No legislator is perfect. People often err on the side of the illogical. When the two combine, however, the results can be pretty damaging.

Take, for example, a North Carolina legislator on the western side of the state sponsoring House Bill 157. It passed its first reading and will now wind its way through a maze of committees. It may end up law at some point down the road. It may never make it out of the committee maze. Only time will tell.

Either way, it’s a pretty shortsighted piece of legislation. What HB 157 does is require any owner of a bicycle aged 16 years old and older to register that bike annually. The registration fee would be $10 per bike, and each bike would have to display a registration tag.

The goal, according to the bill text, is to raise money to fund bicycle safety-related project such as bicycle lanes, signage, safety education and bicycle helmet grants for minors. Those are, admittedly, all good things.

But a lot of bad things could come from the legislation.

We live in an era when people are being encouraged to walk and cycle instead of driving. That’s because exercise and a healthy environment are both good for you, and even making small contributions, such as riding a bike to a downtown event instead of driving, can make a difference.

We also live in a place where cyclists gather every three years for Cycle NC, riding the easy, scenic routes of Beaufort County. Ride for Rose Haven is another annual cycling event in its infancy, and organizers are hoping to draw in more riders every year. Both of these events bring business to the community, as these cyclists spend money on lodging, dining and shopping.

We live in a place where a bicycle is many people’s sole source of transportation. While some people might ride a bike everywhere for fun, others ride bicycles because they cannot afford a car, insurance, property taxes, inspection fees, maintenance, fuel and every other expense associated with vehicle ownership.

If, however, you are required to pay a $10 registration and display your registration tag; if the bike you’re riding is not registered or the registration has expired, and you’re now “guilty of an infraction punishable by a fine of not more than twenty-five dollars ($25.00),” as the legislation states, what effect will that have on the three previously listed facts?

A chilling effect for the first two. An added financial stressor on those whose lives are already financially stressed out for the third.

It will discourage people to ride bicycles — no registration, an expired registration and the threat of a ticket will force people off their bikes and into their cars. It will discourage attendance at a hugely popular cycling event and send money, previously spent here, elsewhere — what out-of-state cyclist wouldn’t take a pass on an event that requires them to show up early and stand in line at the DMV? It could provide another barrier to the only means of transportation some people have — it’s also unclear whether court fees would be heaped atop the $25 fee.

Raising money for cycling education, programs and safety is great, but HB 157’s plan to do so is not so great. Keep the wheels spinning and find a better option than a bicycle tax.