Bob Serdar (“Bicycle fee would make sense,” Our Readers’ Views, Feb. 11) states, “Implementing license fees for bicycles in Vancouver would foster a safe and more efficient infrastructure for cyclists.” However, before the city of Vancouver embarks on another regulatory cash-grab, I would remind Mr. Serdar that Vancouver and Washington have laws that provide for cyclists’ safety but lack enforcement.
A perfect example is the city of Vancouver bicycle helmet ordinance, passed in 2008, requiring both adults and children to wear a helmet when riding a bicycle. The efficacy of bicycle helmets in preventing cyclist fatalities is undisputed, but the wisdom of using scarce law enforcement resources to force compliance is questionable.
Clearly, the administrative cost of implementing bicycle licensing and the opportunity cost of redirecting law enforcement away from violent crime to compliance make Mr. Serdar’s proposal a fool’s errand.
