HC Deb 30 July 1894 vol 27 c1263
MR. GIBSON BOWLES

I beg to ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether he is aware that in cases of accident in public thoroughfares, in which persons riding bicycles and tricycles are concerned, such persons frequently give a false name and address; and whether he will consider the propriety of taking such measures as may be open to him to cause all bicycles and tricycles to be registered and numbered in such a way and under such conditions as would ensure the identification of their owners, either by such a system as is now applied to hackney carriages, or otherwise?

MR. ASQUITH

I have no doubt that false names and addresses are sometimes given by persons riding bicycles and tricycles. I have before stated that the proposal to number cycles, with a view to their easy identification, is worthy of consideration; but from the growing number of this class of vehicle, and the rapidity with which they change hands, the question is surrounded with practical difficulties.