bike riding education?

It seems to me that in the discussion on licensing bicycles that many people
are hung up on the license part of it. I think the major effort should be
on education. People---starting with kids---should have some kind of
educational course in how/where to ride their bicycles. They should know
the rules of the road and what is expected of them. And that education
should not come from their parents--people who are likely as not to be
unaware of the traffic laws.

When I tell people about driving a car in Germany, they are always amazed
that the accident rate is not higher there. I know that the difference is
that German drivers are consistent and disciplined in their driving (for the
most part). In one example, Germans always pass on the left. Here in Texas,
the law says that you should pass on the left, but if you feel like it,
don't worry about it--just pass on the right! The result is that drivers do
not know which side people are likely to use. In Germany, you just know that
you won't be passed on the right, so you can move to the right easily if you
are the slower vehicle.

So, it seems to me that the problem is: how do we get the public educated
about proper cycling rules and laws without putting a license fee into the
mix?

Pat in TX

"Doug Huffman" wrote in message
...
: The cycling community can't even agree on much of anything and, based on
: that, you want to license a First Amendment Right. Maybe you should join
: the National Reasonable-regulation Association, NRA, and get some
experience
: in civil rights advocacy.

Well, every other vehicle that uses the public roads has an education course
that must be taken prior to use of these roads. If a bicycle is a vehicle
like we keep claiming it is, why should it be different from the other
vehicles?

As for your claim that I want to license a First Amendment Right....1.) my
post was about education, not licensing, and 2.) what makes riding a bicycle
on public roads a First Amendment Right?

Pat in TX
Pat in TX