Such is the case with bicycle licensing. Many smart and well-intentioned people believe that a bicycle licensing program would keep our roads safer and generate revenue for bicycle projects. Unfortunately, this is not true.

In fact, bicycle licensing programs don’t work and waste valuable taxpayer dollars. Bicycle licensing programs don’t raise enough revenue to pay for their own costs, taking money away from other more important needs. The State of Minnesota recently cancelled their bicycle licensing program because, “the administrative costs were more than the revenue generated,” and the cities of Los Angeles, CA, San Jose, CA, and Detroit, MI, all recently cancelled their programs for the same reason. Washington’s Department of Transportation has studied other state programs and determined that implementing a bicycle licensing program would not be practical.

Furthermore, bicycle licensing programs are unfair because bicyclists already pay more than their fair share to use our roads through sales, property and gas taxes and motor vehicle license fees (many bicyclists also own and drive cars). They do very little to encourage bicyclists to obey the law and serve to discourage an activity (bicycling) that we should be working to encourage since it helps relieve congestion, benefits our health, our environment and our wallets.

We (Cascade) strongly support enforcement, fines and penalties for all road users, including bicyclists, who do not obey the rules and break the law. Enforcement is a proven life-saving strategy that keeps bicyclists, pedestrians and drivers safer. Licensing car drivers does not prevent people from speeding or running red lights – its education and enforcement (and good design) that keeps streets safe.

They should also have training for safety and law requirements – they too should have a license (like scooters and motorcycles).

We need appropriate guidelines and accountability. I see bike riders everyday who run red lights, run stops signs and basically endanger other vehicles all over the streets.

If they want to have all this money sent their way – then let THEM contribute to the costs.

License bikes, and create a safer more fundble economy. It’s not fair to place this burden on all of us – I have to pay to have a pet…why are bikes cost free??

If you and your members have ideas for Neighborhood Greenways in addition to what Children’s, Wallingford, and Beacon Bikes are proposing, please let me know at sally.bagshaw@seattle.gov.

Thanks for getting the word out!

–Sally Bagshaw
Seattle City Council