The Government has explored the possibility of registration plates for cyclists, but is this a good idea and how would it work?
As experts in all things number plates, today, we’ll discuss the topic of number plates for bicycles in a little more detail. From the nuts and bolts of how things would work to fines, penalty points, and more, we’ll help answer a rife question in the UK: should cyclists have number plates?
Cyclists and number plates – Whitehall report
A Whitehall report in 2023 was proposed by Grant Shapps, former Secretary of State for Transport, detailing that bicycles should have number plates and insurance. The purpose would be to ensure that cyclists who flout speeding laws and other road-based regulations can be tracked down and penalised.
Under the plans, Shapps would have had both insurance and number plates legally mandated so fewer cyclists could break the speeding laws of the road, run red lights, and even injure or kill pedestrians due to poor cycling. The punishments for any of these could be anything from fines or points on licenses.
This would put bicycles in the same league as cars and other road-legal vehicles, with number plates mandatory so the police and ANPR cameras can track down bicycles if rules are broken.
Potential issues with the idea
Of course, bicycles don’t have speedometers like cars, which makes it difficult for riders to know how fast they’re going. This is one of the key criticisms of the plans, but it isn’t the only one.
Another issue is that cyclists are unlikely to break any speeding laws for any sustained amount of time. This is particularly true when you compare the speed capabilities of bicycles to cars and other motorised road vehicles. However, with the rise of e-bikes, this might change in the near future…
Another argument against the plans is that more people should be encouraged to ride bicycles to help reduce pollution. This goes hand-in-hand with plans to reduce the carbon footprint of the automotive industry, backed by governments around the world, including the UK.
With this point of view, it’s hard to back the proposed plans with much vigour, and opposers propose more inclusion for cyclists. This inclusion may come in the form of better cycle paths rather than additional expenses such as number plates and insurance.
Of course, vehicles cause many more injuries and deaths than bicycles on UK roads, too, and some people argue that there should be more measures in place to control poor driving behaviour, rather than poor cycling behaviour.
Is it likely that cyclists will have number plates?
In all honesty, these plans aren’t likely to come to fruition. It’s been over a year since they were proposed and, in this time, the country has seen multiple prime ministers and even Grant Shapps has moved position numerous times to the point of him not being involved in transport anymore.
However, lots of motorists are sick to the back teeth of bicyclists hogging the roads on their morning commute, and videos are regularly posted online that show cyclists breaking the rules and getting away with them.
So, it’s a bit of a mixed bag regarding public support and how realistic the plans are to be put into law.
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