know, require people to have a license to ride bikes.

Requiring registration for bikes is like requiring registration for guns. Sure, it may help sometimes, but there's always ways to avoid dealing with it. Get caught up with an illegal bike? Who cares. Leave it somewhere and go get another.. they're cheap and easily available.

Would requiring a license to ride a bike be such a bad thing? I mean, if you're on the road, it's assumed you should understand the rules of the road. Requiring a driver license to ride a bike with traffic actually makes sense.

True enough comparing it to gun registration. I think the insurance aspect of it is more important than registering it, really.

Wait until you're a dad, trying to teach your kids how to ride a bike. But first, field trip to the DMV to get your bike license!

I think you missed the part where I said "on the road" with "with traffic" -- I assume the junior isn't going to be cruising down the main thoroughfares.

[deadly7]

I think you missed the part where I said "on the road" with "with traffic" -- I assume the junior isn't going to be cruising down the main thoroughfares.

You'd be surprised how many bad parents there are in this country. I've seen MANY young children and pre-teens biking on streets with no sidewalk and cars going at 55mph.

[BigAznDaddy]

so a 5 year old needs insurance.