It seems that most people we know have little or no opinion concerning an issue that burns quite intensely for some of us. That is the question of how best to accommodate the growing use of cycling for pleasure and commuting in our densely packed city.

Many of our narrow streets are unsuitable for dedicated biking lanes to be installed. This leaves cyclists and motorists in situations where each must make way – or at least get along with – the other.

Many argue that cyclists need to be held accountable for their actions on the roadways by being licensed and insured. It is further argued that the bikes themselves should bear license plates so that offenders can be identified and penalized if and when they violate the law or endanger public safety.

It is also pointed out that the cost of adding bike lanes to our streets could be partially offset by the revenues generated by this licensing and the fines that would be collected from violators.

We recognize that most cyclists do ride responsibly and should not be penalized for the actions of the few bad apples that tend to give cycling a bad name in the minds of some.

But is it unreasonable to consider the possibility that operating a vehicle of any sort, be it pedal-powered or motorized, should be treated equally, requiring licensing and insurance?

We need to strike a balance between encouraging carbon-free commuting alternatives and applying common sense measures to assure the common good for all. It’s certainly something to think about.