The subject of number plates for bicycles has reared its head again.
We first reported on the topic in 2017, when a poll conducted by Halfords revealed that 59% of respondents were in favour of number plates for bicycles. In 2022, Grant Schapps, transport secretary at the time, had to backpedal on an apparent suggestion that number plates could be a way of identifying cyclists for the purpose of enforcing traffic rules.
The Italian government joined the controversy in June 2023 when their minister of infrastructure and transport, Matteo Salvini, announced that he intended to make cyclists wear helmets, display number plates and indicators and take out insurance. Following a backlash, Salvini softened his position, insisting that the plans would only apply to scooters.
So, the pattern seems to be that politicians suggesting number plates for bicycles meet swift resistance to the idea. They subsequently "clarify" their positions, implying that their intentions were misinterpreted, and the subject goes into hibernation until the next time.
Welcome to next time
A few days ago, former Met Police chief Lord Hogan-Howe contributed to a debate in the House of Lords about plans to introduce regulation for London's pedicabs (pedicabs are those pedal powered rickshaws seen on streets in many of the world's cities). Lord Hogan-Howe took a step beyond the discussion's focus when he suggested that measures adopted for pedicabs could also be applied to bicycles. Predictably, his thoughts included number plates.
Lord Hogan-Howe didn't mince his words.
Having a registration plate somewhere on the back would not be a bad idea to make sure that people are held to account and it is not totally without consequences if they choose to ignore things that are meant to keep us all safe. On occasion they [cyclists] have terribly injured people, and on some occasions killed them.
Deja vu
Of course, Lord Hogan-Howe's suggestions may gain no traction, as the measures under discussion are aimed at pedicabs specifically. However, should his thoughts be pursued by a member of government, history suggests that any proposal along those lines may be withdrawn soon afterwards.
The discussion was diverted again when former Conservative minister Lord Blencathra offered the opinion that the pedicab bill is a trivial matter compared to the problem of e-scooters. He said, "I want to amend this bill to ban all e-scooters in England from any public highway, including pavements, and give police powers to immediately confiscate any they find in use on public roads. All rental e-scooter trials should cease immediately and greater penalties imposed on cyclists on pavements, especially if they're commercial couriers."
What do you think?
Do you think bicycles should display number plates? Do you think cyclists should pay road tax or take out insurance?
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