[jdstraughan]

Cars pay yearly taxes (registration) and face inspection and insurance requirements to drive on roads. Cyclists are not taxed yearly for owning a bike, required to get licenses, insurance, inspections, etc. Until this changes, riding bicycles on public roads is a privilege, and should be treated as such.

[blocktuw]

I have heard many reasons for and against bicycle registration. Your reasons mostly mirror the reasons of vehicle registration; use of public roads is a privilege. However, as has been noted already in this thread bikes and cars are not the same.

I believe the initial reason for registering cars was about accountability and costs. Cars are dangerous because of their weight and velocity. They need to be respected because they can easily kill people. They also need infrastructure that is built to accommodate their size and weight.

I believe most calls for bike registration are about revenue and fairness while using public infrastructure. If bikes were taxed like cars, the yearly registration fee would be in the single digits (based on original purchase price, age, curb weight) and not worth collecting. Bike infrastructure costs much less than vehicle infrastructure to build and maintain.

Pedestrians do not pay tax to use the infrastructure (sidewalks). I don't think they should pay.

In my ideal world bikes would be registered and pay taxes. They would be required to follow vehicle rules when on a road. However, cities should eliminate almost all roads in urban areas with high density and replace them with public transportation, bike highways, and pedestrian sidewalks. Density + cars is dangerous.

I'm live in Colorado and build software that helps cyclists avoid streets with heavy vehicle traffic.

[LeonidasXIV]

> "Cyclists don't pay their own way on the road because they don't pay registration fees or other use fees such as gas taxes."

http://www.teamestrogen.com/content/cycling_myth2