Tax on cycles and pedestrians.

[Brimoan]

As cyclists use the road they should have to pay road tax and insurance and all pedestrians should be taxed and insured.

[tonyav]

Definitely cyclists but not pedestrians.

[catgullyarha]

I think that all car drivers should wear crash helmets

[2sp_]

Would children on bikes have to pay tax too?

[tonyav]

No, 2sp_ only their parents !

[hc4361]

Pedestrians already pay for the upkeep of pavements etc in the council tax and income tax.

Suppose you have somebody who refuses the pedestrian tax because they never walk on the pavement, they get in the car in their garage, drive to a car park and back again.
How could they prove it?

Or a housebound person refuses to pay because he never goes out, he simply can't. But when he is taken ill and crosses the pavement to get in to the ambulance, should he then pay the full amount?

Another housebound person has a front door that opens directly on to the footpath. Should he pay because his arms extend across the pavement when he takes his parcels in or puts his milk bottles out?

Should a baby pay even though they only go out in a sling attached to the parent?

A very large, strong man has a very dainty wife. To save paying the tax he piggy backs her every where. Fair or not that she refuses to pay?

[ichkeria]

As already stated: Road tax as such doesn't exist.
Anything which increases the safety of cyclists is a good thing but anything which discourages people from cycling can't be good and introducing things like compulsory insurance etc. would only deter people from getting on their bikes.

The point about cycle lanes being compulsory where available is one I suspect only ever made by motorists who would think that somehow that would make cyclists "disappear". Many if not most cycle lanes are largely useless as they are either on pavements where they constitute a hazard to cyclists and pedestrians alike, or they are constantly interrupted.
The best cycle lanes are those on main roads where there is room for a proper, well-marked lane. Sadly, it doesn't seem to have got through to many cyclists that they would be safer using these than cycling on pavements.

[Answerprancer]

Brimoan - are you actually expecting opinions or is this just you dictating what "should" happen ?

[factor-fiction]

Yes, and maybe dog owners should pay a tax per dog for walking their dogs on the streets.
And should there be a pushchair tax too for babies/parents?