Bikes Aren’t Toys: They’re Transportation
We came across this comment on a Union Tribute article, and really appreciated what Reuven had to say, so we made a blog post about it!
RE: Oceanside to confiscate e-bikes from reckless riders
“Pedestrian and road safety are very important. Far too many people are killed and injured on the streets. I would love to applaud Oceanside’s new ordinance paving the way for confiscating the e-bikes of reckless riders. But how many cars has Oceanside confiscated for parking in the bike lane? Or parking in a crosswalk? Or parking on the sidewalk? Or passing cyclists too closely? Or failing to stop for pedestrians in a crosswalk? If a ticket is good enough for a motorist, why is it not good enough for a cyclist? Please explain.”
— Reuven, San Diego
Thank you, Reuven, for putting words to what so many people are feeling. Your comment cuts straight to the heart of the issue: the double standard that exists on our streets.
Cities too often treat bikes as toys. They view riding a bike as a privilege that can be taken away, while cars are treated as essential transportation modes we can’t possibly consider confiscating, even as they remain the leading cause of serious injury and death on our roads.
Let’s be honest about what’s happening:
Cars routinely block bike lanes, sidewalks, and crosswalks
Drivers speed, fail to yield, pass too closely, and park wherever it’s convenient
These behaviors directly contribute to crashes, injuries, and fatalities. Yet the consequences for motorists are usually limited to a ticket (if there’s enforcement at all!)
Meanwhile, people on bikes, many of whom rely on biking as affordable, practical transportation, are suddenly framed as reckless threats whose mobility can be taken away entirely.
That’s not safety. That’s selective enforcement.
If a ticket is considered an appropriate response when a driver puts someone at risk, why isn’t it sufficient when a cyclist does the same? Why is biking treated as a privilege, while driving is treated as an untouchable necessity?
Real safety doesn’t come from punishing the easiest group to target. It comes from:
Designing streets that protect people and slow cars
Enforcing laws consistently across all road users
Investing in bike lanes, sidewalks, and safe crossings
Recognizing that bicycles are transportation, not toys
When cities focus on punishment instead of prevention, they miss the opportunity to address the root causes of danger. And when they single out cyclists while giving drivers a pass, they reinforce a system that already puts the most vulnerable at risk.
We believe everyone deserves to move through their community safely — whether they’re walking, biking, rolling, or driving.
Thank you to everyone who continues to speak up, ask hard questions, and demand better from our cities. That’s how change happens.
- The Bike Coalition Team
