My first impression of the idea of mandatory bicycle licenses is that it’s a really stupid idea. Particularly since it often seems based on the idea of making cyclists pay the same as drivers, an idea that ignores the cost of cars’ wear and tear on roads, necessary enforcement, and massive car-only infrastructure like 400-highways or the DVP.
There’s also a flaw with the idea that if cyclists are licensed, they will all obey the law. Having a drivers license doesn’t seem to stop many drivers from ignoring and/or forgetting the rules of the road. Not to mention that a cyclist doesn’t need a license to be ticketed by police.
There’s an unfortunate economic effect, since bicycles are the choice of some who couldn’t afford anything else. And how are you going to handle children? Does an 8-year-old need a license?
But then I see cyclists on sidewalks, blowing through stop signs, and riding the wrong way down a one-way street, among other things. And I think, yeah, maybe there’s some merit to this idea.
So here’s the deal: I’ll pay, say, $25-30 a year for a bicycle license. And in return, I want safe bicycle space on every street in the city. I want strict enforcement of cars parked in bicycle lanes (make them a tow-away zone!), and more police to stop unsafe drivers and cyclists. I want by-laws that demand bicycle parking and facilities in all new buildings.
I probably want more, too. But that seems like a good starting point.