If bikes were licensed, where would the plate go, and how big?
 

That's the question, what's your answer?

Supplementary to this:
Would you want the plate(s) lit at night? How does one do this (creative
use of EL-wire, perhaps)?
Should all age-groups be licensed?

--
Martin @ Strawberry Hill

If bikes were licensed, where would the plate go, and how big?
 

Usenet typed



That's the question, what's your answer?

Supplementary to this:
Would you want the plate(s) lit at night? How does one do this (creative
use of EL-wire, perhaps)?
Should all age-groups be licensed?

Also, how would you stop plates rattling off? Mudguards are hassle enough...

--
Helen D. Vecht:
Edgware.

If bikes were licensed, where would the plate go, and how big?
 

Usenet ) gurgled happily, sounding much like
they were saying :

That's the question, what's your answer?

Ask the Dutch. They seem to manage.

Supplementary to this:
Would you want the plate(s) lit at night? How does one do this (creative
use of EL-wire, perhaps)?

Perhaps a small white section on one side of the rear light?

Should all age-groups be licensed?

Why not?

If bikes were licensed, where would the plate go, and how big?
 

Helen Deborah Vecht ) gurgled happily, sounding
much like they were saying :

Also, how would you stop plates rattling off?

Pop-rivets? Nuts'n'bolts? Regular maintenance?

I have to mount a motorbike style plate on one of my bicycles, just because
it happens to have a hairdryer 50cc 0.7bhp engine sellotaped to the top of
the front wheel.

If bikes were licensed, where would the plate go, and how big?
 

On 18 Oct 2004 21:00:18 GMT, Adrian
wrote in :
Usenet ) gurgled happily, sounding much like
they were saying :

That's the question, what's your answer?

Ask the Dutch. They seem to manage.

...and the Swiss.

Supplementary to this:
Would you want the plate(s) lit at night? How does one do this (creative
use of EL-wire, perhaps)?

Perhaps a small white section on one side of the rear light?

Should all age-groups be licensed?

Why not?


--
Ivan Reid, Electronic & Computer Engineering, ___ CMS Collaboration,
Brunel University. Room 40-1-B12, CERN

If bikes were licensed, where would the plate go, and how big?
 

On Sun, 17 Oct 2004, Usenet wrote:

That's the question, what's your answer?

Fighting the urge to tell you where to stick it ...

:)

tom

--
Transform your language.

If bikes were licensed, where would the plate go, and how big?
 

Usenet wrote in message ...
That's the question, what's your answer?

Supplementary to this:
Would you want the plate(s) lit at night? How does one do this (creative
use of EL-wire, perhaps)?
Should all age-groups be licensed?

Bikes should not be licensed. Period. Why?

A)
They're not motor vehicles and cause no pollution or road damage. And if you
license bikes whats next , foot scooters, roller skates?

B)
How the hell would you enforce it? Would the police give chase in a panda car
only for the bike to disappear into a park or alley, or would they chase on
foot and watch the bike disappear into the distance with the rider giving them
the finger?

C)
What about kids riding bikes? Would pre-teens have to be licensed or would
they just be banned altogether because they're too young?

D)
If bikes are licensed what do the riders get from it? Nothing probably, so in
other words its yet another tax. This time on people who are trying to do their
bit for the enviroment. Talk about the government shooting its enviroment
policies in the foot.

B2003

If bikes were licensed, where would the plate go, and how big?
 

Adrian wrote in message .1.4...
Helen Deborah Vecht ) gurgled happily, sounding
much like they were saying :

Also, how would you stop plates rattling off?

Pop-rivets? Nuts'n'bolts? Regular maintenance?

I have to mount a motorbike style plate on one of my bicycles, just because
it happens to have a hairdryer 50cc 0.7bhp engine sellotaped to the top of
the front wheel.

Why bother. Cover it with a bag when you're not using it and who will know?

B2003

If bikes were licensed, where would the plate go, and how big?
 

On 19 Oct 2004 04:10:35 -0700, Boltar
wrote in :

D)
If bikes are licensed what do the riders get from it? Nothing probably, so in
other words its yet another tax. This time on people who are trying to do their
bit for the enviroment. Talk about the government shooting its enviroment
policies in the foot.

If it were to work as in Switzerland, third-party insurance. The
annual fee is paid to Migros, etc., for a dated sticker to place on the bike.
You also have a recorded serial number to recover the bike if stolen (they
_do_ get stolen, even in Switzerland).

--
Ivan Reid, Electronic & Computer Engineering, ___ CMS Collaboration,
Brunel University. Room 40-1-B12, CERN
KotPT -- "for stupidity above and beyond the call of duty".

If bikes were licensed, where would the plate go, and how big?
 

Usenet wrote:

That's the question, what's your answer?

Supplementary to this:
Would you want the plate(s) lit at night? How does one do this (creative
use of EL-wire, perhaps)?

That would depend on your reasons for licensing the bike. If it were to
prove legality or insurance or permission to be within a certain area,
then a sticker that is large enough to be seen by whatever appropriate
authorities would be sufficient. Perhaps suitably coloured on the seat
post?

