You ask whether I'm proposing licensing cyclists or bicycles or both. It was perfectly clear. I'm saying licence the cyclists.
You say the cost would deter cyclists. VED costs £16 for a small motorbike for 12 months. Say a tenner for bikes, plus £25 for third party insurance, £35 pa. Who would that deter?
You say pavement cyclists are rare. Pffghhh!!!!
You say some motorists don't know the Highway Code. They learn it. They pass a test on it. Cyclists have to learn and pass nothing.
As usual, cyclists are so defensive that debate is pointless. Personally, I think licensing is inevitable. Time will tell whether that's true or not. Certainly it's workable.