hugh59
Aboard the ultimate power in Olde Towne East
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When I was much younger, I remember getting a bicycle license every year. Now that I am dusting off my old bike and getting it road worthy, I want to make certain I am in full compliance with the law.
Yet, when I check around the City of Columbus website, I can't find any information about bicycle licenses. Does anyone know the details? Are they required? Where to go to get one? How much they cost?
BrianG
Victorian Village
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No license or permit is required to ride a bike in Columbus.
A few things to note:
Adults are required to ride in the street. Riding on the sidewalk is illegal.
Bikes are required to follow all traffic laws.
If riding after dark you are legally required to have a front light, rear light and a couple reflectors.
Helmets, while a good idea, are not required for adults.
lifeontwowheels
Highland West
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571.05 Failure to display bicycle license.No person shall ride or operate a bicycle or permit a bicycle to be operated upon any of the streets in the city without a proper registration license decal or plate securely attached to such bicycle, in a position that shall be plainly visible at all times. Whoever violates this section is guilty of failure to display a bicycle license, a minor misdemeanor. (Ord. 2173-74.)
Source (Won't link directly. Go to search and type "bicycle license")
So technically yes. Does CPD enforce? Not that I have ever seen, nor does it really matter. I really have never understood the bike license, nor do I see the point.
lifeontwowheels
Highland West
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CaD wrote Kinda like how I dont see CPD chasing after people as they ignore traffic rules on their bikes either :)
Not to take this too far OT, or renew the pissing match from earlier threads, BUT I would fully support CPD cracking down on illegal cycling. Things like riding the wrong way, blatant disregard of traffic signals and sidewalk cycling.
Then again, CPD does routinely ignore motorists and their violations as well. A lot has to do with an officer being there to witness the crime in progress.
As discussed earlier in other threads, a 2,000 lb. vehicle operating with disregard for traffic laws has far deadlier consequences for a greater number than a 20 lb. vehicle.
Back to the topic at hand...
lifeontwowheels
Highland West
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MatthewJR30 wrote The law is the law, lets not try to justify breaking it on the grounds of weight. Either you comply, or you don't. Period.
I'm not justifying either or, just making a simple point that one has a greater implication than the other. We all have the responsibility to obey the traffic laws, but do we?
CaD, remind me to find the numerous stories where a cyclist was run down and the offender was let off with little more than a slap on the wrist. Easiest way to commit murder and get away with it is to put someone on a bike and simply say "But I didn't see him"...
As I said, I am in favor of enforcing all traffic laws, by all users and would love to see CPD work a little more to help cyclists understand that, even if it means traffic fines.
Matthew
Hilltop
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As hard as it is to swallow, sometimes the biggest punishment of all is living with something like that for the rest of one's life. I wouldn't want that sentence, and I'm not here to pass judgement. I'm just tired of the argument back and forth about running red lights, and 3 thousand pounds of reckless steel. We all take our own calculated risks each time we hit the road, regardless of vehicle, and these arguments only piss both sides off.
We have all read the stories for both sides, we don't need them dredged up on here yet again. There are answers to these problems, however CU pissing contests aren't serving either side well.
lifeontwowheels
Highland West
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MatthewJR30 wrote As hard as it is to swallow, sometimes the biggest punishment of all is living with something like that for the rest of one's life. I wouldn't want that sentence, and I'm not here to pass judgement. I'm just tired of the argument back and forth about running red lights, and 3 thousand pounds of reckless steel. We all take our own calculated risks each time we hit the road, regardless of vehicle, and these arguments only piss both sides off.We have all read the stories for both sides, we don't need them dredged up on here yet again. There are answers to these problems, however CU pissing contests aren't serving either side well.
agreed and the reason I support enforcement of all users.
So does anyone have an answer as to why bicycles in some cities are required to have a license? City revenue? Many of these registration laws seem to have simply been ignored.
brothermarcus
West Siiiide
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lifeontwowheels wrote So does anyone have an answer as to why bicycles in some cities are required to have a license? City revenue? Many of these registration laws seem to have simply been ignored.
The town I grew up "near" didn't have a mandated bicycle registration, but you could register your bike with the local pd and they would keep a file with the serial numbers and description of the bike so that information would be available if the bike was missing or found and the police ended up in possession of it... so they could get it back to the owner. You would get a sticker for your bike with a registration number and it was totally voluntary and was offered as a public service/theft deterrent, not for any other reason which I recall.
/edit - should also add that I just remembered it was free of charge and you got a bicycle safety handbook when you registered... this was a while back so I'm not even sure if they do it anymore- or if it was just a youth program because I was a youth when I encountered this.
