Scots may require registration of bicycles

[CrAz3D]

http://news.scotsman.com/latestnews/-Government-in-talks-over.5642372.jp

Thoughts?  I think it makes sense if bikes are going to be on the road.  Also, they should have insurance like automobiles do.

Boyfriend of chick I work with was on a bike, and hit today.  Actually, he ran a stop sign and caused a collision.  But yeah.  Who is going to pay his meds?  Who is going to pay for the damage to the car that collided with him?

[Joe]

Yeah, I'm sure the bike did a ton of damage to the car. If anything did damage, it'd be his body. Do we need body insurance to walk outside our house? If a pedestrian walks past a stop sign and you're crusing along and hit him at 40mph and break three of his legs, is it still his fault?

[Camel]

Don't be stupid; that's what car insurance is for. Two bikes colliding would not require insurance intervention, and a bike/car collision is already covered by even the most rudimentary car insurance.

[Newby]

We have to register our bikes here in Davis!

[iago]

Don't be stupid; that's what car insurance is for. Two bikes colliding would not require insurance intervention, and a bike/car collision is already covered by even the most rudimentary car insurance.

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)

[rabbit]

Pollen should have to be registered too.  I mean, if it floats out into the middle of the air and causes someone to go into anaphylactic shock, who's gonna pay the hospital bill?

[iago]

The primary difference there is that the pollen didn't make a mistake that caused the damage.

[MyndFyre]

The primary difference there is that the pollen didn't make a mistake that caused the damage.

Also, government isn't paying to create or maintain the air that the pollen is floating in.

[rabbit]

You're right, they aren't paying for it.  You know what else they aren't paying for?  Genetic tampering.  If allergies could be removed from the genetic code, then pollen wouldn't have to be insured anymore!

But seriously, registering a bike?  It's ridiculous.

[iago]

You're right, they aren't paying for it.  You know what else they aren't paying for?  Genetic tampering.  If allergies could be removed from the genetic code, then pollen wouldn't have to be insured anymore!

But seriously, registering a bike?  It's ridiculous.

I agree with your opinion, but I still think this thread has brought up some compelling questions. I, for one, don't have answers to them, and it's making me re-evaluate my opinion on this. :)

[BigAznDaddy]

wow registration for a bike.. that is kinda weak sauce.
I am an avid biker and I go off roading (mostly) and on the streets.

I get the insurance perspective but seriously if we are going to need to register bikes how about registering skateboards, rollerblades
or how about needing to have a drivers license to ride a bike.

that is ridiculous.

[CrAz3D]

You're right, they aren't paying for it.  You know what else they aren't paying for?  Genetic tampering.  If allergies could be removed from the genetic code, then pollen wouldn't have to be insured anymore!

But seriously, registering a bike?  It's ridiculous.

Then why register an automobile?

[Joe]

You're right, they aren't paying for it.  You know what else they aren't paying for?  Genetic tampering.  If allergies could be removed from the genetic code, then pollen wouldn't have to be insured anymore!

But seriously, registering a bike?  It's ridiculous.

Then why register an automobile?

I'll come to your house and borrow your bike, then ride in into the front of your house. Then I'll borrow your truck and drive it into the front of your house.

That's your answer.

[CrAz3D]

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

[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?