After a taking a summer vacation, the anti-cyclist's favorite threat, cycling licenses and registration, returned to town last night at the Transportation Committee of the UES's Community Board 8, where a resolution "petitioning the city and state to require bicycle registration and some kind of identification for the vehicles, like a license plate" was approved. The nearly unenforceable idea now moves on to the full Community Board which will vote on it October 19th, before sending it on to City Hall and Albany. more ›

This afternoon we spoke with State Assemblyman Michael DenDekker, a Queens Democrat who has introduced legislation that would require every bicycle in New York State to have a license plate. The registration and inspection fee would cost $25 for "private" (i.e. non-commercial) bicyclists and $50 for commercial bicyclists, with a $5 fee every subsequent year to renew the license. Reached by phone, DenDekker elaborated on the bill, and said he looks forward to the day when cameras in bike lanes will help identify scofflaw cyclists and hold them to the same standard of accountability as drivers. (We're assuming motorists and police officers in bike lanes would continue to be exempt from any enforcement.) more ›