Should cyclists need a licence on Oxford's roads?

They spoke out on the Oxford Mail’s Facebook page after cyclist Andy Chivers, a member of local cycling campaign group Cyclox, wrote about the options for the introduction of congestion-busting measures on the city’s roads.

In his column, Mr Chivers said: “Road pricing is the obvious response - pay per mile driven, discouraging the use of certain roads at certain times. London has had its Congestion Charge for many years and other cities are doing the same.

“Our local response is the Zero Emission Zone, effectively a road pricing scheme for the city centre. But these schemes are also unfair since people who can afford it can travel through the zones anyway.

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Local schemes are primarily designed to reduce air pollution and congestion, not to tackle climate change or replace lost tax take, so it is important to know what the aim of a scheme is and be clear about the conflicting pressures and unintended consequences of any initiative.”

Some readers took the opportunity to discuss the possibility of cyclists being licensed to the use the roads.

PETER LANIGAN: “What is wrong with licensing cyclists? A 50cc moped requires a licence and compulsory basic training, is limited to 30 miles per hour.

“Now I’m pretty sure I’ve experienced cyclists going much faster than this in Oxford, breaking the Highway Code and ignoring pedestrians.Curious that both side of the fence concentrate purely on their own wants and forget that of the greater community.”

LEWIS GIBSON: “A licence doesn’t stop motorists speeding, drink driving, using a phone while driving etc, all of which are illegal. How do you believe an anonymous cyclist is going to be controlled by a licence? How is that rider different from a boy racer deliberately removing their plates and putting them on the dash to prevent identification for example?”

“Police don’t pull cars without plates as they have no evidence the person has done it deliberately as the driver will just say they fell off five minutes ago and they’re on the way to fix them - at best they can give a notice of improvement. Police don’t stop people with illegal plates either.”

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GRAHAM COATS: “One day coming down the hill at Highworth I was overtaken by a cyclist - I was doing 30mph as that is the speed limit there.”

IAN WILSON: “It’s amazing how many posts you read regarding road traffic, test, road licence, registration for cyclists will never happen, if you actually think and consider how it would be implemented it’s almost impossible, as a keen cyclist I think all cyclist should where helmets but the current view that they don’t really help so it’s up to the individual, it’s their risk.

“Insurance is another one that crops up, I pay to be a member of British cycling and get an insurance included I also pay over £1000 to insure my bikes each year, this covers myself and a third party.

“I know many who do the same. I do appreciate there are many that won’t have insurance but not sure this could be come a rule, there are many bikes in Oxford used by students that probably just jump on and off what’s available. This would also make it difficult to register a bike, displaying a registration plate would also become dangerous.

“I do thinks reducing the speed limits in towns and cities would make the roads safer for all users along with pedestrians.

“Danger comes from all users when they are in a rush, give yourself more time, be more courteous and the roads will be safer for all.”

SIMON GANNON: “We must be aware of all road users, there are many competent cyclists on the road, unfortunately there are just as many incompetent ones as well, this is the same for all types of other vehicles. OCC are more incompetent than all the bad riders and drivers put together. I would like to see a compulsory scheme that cyclists must sign up to: high visibility clothing, helmets, and bike lights and a bell to start. As a cyclist and driver we must look after each other.

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"Oxford is full of drivers, taxi drivers, cyclists, and moped riders taking chances every day with other peoples lives and to say that a cyclist can’t do as much damage as a car is slightly wrong; if slammed at speed to a pedestrian it can. Pricing the roads, maybe that will pay for working CCTV or security for the park and rides, subsidising the buses.”