Ken’s Barmy Bicycle Plan
It has been widely reported in the Times and elsewhere that the London Mayor, Ken Livingstone is considering introducing a scheme of cycle registration and numberplates in a bid to crack down on law-breaking cyclists.
Both as a politician and a former cycle campaigner I have never had any patience with law breaking cyclists. They give everyone a bad name and I dislike being called upon to defend what I consider to be indefensible. So I don’t.
But this plan is in no way the answer and I was pleased to see that the plan has been roundly condemned by CTC and the London Cycling Campaign as well as the Liberal Democrats .
Ken’s plan is barmy for a number of reaons.
Firstly, it will deter cycling. Cycling in London has been increasing the last few years. Making cycling more difficult will just increase congestion on the roads and crowding on the public transport system.
Secondly, it is not the way to solve the problem. The police have powers to give spot fines to errant cyclists - they should use them. Livingstone is in charge of the police - if he has concerns, he should make sure they enforce the law. (Incidentally, this should apply to motorists too, they have numberplates but I still notice a shocking amount of law breaking).
Finally, the camera technology won’t work. When he introduced the congestion charge, Livingstone exempted motorcycles because the cameras photograph the front numberplates of cars entering the zone - which motorbikes do not have. The same problem would apply with cycles.
Livingstone seems to think that he might be able to persuade all the London Boroughs to support him on this. I certainly can’t see Southwark signing up to such a scheme in a hurry.
Tristan said,
July 31, 2006 @ 5:10 pm
The costs of this would be ridiculous.
The financial costs to the taxpayer in implementing this would be significant, add onto that the cost in time and money to the cyclist (as you point out a disincentive to cycling).
I think this is simply Ken trying to curry favour with the motorist…
James Graham said,
July 31, 2006 @ 6:00 pm
To be fair, I think that if Ken was particularly keen on currying favour with the motorist he wouldn’t have introduced the C-Charge! No, this has far more to do with his Big State Socialist instincts showing through.
The fundamental problem though would be that it would be unenforceable. If the police can’t enforce existing laws, what hope do they have of enforcing this one?
Peter said,
July 31, 2006 @ 6:55 pm
James beat me to it: I’d like to see him enforcing that one. Not even an old Communist like Ken would have enough of a police state going to catch a cyclist who doesn’t want to be caught in London. Far less if the Crirical Mass rides refused to register. Of course, he could insist we all be barcoded.
Dave said,
August 2, 2006 @ 3:31 pm
I concur that this is dopey and unenforceable.
If you did want to do this (and I am at a loss to see how it would be beneficial), then the way forward would be to use RFID tags - as I understand is being considered / introduced for bike users in the Palace of Westminster.
But you’d have to register all bikes. Presumably the DVLA would swiftly tell Ken the difficulties this would involve!
The whole think is a crackpot idea, but presumably makes for a silly season headline in the Standard …
pauline said,
August 11, 2006 @ 7:23 am
I don’t think some form of registration or means of identification of cyclists is ridiculous. As a pedestrian with chronic vertigo (which makes just walking along pavements and crossing roads especially difficult), I am sick and tired of the frequency of cyclists streaking silently through red lights when I am crossing and cycling fast or slowly along pavements. I see and experience this nearly every time I venture out. It makes me even more nervous than I already am dealing with my vertigo.
Cllr Richard Thomas » Livingstone turns again - barmy cycle registration dropped said,
August 11, 2006 @ 8:13 pm
[...] Ken Livingstone has apparently dropped his plans, which I highlighted last month, to introduce compulsory cycle registration in London . [...]