BrianG
Victorian Village
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lifeontwowheels wrote571.05 Failure to display bicycle license.No person shall ride or operate a bicycle or permit a bicycle to be operated upon any of the streets in the city without a proper registration license decal or plate securely attached to such bicycle, in a position that shall be plainly visible at all times. Whoever violates this section is guilty of failure to display a bicycle license, a minor misdemeanor. (Ord. 2173-74.)
Source (Won't link directly. Go to search and type "bicycle license")
So technically yes. Does CPD enforce? Not that I have ever seen, nor does it really matter. I really have never understood the bike license, nor do I see the point.
Sorry for the misinformation. It appears bike licenses are available from Columbus Fire Departments.
That said...I have never seen a new bike license on a bike, though I do see a lot of them from the 70s.
lifeontwowheels
Highland West
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It's buried pretty deep in municipal code.
kessler
Georgian Heights
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BrianG wrotelifeontwowheels wrote571.05 Failure to display bicycle license.No person shall ride or operate a bicycle or permit a bicycle to be operated upon any of the streets in the city without a proper registration license decal or plate securely attached to such bicycle, in a position that shall be plainly visible at all times. Whoever violates this section is guilty of failure to display a bicycle license, a minor misdemeanor. (Ord. 2173-74.)
Source (Won't link directly. Go to search and type "bicycle license")
So technically yes. Does CPD enforce? Not that I have ever seen, nor does it really matter. I really have never understood the bike license, nor do I see the point.
Sorry for the misinformation. It appears bike licenses are available from Columbus Fire Departments.
That said...I have never seen a new bike license on a bike, though I do see a lot of them from the 70s.
According to the code 571 which Andrew posted, the one's from the 70's maybe valid if they are the original owners when the license was obtained. According to this code when selling or giving a bike away these licenses are to be destroyed and not transferred to owners or to other bikes.
hugh59
Aboard the ultimate power in Olde Towne East
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My bike still has the last license that was on it from back in the 80s. A city of Whitehall license, I think. My brother must have been riding it and registered it there.
I intend to be completely legal. I will get a license. I will wear a helmet. I will ride on the street (I always did in the past; no reason to change now). I will avoid major streets whenever possible; I don't cherish the idea of becoming a hood ornament on some SUV.
dru
IV
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lifeontwowheels wrote571.05 Failure to display bicycle license.No person shall ride or operate a bicycle or permit a bicycle to be operated upon any of the streets in the city without a proper registration license decal or plate securely attached to such bicycle, in a position that shall be plainly visible at all times. Whoever violates this section is guilty of failure to display a bicycle license, a minor misdemeanor. (Ord. 2173-74.)
Source (Won't link directly. Go to search and type "bicycle license")
Also -
"....it is hereby written that ducks shall wear long pants...."
lifeontwowheels
Highland West
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dru wrotelifeontwowheels wrote571.05 Failure to display bicycle license.No person shall ride or operate a bicycle or permit a bicycle to be operated upon any of the streets in the city without a proper registration license decal or plate securely attached to such bicycle, in a position that shall be plainly visible at all times. Whoever violates this section is guilty of failure to display a bicycle license, a minor misdemeanor. (Ord. 2173-74.)
Source (Won't link directly. Go to search and type "bicycle license")
Also -
"....it is hereby written that ducks shall wear long pants...."
Wonderful episode
graveyard roses
Columbus
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Man, people are making it way too hard to do anything these days. It's the pretentious, liberal arts crowd. How hard should it be just to ride a damn bike? You go to the store, buy one and get on the damn side of the street or the sidewalk--take a bike trail if you need to go somewhere far, there shouldn't be more to it than that. I've been riding bikes for most of my life and have never been in a single accident.
Bikes should not be on any roads where they can't match the speed limit. Simple as that.
Andrew Hall
Dennison Place (The Circles)
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graveyard roses wrote Man, people are making it way too hard to do anything these days. It's the pretentious, liberal arts crowd. How hard should it be just to ride a damn bike? There people pushing for not allowing sidewalk riding (like people already don't do it) and people pushing for bike licenses and all this other garbage..
It might be useful to check facts before making assertions.
Bike licenses are a vestige of old laws. No one is pushing for them.
Not allowing vehicles like bicycles on the sidewalk is already part of code and standard procedure most everywhere. Kind of like not allowing cars or motorcycles to drive on the sidewalk either.
A.
graveyard roses
Columbus
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You've gotta come up with a better sentence than comparing cars and motorcycles on the sidewalks to bikes on the sidewalks.
It simply isn't enforced often, if at all.
I think many would feel more open to getting on a bike if they had the option to ride of the sidewalk.
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