Article: Queensland bike lobby group wants cyclists to be licensed

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From the Courier Mail click here!

Queensland bike lobby group wants cyclists to be licensed

Queensland bike lobby group wants cyclists to be licensed

Article from: The Courier-Mail

By Mark Hinchliffe

March 18, 2009 11:00pm

MOST Queensland drivers believe cyclists should be licensed and they won't get any argument from lobby group Bicycle Queensland.

Licensing of cyclists would make them accountable for breaking road rules, ensure they helped pay for road infrastructure and serve identification and insurance purposes.

An online survey commissioned by Budget Direct insurance found up to 60 per cent of Brisbane drivers aged more than 25, and more than 50 per cent in some regional centres, believed cyclists should be licensed.

Bicycle Queensland manager Ben Wilson said that although policing the issue would be difficult, he did not have any arguments with licensing of cyclists.

"Most cyclists have a driver's licence, and if they break the law, they get a fine, but it doesn't affect their driver's licence," he said.

"There is reason to say that a driver's licence should have the ability to be penalised or cancelled if a bike rider is anti-social."

Mr Wilson said drivers had to carry a licence and so should cyclists, even if just to identify them in a crash. "It could save your life."

The Budget Direct survey also found that 53 per cent of Brisbane drivers and about one in three in regional centres wanted cyclists to pay a registration fee.

Mr Wilson said it would be a legislative and logistical nightmare.

"The only countries that have bike rego are places like Switzerland, where they tax everything, and some Chinese provinces and it doesn't work there," he said. "The government ends up paying for it."

Budget Direct spokeswoman Richelle Ward said more than half of Brisbane motorists were frustrated by road cyclists, "particularly when cyclists break road rules such as running red lights or if motorists are required to slow down or wait to pass cyclists".

The survey comes as cyclists celebrate Bike Week, culminating in the competitive Mt Coot-tha Challenge and non-competitive Great Brisbane Bike Ride from South Bank on Sunday morning.