REGISTER CYCLES

Hauraki Plains Gazette, Volume 48, Issue 2922, 30 June 1939, Page 8

REGISTER CYCLES

GOVERNMENT’S NEW PLAN

LEGISLATION THIS SESSION

AGITATION IN CHRISTCHURCH

Before very long Paeroa’s cyclists will probably have to register their bic;. ■in the same way as motorists and ' 'or-cyclists do now. A-.:. C..ritative • circles confidently expect that the Minister of Transport, Mr R. Semple, will this session introduce legislation providing for the registration of bicycles. Christchurch Agitation

For many years there has. been agitation to make registration of bicycles compulsory. Agitation has been particularly strong in the city of Christchurch, whose.cycle population is in the vicinity of 50,600, a per capita population of one bicycle to every 2.6 of the residents, which is a ration that is probably a world record. Cycle-dealers and cyclists with whom the proposals were discussed welcomed the proposal, particularly in view of its certain check to bicycle thieving. In Christchurch the agitation had its origin in the need for some plan to prevent the wholesale theft of bicycles in the city. In the 12 months to the endi of March last, several bicycles were reported stolen to the Paeroa police, and there is ample evidence that many cyclists do not report the loss of their cycles. Compulsory Registration Advice has been received that the Minister of Transport has definitely decided to introduce legislation making bicycle registration compulsory. It is stated that bicycle registration will be the subject of one of several amending clauses to the existing trafgc regulations to be introduced by the Minister during this session of Parliament. Details of the proposed: legislation are not divulged but it is stated that it will probably provide for a nominal registration in the vicinity of Is to meet administrative costs. It is considered quite possible the regulations will provide for the issue of a licence to use a bicycle. The Government may, it is considered, even consider the introduction of third party risk scheme for cyclists, who at present have no such protection. Plates or Paint? Cyclists with whom the expected regulations were discussed wondered what form the outward evidence of registration would take. Would cyclists, as motorists and motorcyclists, have to affix registration plates to their bicycles. Or would the registration number be painted on the bicycles as is done under the Auckland city scheme? Two years ago the Auckland City Council introduced a scheme whereby cyclists were required to register themselves and were issued with registration papers and a registration number, which the cyclist retained for all time and which was not renewed annually. When a cyclist sold his cycle he pointed out the number and transferred it to his new mount. The scheme was found an excellent deterrent to theft.