Great Britain has tightened its traffic rules massively. After cars, even cyclists will be targeted in the future. In Germany, too, there are first demands for number plates for bicycles.
In the former EU country Great Britain, bicycles could be driven around with number plates in the future – and cyclists could even be forced to take out insurance for their bikes. This is reported by the British newspaper “Daily Mail”. There is a “growing belief” within the government that cyclists “should be forced to display number plates and obey the same speed limits as motorists,” reports the newspaper, citing Transport Secretary Grant Shapps. This applies above all to the many new 20 km/h zones (with 20 miles being the equivalent of just over 30 km/h).
So far, Great Britain has primarily had motorists on the Kieker and slowed down the cars with various new speed limits and rules in favor of cycling. The city of London has been pushing car traffic out of the city for years and is considered a role model for other European cities when it comes to the toll system. Most recently, the corona pandemic had made cycling even more popular.
But many cyclists do not obey the traffic rules and the frustration among drivers is growing. In order to be able to collect fines for cycling as well, the British are now considering making license plates or “another form of identification”, according to the “Mail”. The UK is not only famous or notorious for its strict traffic rules, but also for having one of the most comprehensive camera surveillance networks in the world in major cities.
In addition to the license plate requirement, cyclists could be threatened with compulsory insurance. In contrast to motorists, cyclists have so far been difficult to hold liable for accidents they are to blame for. Transport Minister Grant Shapps told the Mail that he supports the bicycle trend and its positive effects on traffic and health. In fact, Shapps spurred heavy investment in Britain’s cycle lanes in 2020. But he sees “no reason why cyclists should break the traffic rules”. That’s why we want to take action now. With the cabinet reshuffle in Great Britain, however, new rules for cycling would be up to his successor – whether Shapps will hold the post again remains to be seen.
In Germany there are also demands to monitor cycling more closely. In 2022, the “Mobil in Deutschland” car club documented for the second time with a video at a traffic light in Munich how numerous cyclists drove over red. “Not only drivers, but also cyclists should be checked more often. If that’s not enough, then you should think about license plates for bicycles,” says Michael Haberland, president of the auto club.
