The Big Apple can be rotten to the core when it comes to cycling. While Central Park is a gem, and is one of the things this reporter misses from his time in New York City, little else can be said about biking there. The city had in recent years attempted to put the best wheel forward – but then last month City Councilman Eric Ulrich (R-Queens) suggested that all cyclists in NYC get license and register their bikes.
Now not to be outdone, State Assemblyman Michael DenDekker (D-Queens) had introduced legislation in the state assembly that would require every bicycle in the state to have a license plate reports Gothamist. A license plate! Yes, a license plate, which would no doubt look great on those $3000+ bikes regularly ridden in Central Park and across the George Washington Bridge. DenDekker has since backpedaled and withdrawn the bill, but could future bills be in the works?
This also begs the question what would it mean for those from New Jersey who ride into New York City, as well as anyone who brings their bikes to the Big Apple to ride.
While this is a dead issue now, let’s recap what DenDekker actually suggested, which included two bills. The first would have required “annual registration of personal bicycles and provides for a license plate fee of $25 for the first year and $5 for every year thereafter,” and to get the plate, riders would need to have their bikes inspected! By whom we don’t know of course. The second bill sounded just as Draconian. It would required every commercial cyclist in the state to carry identification and have insurance, with an initial fee of $50. Continue reading Will State Law in New York Kill Cycling?