1997 RESOLUTIONS
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FEDERATION OF WESTERN OUTDOOR CLUBS
1997 FWOC Resolution
No. 9:
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SUPPORT FOR STATE LICENSING OF BICYCLES IN
CALIFORNIA
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For many years, the FWOC
has addressed the conflicting demands of hikers and bicyclists on
hiking trails. Despite regulations restricting bicyclists to
certain areas and to certain conduct, numerous and constant reports of
violations are reported, but individuals responsible are unaccountable
due to the difficulty in identifying them. While bicyclists
generally insist that they are courteous both to the terrain and to
hikers and equestrians, the FWOC regularly receives reports of trail
damage and of injury to hikers and equestrians. Witnesses to
incidents of bicyclist trail abuse and discourtesy are usually
powerless to mark adequate reports due to lack of adequate means of
identifying the perpetrators of lawlessness. This occurs because
of the speed by which the bicyclists get away, as well as the lack of
any means of identification.
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If bicycles were required
to be registered and to have affixed licenses both on front and back,
it would increase accountability of bicyclists. Most states do
not have state licensing of bicycles. Some, like California, have
licensing only by local ordinance. Although local ordinances
requiring licensing might have some effect, most have never licensed
bicycles. With the rise in popularity of mountain biking,
bicyclists regularly traverse numerous locations and jurisdictions with
non-existent or conflicting licensing requirements. As a result,
virtually no mountain bicycles, and few non-mountain bicycles are
licensed.
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One partial solution to
the enforcement of existing rules, regulations and laws is to make the
individual bicyclist accountable for any infractions. This starts
with identifying the bicyclist from a license required to be affixed on
the front and back of the bike, with sufficiently large letters and/or
numerals as to be visible from a reasonable distance.
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Revenues from the
licensing procedure should be set at a level adequate to cover the
administration and manufacture of the bicycle licenses. The
Federation of Western Outdoor Clubs believes that the California State
Department of Motor Vehicles could take on this additional licensing
responsibility. The revenues could be supplemented by any fines
required to be paid for infractions of bicycling laws, rules and
regulations.
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The Federation of Western
Outdoor Clubs supports policies requiring the state licensing of
bicycles in California.
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