The first is a modern, single payer health care system like most of the developed world has. Then your medical care from an accident is paid by that system.

The second part is "insurance by the gallon." Instead of relying on car drivers to comply with the law and purchase insurance, the retail price of gasoline will include insurance. This would also mean that heavier vehicles, speeding vehicles, and vehicles that drive more miles would all pay more for insurance, which is appropriate.

To be effective, this would need to be nationwide. Since the insurance industry has purchased enough members of congress to prevent that from happening, prospects are dim.

See http://www.ctc.org.uk/resources/Go_Biking_with_CTC/CTC_Master_Insurance_Policy.pdf

British Cycling membership also provides cover, see http://www.britishcycling.org.uk

Insurance is the socially responsible option, but in four years of looking, I haven't found an insurance company that offers cyclist insurance in the area.

It can be enslavement in the fact that you are forced to buy a car if you want auto-type insurance for your bicycle.

I think that what is needed is our own 'pool' or underwriting that is tailored for us and not having to force us to buy a car just to have the type of insurance that we need.

As I suggested elsewhere, I think this would be a business (and investment) opportunity for us as a community.

I think that Albina Bank was formed because of a similar vacuum as this one.

Surly, there are business types within this community who would be more knowledgeable in what it would take to form our own underwriting firm and insurance tailored for bicyclist's needs.

Mark

How many people would buy in to participate in a non-motorists' mutual aid society?
Just curious.
(I would.)

I think the author means UM not UIM coverage. UM stands for Uninsured Motorist, i.e. a person who hits you who has no auto insurance, while UIM stands for Under Insured Motorist i.e. a person with a $25K policy who seriously injuries a cyclist (or anyone). Both a UM and a UIM claim are claims against your own auto insurance. UIM is for the amount of your coverage ABOVE the other driver's policy limit. UM begins at the first dollar.

So bad driver has $25K insurance policy, you are hurt very badly. If you have a $50K policy (or higher) you can pursue a UIM claim on your own policy for the difference between the 2 policies.

A UM claim however in when the driver who hit you has no insurance, or a hit and run.

That difference stated, most insurance policies in Oregon have the same AMOUNT of UIM/UM coverage so they are often written as UM/UIM on the declaration page.