4 ms·

I'm not sure how your proposed solution is supposed to fix the problem you identify. The "idiot"s will still cut across street corners, even with a plate attac

I'm not sure how your proposed solution is supposed to fix the problem you identify. The "idiot"s will still cut across street corners, even with a plate attached. Also, I'm dubious that the purported problem is a big enough problem to society that it outweighs the benefit (healthier populace, reduced traffic, reduce pollution). Do you plate requirements also apply to rollerbladers? They go at least as fast, don't even have brakes, and are much more likely to be found up on the sidewalk than any electric bike will ever be (sidewalks are annoying, they're full of these obstacles called pedestrians - much better to ride on the road where the obstacles move faster than you for the most part).

dragandj 13y ago
But with a plate attached, he is much more likely to be identified and found by the police if he causes a serious incident.
Spooky23 13y ago
Here's a little story to add context. When I was 8, I was hit by a car by a hit and run driver. The guy took a corner without stopping and clipped my bike, throwing me over the handlebars. He got out of the car, said "oh shit", and sped off. (Luckily, I only twisted an ankle, but the cops sent me to the hospital to get checked out) That's hit and run, and was illegal in 1980's NYC. All I knew was that it was a blue sports car with a white dude, probably a Camaro. But a bystander was able to jot down most of the license plate, and the police found the guy. Because it was an accident, my parents health insurance wouldn't cover the ER visit, but the guy's auto insurance company did. If this happened to you today, and you were hit by an unregistered vehicle, it's far more likely that the operator will get away. There's no license plate, and it's much more difficult for the cops to find a bike than a car. And there's no insurance, so accident liability is a bigger issue as well. As you pointed out, you need to draw the line somewhere, I'm not sure where that line lies.

dragandj 13y ago

But with a plate attached, he is much more likely to be identified and found by the police if he causes a serious incident.

Spooky23 13y ago

Here's a little story to add context. When I was 8, I was hit by a car by a hit and run driver. The guy took a corner without stopping and clipped my bike, throwing me over the handlebars. He got out of the car, said "oh shit", and sped off. (Luckily, I only twisted an ankle, but the cops sent me to the hospital to get checked out) That's hit and run, and was illegal in 1980's NYC. All I knew was that it was a blue sports car with a white dude, probably a Camaro. But a bystander was able to jot down most of the license plate, and the police found the guy. Because it was an accident, my parents health insurance wouldn't cover the ER visit, but the guy's auto insurance company did. If this happened to you today, and you were hit by an unregistered vehicle, it's far more likely that the operator will get away. There's no license plate, and it's much more difficult for the cops to find a bike than a car. And there's no insurance, so accident liability is a bigger issue as well. As you pointed out, you need to draw the line somewhere, I'm not sure where that line lies.