I would like to address the letter by Lee Tonet published on Dec. 29, which appears to call for the equal treatment of cars and bicycles in terms of operator and registration requirements. This is a prime example of false equivalency.
Basic physics tells us that a 40-pound bicycle with a 160-pound rider does not exert the same force on other things that it may contact as a 4,000-pound car. When traveling at 25 mph, the car has 125 times the kinetic energy as the bicycle moving at 10 mph. 9 (Kinetic energy equals the mass times the squared velocity.)
We all know that a car or truck is a potential death machine, where just a second or two of inattention can result in severe injury or death of a person struck by the vehicle. This is why motor vehicles need to be registered and operated by licensed (ideally competent and aware) drivers.
Extending motor vehicle requirements to 40-pound human-powered devices that are typically moving at single digit speeds and therefore are highly likely to injure or kill someone in a collision is ludicrous. Registration of these inherently safe devices and licensing of their riders does not make sense and would simply create a barrier to their usage.
The growing availability of electric and electrically assisted cycles that are heavier and capable of higher sustained speeds is another matter that does need to be addressed. At some point they are essentially motorcycles and should be treated as such.
I do agree that people operating any and all means of transport should be predictable, communicative, vigilant and courteous at all times for our mutual benefit. Perhaps we should focus on providing equitable infrastructure and support for all modes of transportation so that everyone may travel safely, efficiently and comfortably regardless of how they are getting around.
Eric Boudreau
Northampton