If you wanted it to to be a 'number plate' in the same was as for
motorised vehicles, then obviously it would need to be bigger.

Should all age-groups be licensed?

That's a different question; you asked a question based on a contentious
assertion "if bikes were licensed", but this doesn't answer why any
should be licensed.

Why are you licensing them?

If bikes were licensed, where would the plate go, and how big?
 

Boltar ) gurgled happily, sounding much like they
were saying :

Adrian wrote in message
.1.4...
Helen Deborah Vecht ) gurgled happily,
sounding much like they were saying :

Also, how would you stop plates rattling off?

Pop-rivets? Nuts'n'bolts? Regular maintenance?

I have to mount a motorbike style plate on one of my bicycles, just
because it happens to have a hairdryer 50cc 0.7bhp engine sellotaped
to the top of the front wheel.

Why bother. Cover it with a bag when you're not using it and who will
know?

Because when it *is* in use, it's fairly bloody obvious that it's
motorised. Which means MOT, insurance, helmet, registration, driving
licence.

For a bicycle.

It *is* possible.

If bikes were licensed, where would the plate go, and how big?
 

Adrian typed

For a bicycle.

It *is* possible.

In theory.

--
Helen D. Vecht:
Edgware.

If bikes were licensed, where would the plate go, and how big?
 

Helen Deborah Vecht ) gurgled happily, sounding
much like they were saying :

For a bicycle.

It *is* possible.

In theory.

It is *eminently* possible. At least two european countries - one with a
FAR higher cycling population than ours - manage.

Here in the UK, I have to take a bicycle, fitted with a full size number
plate on the rear mudguard, for an MOT every year, just because there's an
engine (albeit only 0.7bhp) sat on top of the front wheel.

One of these :-
http://www.geocities.com/ResearchTri.../7787/1700.gif

It's flat out at 15mph, so slower than my mountain bike, and does about
200mpg.

The MOT costs £17.50 and the tax disc would be £15 a year if it were newer,
but is free due to the age of the bike - but the tax disc still needs to be
obtained and displayed.

If bikes were licensed, where would the plate go, and how big?
 

On Sun, 17 Oct 2004 01:44:50 +0100, Usenet
wrote:


That's the question, what's your answer?

At university we were supposed to paint ID numbers onto our bikes, and
as you might imagine, the mudguards and random bits of frame were most
popular. Mine ran down vertically on the tube below the seat.

Supplementary to this:
Would you want the plate(s) lit at night? How does one do this (creative
use of EL-wire, perhaps)?
Should all age-groups be licensed?

The obvious question must be why bother in the first place?

--
Arthur Figgis Surrey, UK

If bikes were licensed, where would the plate go, and how big?
 

"Dr Ivan D. Reid" wrote in message .. .
On 19 Oct 2004 04:10:35 -0700, Boltar
wrote in :

D)
If bikes are licensed what do the riders get from it? Nothing probably, so in
other words its yet another tax. This time on people who are trying to do their
bit for the enviroment. Talk about the government shooting its enviroment
policies in the foot.

If it were to work as in Switzerland, third-party insurance. The
annual fee is paid to Migros, etc., for a dated sticker to place on the bike.
You also have a recorded serial number to recover the bike if stolen (they
_do_ get stolen, even in Switzerland).

If someone is one of those suckers who's paid a few grand for a bike then
I guess insurance might be a good idea , but if like me you're bike is worth
150 quid at most it hardly seems worth it. As for 3rd party, well when was
the last time a bicycle seriously hurt someone (other than the rider)? And
even if they did , to be blunt , the rider could easily pedal off before plod
turns up and with no license plate would be virtually untracable.

B2003

If bikes were licensed, where would the plate go, and how big?
 

Adrian wrote in message .1.4...
It's flat out at 15mph, so slower than my mountain bike, and does about
200mpg.

Why not dump the petrol engine if thats that feeble and install an electric
motor which would have the same performance (albeit with reduced range)? That
way no tax & insurance required.

B2003

If bikes were licensed, where would the plate go, and how big?
 

On Sun, 17 Oct 2004 01:44:50 +0100, Usenet
said:

That's the question, what's your answer?

Same rules as for motorised bicycles.

Supplementary to this:
Would you want the plate(s) lit at night?

Same rules as for motorised bicycles.

How does one do this?

With a light.

Should all age-groups be licensed?

Yes. With the parents being resposible for the stupidity of their
small children.

--
David Cantrell | http://www.cantrell.org.uk/david

If bikes were licensed, where would the plate go, and how big?
 

In message , David Cantrell
writes
On Sun, 17 Oct 2004 01:44:50 +0100, Usenet
said:

That's the question, what's your answer?
Same rules as for motorised bicycles.

So - and I'm only going with this because I'm thinking about the
practicalities - all bikes should have mudguards, racks, or some kind of
frame to attach the plate to?

Supplementary to this:
Would you want the plate(s) lit at night?
Same rules as for motorised bicycles.
How does one do this?
With a light.

Ah, thanks. Not as helpful a remark as it could have been - what do you
think of the EL-wire idea?

