IOWA CITY – State lawmakers have several big issues to tackle this legislative session.
One of the more interesting proposals involves requiring people to pay to ride their bikes. An eastern Iowa senator is pushing the bill. Senator John Putney wants bicyclists to be licensed. The Tama republican says the measure will help pay for state infrastructure. But as you might guess, cyclists have plenty of questions.

The political wheels are greased and the state legislature is ready to roll. One bump in the road is a possible fee for riding a bike in parts of the state. It is a required driver’s license for riding on highways and secondary roads. Cyclist Jason Hicks said, “You have a driver's license, you should be able to ride a bike, I hope. That’s ridiculous. Do I have to ride my bike around the block with a little old lady?"

Obviously, bike enthusiasts are not so enthused with the proposal. Senator Putney suggests a $10 license and a $10 fine for getting caught without it. The money would go to the roads use tax fund. He said, “This group of people should want to contribute to making a safer environment and infrastructure for their particular cause."

Putney says the license will not be required for riding in neighborhoods or in big events like RAGBRAI. The senator sees this as an opportunity to have people who bike on highways to help support them. The cyclists see this as something else, entirely. The owner of World of Bikes in Iowa City Ryan Baker said, “There needs to be more bicycle education and rider education, but it doesn't seem that's what this bill is all about."

The legislature has not even gotten into high gear. This pedal pushing proposal is just in the first stage of its race. Putney says the DOT will track who is registered. The license is good for five years. To read the legislation in its entirety go to http://coolice.legis.state.ia.us/Cool-ICE/default.asp?Category=billinfo&Service=Billbook&menu=false&hbill=SF2006.


Email Steve Nicoles at Steve.Nicoles@kcrg.com