1 responses to “Where’s your license plate?”

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  azbikelaw April 11th, 2011 at 20:19

  Below is a letter sent to Tucson Mayor and City Council members from TPCBAC, biketucson.pima.gov , advising against instituting a bicycle licensing program:

  March 31, 2011
  Re: Bicycle Licensing

  Honorable Members,
  In response to the Budget Option Balancing Systems (BOBs) item regarding bicycle licensing, the Tucson-Pima County Bicycle Advisory Committee (TPCBAC) has voted unanimously against the licensing of bicycles.
  One of the goals that the League of American Bicyclists (LAB) asked Tucson to meet for the Platinum Bicycle Friendly award was an increase in riders in the metro area. Bicycle licensing will be in opposition to this goal for the following reasons:

  • It would almost certainly cost more to run the program than a merely nominal charge would generate. Either the “tax” would be onerous to the citizens who own bicycles or the program would not be self-funded. A $10.00 fee would not pay for the licensing program and $25.00 for bicycles that often sell for that amount at swap mewould be prohibitive for the owners.
  • Licensing will have a negative impact on visitors with bicycles and part-year residents. It will affect El Tour de Tucson, Tour of the Tucson Mountains, and other annual events. These events are important to Tucson’s economy and many local businesses.
  • Enforcement will be difficult. There will be a segment of bicycle owners that will not pay the licensing fee. Whether they simply are unaware of it, think they are exempt because they are “passing through,” or just obstinate, there will be people who don’t comply. The TPCBAC does not believe that the cost of enforcement would be offset bya $10.00 fee.
  • Adding a bicycle licensing division to City government is contrary to the BOBs line item to eliminate jobs.

  In addition, cyclists already pay a 9.1% sales tax; bicycles do not create potholes which require maintenance; bicycle parking is less costly than automobile parking; many Tucson residents do not drive and their multi-modal forms of transportation should be accepted without additional fees; and cycling helps reduce obesity for a healthier Tucson.
  Cyclists don’t cost that much. LAB reports that annually, 43,000 people lose their lives on U.S. roadways costing about $260 billion. (2.6 million non- fatal collisions). Only 720 are cyclists. The cost of collisions and crashes of cyclists simply does not equate to overall roadway crash costs. There is a need to maintain vast storage yards for crashed motor vehicle that are removed from the roadway. Not so for bicycles. Bicycles are the third safest form of transportation (third to elevators and public busses).
  The TPCBAC offers these alternate suggestions for ways to save the city money or to raise revenue:

  • Tucson can add a box to the water bill for bicycle enhancement funding. This would be similar to the current voluntary $1.00 donation to Open Spaces and Green environment that is currently on the water bill. Many bicyclists have expressed a willingness to donate to such a fund if it will be used for roadway cleaning. Many motorists who want cyclists to not “take the lane” due to debris may also wish to contribute.
  • Tucson can implement a “crash fee” that is assessed against any motorist that a) causes a crash as observed by the investigating officer (i.e., citation for running a red light, etc), and b) requires roadway cleanup and debris removal from the roadway regardless of which vehicle creates the debris.
  • The Clean and Beautiful program is an excellent way to use volunteers to perform maintenance and clean-up. Many cyclists have experience with equipment (including street sweepers) and have expressed a desire to run the street sweepers themselves if the City will make them available. The City can reduce liability by including volunteers in appropriate training programs, and then save money by letting the volunteers help out.
  The above is not an exhaustive list of reasons to avoid licensing and likewise, merely scratches the surface of alternate ways of generating revenue. Certainly, the City of Tucson can work to build a community that is truly unique and outstanding.
  For the foregoing reasons, and further reasons not articulated in this letter, the T-PCBAC objects to the licensing of bicycles in Tucson and respectfully asks that the licensing of bicycles be removed from the Budget Option Balancing Systems.
  Thank you for your attention herein.

  Eric Post, Enforcement Sub-Committee Chair, TPCBAC
  (520) 207-9601
  cc: Pima County Board of Supervisors