Should all age-groups be licensed?
Yes. With the parents being resposible for the stupidity of their
small children.

You're not a parent, are you? No, neither am I, but I can see a flaw in
you're thinking there.

--
Martin @ Strawberry Hill

If bikes were licensed, where would the plate go, and how big?
 

Boltar ) gurgled happily, sounding much like they
were saying :

It's flat out at 15mph, so slower than my mountain bike, and does
about 200mpg.

Why not dump the petrol engine if thats that feeble and install an
electric motor which would have the same performance (albeit with
reduced range)? That way no tax & insurance required.

If I wanted to do that, I'd buy a half-decent bicycle. No, wait, I've got
one as well.

I think you may have missed the point of it. It's frivolously
hardlymobile...

If bikes were licensed, where would the plate go, and how big?
 

Usenet ) gurgled happily, sounding much like
they were saying :

So - and I'm only going with this because I'm thinking about the
practicalities - all bikes should have mudguards, racks, or some kind of
frame to attach the plate to?

Is there anything wrong with the saddle post? Or a bracket off one of the
rear frame members?

Would you want the plate(s) lit at night?
How does one do this?

With a light.

Ah, thanks. Not as helpful a remark as it could have been - what do you
think of the EL-wire idea?

There's got to be a red rear light, right?

So why not have a small white-light cutout in that?

Should all age-groups be licensed?

Yes. With the parents being resposible for the stupidity of their
small children.

You're not a parent, are you? No, neither am I, but I can see a flaw in
you're thinking there.

You're right. Parents seem to refuse to accept responsibility for their
little turds these days in everything else, why should cycling be any
different?

If bikes were licensed, where would the plate go, and how big?
 

On Fri, 22 Oct 2004 20:11:02 +0100, Usenet
said:

So - and I'm only going with this because I'm thinking about the
practicalities - all bikes should have mudguards, racks, or some kind of
frame to attach the plate to?

Obviously, if they are to be required to carry a licence plate, there
must be some place to attach it. Exactly how it's done is best left
to the manufacturers and owners, given the wide variety of ways of
constructing a bicycle.

Supplementary to this:
Would you want the plate(s) lit at night?
How does one do this?
With a light.
what do you think of the EL-wire idea?

All bicycles are required to show lights at night anyway. I suggest
using the same method for illuminating the licence plate.

Should all age-groups be licensed?
Yes. With the parents being resposible for the stupidity of their
small children.
You're not a parent, are you? No, neither am I, but I can see a flaw in
you're thinking there.

This was about *bikes* being licenced, not *riders* being licenced.
Look at the situation with cars. If my car is caught speeding, even
if I'm not driving it, *I* get the ticket unless I tell plod who else
was driving it. Presumably the parents would be the registered
keepers of their brats' bikes, and so would be responsible for any
naughtiness. If you're going to have a vehicle registration scheme,
exempting large groups from having to have their vehicles registered
is foolish. Perhaps I wasn't clear enough.

--
David Cantrell | http://www.cantrell.org.uk/david

If bikes were licensed, where would the plate go, and how big?
 

Adrian typed


Usenet ) gurgled happily, sounding much like
they were saying :

So - and I'm only going with this because I'm thinking about the
practicalities - all bikes should have mudguards, racks, or some kind of
frame to attach the plate to?

Is there anything wrong with the saddle post? Or a bracket off one of the
rear frame members?

Some people have little or no saddle post exposed.
Some clothing obscures the saddle post.

Rear frame members are obscured by racks, panniers and child seats...

--
Helen D. Vecht:
Edgware.

If bikes were licensed, where would the plate go, and how big?
 

In message , David Cantrell
writes

All bicycles are required to show lights at night anyway. I suggest
using the same method for illuminating the licence plate.

Should all age-groups be licensed?
Yes. With the parents being resposible for the stupidity of their
small children.
You're not a parent, are you? No, neither am I, but I can see a flaw in
you're thinking there.
I bought a car just after the catalytic convertor came into force.
Because in that year a lot of vehicles couldn't meet the regulations
each motorist had to pay for the conversions with the government just
sitting on their hand saying " Well this is what we were told could be
expected by the manufacturers" then refusing to pick up the bill. So
why shouldn't the biking lobby be so imposed upon?
--
Clive.

If bikes were licensed, where would the plate go, and how big?
 

In message , Adrian
writes
So - and I'm only going with this because I'm thinking about the
practicalities - all bikes should have mudguards, racks, or some kind of
frame to attach the plate to?

Is there anything wrong with the saddle post? Or a bracket off one of
the rear frame members?

Saddle post is out as luggage on rack often obscures it. Could fit one
to the back of the luggage rack (in my case). Many people don't have
racks, and attaching anything big to the RHS of the rear frame either
sticks out too far or obstructs pedalling.
Could make it of something flexible so it would flick back if struck.

How big do you want these to be? Same as a car/motorbike? Big enough to
be seen and reported if going through a red light :-)

Some-one mentioned the Dutch having to license their bikes, but I've
never seen anything that looking like one on the hundreds outside the
RAI station in Amsterdam.


--
Martin @ Strawberry Hill