licence plates for bicycles

[Cenobitez]

I can see why motorists can say Cyclists have no right to use the road, I mean what does a cyclist contribute to the up keep of the road ?

Road Tax ? Nope
% of petrol ? Nope
Wear and Tear ? Yep
Accidents ? Yep

So can see why some dont feel they have a right, I would like to see cyclists paying towards this as its only fair, if you use it, you should pay towards its ware and tear.

[Pervert]

Cyclists have every right to use the road. They can be a bit annoying in busy traffic if you are stuck behind them with little or no chance to get past, but they are part of the traffic and should be treated as such.

They should not, however, go haring along pavements in residential areas, yelling at pensioners to "Watch where you're fucking going!" as I have witnessed on more than one occasion. If cyclists want to be treated with respect by motorists, they should show respect to others. Most do. As with car drivers, it's the selfish, stupid minority that cause the trouble.

[strictlybroadband]

I'm a cyclist, and in principle there's no reason why cyclists shouldn't contribute. In practise though, a fair road tax for cyclists would be about ?1 a year, and the cost of collection means there's no point in collecting it.

I'm also somewhat asthmatic and in this weather, my lungs aren't great when I'm cycling. Who causes the pollution? Car drivers. Who picks up the bill for my medical care? Me and the NHS.

The road tax is too small - car drivers cause more damage than just road wear and tear.

[Snake Diamond]

There are long sections of public footpaths in certain areas of Oxford dedicated to Cyclists ONLY.

[dynatech]

There is nothing more sad than to watch society turn most people into lemmings. This suggestion by Livingston is abhorrent to any right-thinking person, and to witness how the "divide and conquer" strategy is applied to supposed groups of people is tragic. What next, microchips in shoes so they can gauge the contribution each person can make to the wear and tear of the pavements? I am a motorist and a cyclist but I do not see an upside to applying the same type of totalitarian monitoring of the humble bicycle as they have the car, how would that benefit anyone? (And don't think that more money in the treasury's coffers means more investing in the road network, use your brain it's not happening!)
If it comes down to not being just able to jump on a bike and go where I please then I'm going somewhere I can. I also fail to see how they can kep on squeezing the average working PAYE stooges in the country before the pips really do squeek.
Somebody get me out of here!

[Snake Diamond]

As regards the Coffers for the Roads, of the Official Departments for Roads & Transportation, 2 yrs ago they catogorically stated that LESS THAT 10% of ALL MONEY RECEIVED for Roads actually went into the upkeep or provision of Roads, over 70% of that money NEVER even reached the Office of Roads, the other 20% was POORLY Administered.

[Cenobitez]

SB,

Thats why road drivers pay a HUGE levy on Fuel to pay for the rest of the damage they do.

They Pay huge amounts for insurance which also pays a huge tax and towards uninsured drivers and stuff as well.

What is it about 80p of every ?1 paid on fuel is tax ?

I would bet alot on that if drivers was told 'ok road tax is going up to ?1000 a year and we are not putting any tax on fuel, they would rip your arm off.

I think a fair sum for what cyclists should pay should be closer to ?5 per year.

Cyclists should also get INSTANT fines for no lights on, For cutting red lights, and all the same offenses they can commit that a vehicle/motorcyclist can, even up the score, that way Drivers will see them as equals if the law applies just the same.,

I should add i am not a driver myself

[planeterotica]

Years ago if a copper caught you riding a bike on the pavement or riding with no lights they pulled you up, these days they are to busy with other things to even notice it and worse you now have youngsters with these mini motorbikes riding them on the pavements round the housing estates at least you can hear them coming

[eroticartist]

Okay Snake,

Maybe you have them in Oxford but we have just short bits and pieces here in London and roads with pictures of bicycles on lamposts that are described as bike lanes. The cyclist is also not supposed to enter bus lanes and pull out into traffic!

I carry my kids on my bicycle and use the pavement when necessary but I cycle slowly and have never had an incident with a pedestrian. Lots of cyclists are killed every year by motor vehicles but I have never heard of a cyclist killing anyone. Why should I take risks?

I lived in Holland for years and there are dedicated bike lanes covering the whole country. Then the Dutch look after their citizens.
Mike.

[eroticartist]

Hi Graham,
I don't think that it will happen myself. Yes Ken turned out to be big brother in disguise. Cyclists will nmot have plates and there will be mass disobedience if he ever tried to enforce his stupid idea.
Mike.