From http://www.news.com.au/story/0,27574,25 ... 21,00.html
A licence for id purposes - fine but it'd be very hard to implement a fair system for penalties etc IMO. Too many grey areas - how would you test that someone was competent enough to ride a bike, who would do the testing (not to mention costs involved), what about kids riding bikes etc etc. It would turn a lot of people off the idea of the simple joy of riding a bicycle if they had to get a licence like they do with a car.- Survey finds motorists want cyclists licensed
- Bicycle lobby group says policing 'difficult'
- Most motorists 'frustrated' by cyclists
- MOST drivers believe cyclists should be licensed and they won't get any argument from lobby group Bicycle Queensland.
Licensing of cyclists would make them accountable for breaking road rules, ensure they helped pay for road infrastructure and serve identification and insurance purposes.
An online survey commissioned by Budget Direct insurance found up to 60 per cent of Brisbane drivers aged more than 25, and more than 50 per cent in some regional centres, believed cyclists should be licensed.
Bicycle Queensland manager Ben Wilson said that although policing the issue would be difficult, he did not have any arguments with licensing of cyclists.
"Most cyclists have a driver's licence, and if they break the law, they get a fine, but it doesn't affect their driver's licence," Mr Wilson told The Courier-Mail .
Mr Wilson said drivers had to carry a licence and so should cyclists, even if just to identify them in a crash. "It could save your life."
Budget Direct spokeswoman Richelle Ward said the majority of motorists were frustrated by road cyclists, "particularly when cyclists break road rules such as running red lights or if motorists are required to slow down or wait to pass cyclists".
They could deduct points from your drivers licence but I guess the issue then would be what if the rider didn't have a drivers licence? I reckon a fine is a good enough deterrent for any cyclist breaking the road rules - they just need to enforce the laws.
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