Sensible measure. Cyclists are part of traffic, and they should obey traffic laws as well. Sometimes, even driving my car carefully, I get caught by kamizake cyclists who don't stop where they must stop, who don't yield where they must yield. And that is not to tell about cyclists riding on areas they shouldn't, like pedestrian-only plazas.

By Andre L. | January 9, 2012 9:19 AM

What a stupid reaction to take his licence. Ok he was drunk and went thru a red light, but a bicycle isnt a motorvehcile. You dont take a test to drive a pushbike in holland, what would be the case if he didnt have a licence ? I'm not a legal expert but in the UK this would be a s30 RTA 1988. I dont think he would of lost his licence at any extent. There needs to be specific legislation for bicycles to protect everyone.

By Alan Knipmeyer | January 9, 2012 11:11 AM

then it is better to get bicycle licence....rather than garbbing drivers licence

By ali | January 9, 2012 1:22 PM

Its about time that a cyclist is punished in this country!

Though having said that had it been the cars fault I'm sure the driver would have had more than his licence revoked.

I'm sick and tired of cyclists in this country who seriously cannot seem to grasp the concept that a car cannot just see if you if you pop out of no where and be expected to stop.

By B | January 9, 2012 4:28 PM

More important than taking his drivers license would be making him financially liable for damages.

By Quince | January 10, 2012 12:07 AM

I am fed up with the increasing number of cyclists ignoring pedestrian crossings, cycling on footpaths and so forth. They make it clear that if you don't dive out of the way they will hit you and don't care if they injure you.

By Devil's Advocate | January 10, 2012 8:47 AM

Alan, we are not in the UK. Under Dutch law, a vehicle with wheels - e.g., a bike, a pram is considered to be a "road vehicle" and ergo must obey by the laws of the road.

By Alexandra | January 10, 2012 9:02 AM

"Two other motorists who saw the accident were so shocked they crashed into each other."

err....aren't these rubber-neckers the ones who should lose their licenses? They are obviously not fit to drive a vehicle on their own.

By Gerry MacF | January 10, 2012 9:26 AM

@Alan. IMO you're talking BS!
He's a road user who caused a serious accident by going through a red light while drunk.
But you seem to think that's acceptable.
Was it you who cut me up at a crossing last year? Leaving me with my wrist in plaster for three months.

By Donaugh | January 10, 2012 12:12 PM

Would be great to make an annual road tax for all these cyclists from 18 y.o. so they have more responsibility to drive on the road. There are red bicycle roads made for them and who is paying taxes for construction, repair and maintenance? Normal car driver tax payers! On the top of it some of cyclists so rude on the road.. I think to take that drunk cyclists driving license away was a bit much. Better to give him a heavy fine for 5000Euro so next time he will think better.

By Natalie | January 10, 2012 1:27 PM

Would have made more sense to confiscate his bike and make him pay a fine. A driving licence is for a MOTORISED vehicle. @Alexandra, are you implying that rollerblades are also a road vehicle? They too have wheels. And while we're on the topic of pedestrian crossings being ignored, it would be nice if the Dutch drivers were aware of the existance of zebra crossings. You can wait till you're blue in the face before any DRIVER stops for you. Not the case at all in North America where they know they have to stop for you.

By Michael | January 10, 2012 3:46 PM

Alan, if you actually lived in The Netherlands you would praise this judgment. Here, bicycles are the scourge of motorists and pedestrians, and they deserve to be punished for constantly breaking the law.

By Willie | January 10, 2012 4:38 PM

It is also possible to have points or even loose your driving license if you are on a bike and hold a drivers license, it is also classed as a vehicle albeit not a motor vehicle. The same laws apply in UK as in NL.

By AndyT | January 10, 2012 5:23 PM

Cyclists here are so bad, no lights, they cycle on foot paths and don't use their bells (usually don't have one) the plolice could earn fortunes out of catching illegal cyclists in the mornings and evenings if they stopped an fined them for no lights, riding on paths etc.

By AndyT | January 10, 2012 5:27 PM

In France, due to the principle that everyone is equal in front of the law, a cyclist cannot lose its driving licence. It would be discriminatory compared with the one who does not have his driving licence but who can still take a bike and therefore create the same accident. Nice debate anyway, isn't it better that drunk people take a bike instead of a car ? Should bike driving only be allowed with a driving licence ? Why not create a special bike driving licence ?

By Captain flute | January 11, 2012 2:10 PM

I do live in the Netherlands. I have to say that it makes no sense to me to take away a licence for a motorvehicle for an offence on a push bike. I`m not saying the rider/driver didnt commit an offence, I just think that the wrong kind of law was applied.

By Alan Knipmeyer | January 11, 2012 3:46 PM