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 Linda Thomas
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Should bicyclists need a special license?

September 16, 2011 @ 3:32 am (Updated: 4:50 am - 9/16/11 )

Seattle Mayor Mike McGinn says it's time to drop the rhetoric about cars versus bikes on the roadways and work to make everyone safer as they commute.

"As part of my commute I bike the same route taken on Dexter Avenue by Mike Wang, a 42 year old father of two who worked at PATH. One afternoon, on his ride home just two blocks from his office, he was killed in a hit-and-run accident while crossing the intersection of Dexter and Thomas," says McGinn on his blog. "I see the flowers and the white ghost bike, reading 'A cyclist died here,' almost every day."

Mayor McGinn says in his bike travels this week he also went by the intersection of University Way and Campus Parkway, where Robert Townsend, a 23-year old man who delivered sandwiches on his bicycle for Jimmy John’s, died after being struck by a car last weekend. He also rode to the spot on Fairview Avenue where Brian Fairbrother, who worked at Espresso Vivace, died after crashing on a set of stairs on August 30th.

GhostBike

"It’s time to stop finding fault with each other, and to start finding a remedy," says McGinn. "There has been a lot of overheated rhetoric about cars versus bikes or bikes versus cars, and it’s not helping make our roads any safer. It’s not even accurate."

To begin working on improving safety and responsibility on the roads, McGinn is calling for a community summit. The date hasn't been set.

Seattle will also invest in several education programs and improve enforcement of rules for both cyclists and motorists, and invest in road projects that make it safer for bicyclists to use city streets.

A reader, John, came up with this interesting idea I'd like your thoughts on. Require cyclists to get a license, just like anyone else who operates vehicles on the roads. Here are his suggestions:

Cyclists get trained about the rules of the road formally. No exceptions. It becomes a requirement.

Cyclists have a license plate on their bikes. That provides a means of accountability if they break the rules of the road.

You’d get a license plate on a bike once the bike has been inspected and is found to be equipped with a standard, DOT approved lane signaling and brake indication device.

Instruct police to ticket bike scofflaws who don’t follow the rules of the road. Set the fines to be the same as car fines. If you cross an intersection on a red light, that’s a $124 fine.

Create legislation that puts the traffic violation riding a bike on the person’s car driving record. A person that drives a car responsibly should also be forced to drive a bike responsibly.

The revenues collected from licensing bikes and bike traffic fines can go directly to pay for educational efforts and bike infrastructure. The higher the need for more infrastructure, the higher the license fee. Or, just base it on the price of the bike.

Photo from GhostBikes.org

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Comments (90)


  • Add A Comment

  • tuleman003 wrote...
    Blame vs. accountability
    September 16, 2011 11:41 am
    As a kid in West Seattle, I rode a bike everywhere, even to the Vashon ferry. I was taught to obey the rules and to be watchful of vehicles. I didn't have a license, I didn't need special lanes to ride in and I actually used hand signals when in or around high volumes of traffic. Now, as per the Tacoma teachers' example, if you don't like the rules, defy them.
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  • roomtemp wrote...
    NO!!!
    September 16, 2011 11:51 am
    No more taxes, no more fees, no more stupid regulations...

    If bicyclists don't obey the rules and they get hit, that's their problem. More taxation won't solve anything.

    If you support this, don't even think about calling yourself 'conservative'. Friggin nanny staters are enough to drive a guy nuts...

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  • Windowstek wrote...
    Will hand signals count???
    September 16, 2011 11:54 am
    They seem to be asking us not to use hand signals any more since we will need a system on the bike for inspection. Wonder if they will require the manufactures to build them into the bike, or sell them in the store. I have no issue with a license and testing. Being a bicyclist I have noticed to many bad cyclist, and not enough good ones. I won't say I follow the rules 100%, but do wish other cyclist would even get about 50% of what I do. I would say only about 25% even get that close. I am truly amazed when others even say "On your left" when passing someone.
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  • WingNut2 wrote...
    Yes!
    September 16, 2011 12:41 pm
    We need to license everything. More licensing. Everything with wheels. Skateboards, shopping carts and baby strollers would be next.
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  • Str8Thinking wrote...
    Doesn't seem to work for cars...
    September 16, 2011 1:09 pm
    Seems like the "license bikes" people are banking on the sorry idea that licenses bring about following rules. Have you driven on the roads lately? People rarely obey the speed limit and only come to a complete stop at stop signs if someone else is in the way. If you kill a cyclist while breaking the law you might get a ticket. Yes, there are no shortage of idiot cyclists, but they are matched by the number of bad drivers.
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  • d1rtd1ver wrote...
    YES
    September 16, 2011 1:31 pm
    Yesterday I had a cyclist run a stop sign. If I hadn't been paying attention I woulda run her over when I turned right. And YES before anyone asks, my blinker was ON.
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  • messiah101 wrote...
    d1rtd1ver
    September 16, 2011 1:49 pm
    YEsterday I saw a guy driving a car run a stop sign and many more drive over the speed limit. So whats your point?
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  • Carpe Diem wrote...
    HAIKU DUDE SAYS.....
    September 16, 2011 1:54 pm
    Bikers can take lead..... Want drivers to share the road..... Teach bikers the same.....
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  • ereed1128 wrote...
    license the bikes
    September 16, 2011 2:07 pm
    Bikes should be licensed both to protect from theft and help pay for roads and paths they use. Our city would not be the first to license bikes. I know for sure they do it in Madison, WI because my brother in law lives there and commutes by bike. As a person who has had their bike stolen right in front of their house I would have loved to have an easier way to get it back. Bikers are not always the best at following rules or riding in control. I have a huge dent in my car to prove it. And before anyone says it was my fault my mother in law was driving and she was stopped at a light and it was the biker who ran into her. I agree that bikers should be ticketed more and I also agree if a pedestrian is doing something unsafe that they should also be ticketed.
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  • Pat_riot wrote...
    Yes
    September 16, 2011 2:22 pm
    Yes.
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  • WashingtonCitizen wrote...
    Definitely..........if they don't have a drivers license..
    September 16, 2011 2:25 pm
    and if their drivers license is revoked they should not be able to ride a bicycle on the roadway.
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  • biteme wrote...
    They should
    September 16, 2011 3:18 pm
    have to pay a fine for wearing them pointy hats and spandex britches. Want them pesky bike riders off the road? Install them mirror extensions, ya know the ones 3/4 ton trucks use while pulling the travel trailer . They got a pretty good reach on them .
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