Start with mandatory insurance and bike registration. But I guess that's an 'unpopular' idea within cycling community.
How will insurance or registration stop cyclists from getting hit by cars? It hasn't stopped cars from hitting each other.
It's not going to be 'Oh I'm fully insured, registered and have a license. Who is this cyclist again?'.
It's an unpopular idea because it makes no sense. It's needless paperwork, expense and bureaucracy for no real world benefit.
Last time? When the cyclist took off most of my paint with his handle bars and pedals trying to squeeze in. $2500 in body work out of my pocket.
Insurance is not only there to protect other people, it's also there to protect you.
That needless paperwork you speak off is exactly why it works.
Registration is the bulk of the "needless paperwork" I was referring to. Cyclists get that hurled at them pretty frequently (just this weekend to be exact), with the idea that rego fees cover road costs. And of course it's simply not true over most of the world. The bulk of money for roads comes from non-registration related sources.
And then there's the fact that a large number of cyclists ride because they can't afford a car, let alone the insurance. How do millions of American's get around if you take their bike away, their only means of individual transportation?
> they can't afford a car, let alone the insurance
I assume they can afford medical bills after an incident? Or they can afford to pay for damage to vehicles?
I had my brand new paint taken off across 2 panels because a cyclist tried to squeeze in between me and another car at a stop light and lost his balance. Then he casually cycled away.
$2500 in damages. But good for him, he is 'too poor' to get insurance.
Insurance for cyclist would be significantly cheaper than auto and motorcycle owners. Without it you are a financial disaster waiting to happen.
A working bicycle can be found for under $50 in even the most expensive cities, have $0 in operating costs, and will last for decades. There are likely no other personal transportation options which offer that.
Get out of our bubble. Some people have $0 and literally can't afford anything in their budget or to plan more than a few weeks ahead... They can't account for unknown events, and frankly don't need to worry about going bankrupt because of an accident.
Poverty is fucked up.
Did you just find that out? Congratulations.
Most of cyclists in NYC are probably making more than you. Save your tears.
If you really cared and understood the dynamics of the 'poor' you would realize that stuff like this is there to protect them.
Rich person can afford the expense of two broken legs. Poor person? Not so much.
Stay in that bubble, and tell me more about the rich and entitled bicyclists that slow down your Uber.
This makes no sense. This like saying that you don't need car insurance because you drive a small vehicle.
Insurance is there to protect you, not just other vehicles.
If $10/month puts you off biking then you should not bike in highly populated areas. Period.
This is classic case of poor financial planning. You don't need $10/month insurance? Too expensive right?
Take a chance, then get injured and get hit with a $10,000 medical invoice. Good job saving $120/year, you showed them.