Bicycle tax

[MMM_donuts]

This has been brought up many times and Baja mentioned it again in a recent thread so I thought I'd ask your opinion of it.

Would you support a bicycle tax? If so, how would you implement and enforce it?

Isn't this counterintuitive to the obesity problems we're experiencing in our country? Especially with children? Would you make it an age thing? Only on certain roads?

 

[Larry Gude]

No and hell no and anyone who thinks more taxes are the answer to ANYTHING is a dumb ass. Or a 'progressive'. But, I repeat myself.

In any event, bikes are NOT a problem and if you give them ANY credit for the reduced wear and tear on infrastructure, not to mention reduced emissions and potential health cost savings, if anything, we ought to be discussing tax CREDITS for cyclists. Especially cyclists with motors on their cycles.

 

[DEEKAYPEE8569]

No and hell no and anyone who thinks more taxes are the answer to ANYTHING is a dumb ass. Or a 'progressive'. But, I repeat myself.

In any event, bikes are NOT a problem and if you give them ANY credit for the reduced wear and tear on infrastructure, not to mention reduced emissions and potential health cost savings, if anything, we ought to be discussing tax CREDITS for cyclists. Especially cyclists with motors on their cycles.

That sounds like a moped.....or is it mo-ped?

 

[DEEKAYPEE8569]

This has been brought up many times and Baja mentioned it again in a recent thread so I thought I'd ask your opinion of it.

Would you support a bicycle tax? If so, how would you implement and enforce it?

Isn't this counterintuitive to the obesity problems we're experiencing in our country? Especially with children? Would you make it an age thing? Only on certain roads?

WHO is thinking about taxing bicycles? Lemme guess.....Owe'Malley.....right? Just one more tax to add to his laundry list, I guess.

Four more years til I can retire early and get the H*ll outta here.
Won't get here soon enough.

 

[Baja28]

This has been brought up many times and Baja mentioned it again in a recent thread so I thought I'd ask your opinion of it.

Would you support a bicycle tax? If so, how would you implement and enforce it?

Isn't this counterintuitive to the obesity problems we're experiencing in our country? Especially with children? Would you make it an age thing? Only on certain roads?

I don't know that "bicycle tax" is the correct term to use.

What I would suggest is; if they wish to ride on the road (or shoulder), they should be required to register the bike (for a fee) and have insurance. They will carry the registration and insurance card just like any motorist is required to do.

Since I believe some of the tax we pay on a gallon of gas also goes to road maintenance/construction, they should also pay a small fee for that too (maybe it could be included in the registration fee).

You would not be required to register your bike if it is not ridden on the road.

 

[Gilligan]

Especially cyclists with motors on their cycles.

Yep, especially them.

 

[MMDad]

I don't know that "bicycle tax" is the correct term to use.

What I would suggest is; if they wish to ride on the road (or shoulder), they should be required to register the bike (for a fee) and have insurance. They will carry the registration and insurance card just like any motorist is required to do.

Since I believe some of the tax we pay on a gallon of gas also goes to road maintenance/construction, they should also pay a small fee for that too (maybe it could be included in the registration fee).

You would not be required to register your bike if it is not ridden on the road.

What liability do you see a bicycle causing that would justify insurance? Since I have been hit by a cyclist, I understand exactly what they can do. But enough to justify an insurance requirement? No.

Bikes get cars off the road. They reduce wear on the road.

Many places require registration of bikes, but all that does is put money in the hands of an incompetent government. What is the benefit of registration?

 

[dave1959]

I already paid a tax on my bikes, when I bought them !

 

[vraiblonde]

Please god, no more taxes.

 

[Larry Gude]

I don't know that "bicycle tax" is the correct term to use.

What I would suggest is; if they wish to ride on the road (or shoulder), they should be required to register the bike (for a fee) and have insurance. They will carry the registration and insurance card just like any motorist is required to do.

Since I believe some of the tax we pay on a gallon of gas also goes to road maintenance/construction, they should also pay a small fee for that too (maybe it could be included in the registration fee).

You would not be required to register your bike if it is not ridden on the road.

There is no better example of what is wrong with us when you, of all people, reflexively see MORE government as the solution to a problem. Taxes. Registration. Good god, man.

 

[MMM_donuts]

WHO is thinking about taxing bicycles? Lemme guess.....Owe'Malley.....right? Just one more tax to add to his laundry list, I guess.

Four more years til I can retire early and get the H*ll outta here.
Won't get here soon enough.

No, no, no, I've not seen it anywhere in the news or anything (not that I would be surprised if it were, though) but I see it often brought up in forum discussions and comments. It's often in the form of something like "unless they help pay for the roads then they shouldn't be on them."

 

[MMM_donuts]

I don't know that "bicycle tax" is the correct term to use.

What I would suggest is; if they wish to ride on the road (or shoulder), they should be required to register the bike (for a fee) and have insurance. They will carry the registration and insurance card just like any motorist is required to do.

Since I believe some of the tax we pay on a gallon of gas also goes to road maintenance/construction, they should also pay a small fee for that too (maybe it could be included in the registration fee).

You would not be required to register your bike if it is not ridden on the road.

Would you have parents register their children's bikes and have them get a special bicycle insurance for riding up and down residential streets? Say, like to and from the elementary school to their home? We often see that in Wildewood. We have a pedestrian/bicycle lane that's basically the shoulder of the road.

 

[Baja28]

Would you have parents register their children's bikes and have them get a special bicycle insurance for riding up and down residential streets? Say, like to and from the elementary school to their home? We often see that in Wildewood. We have a pedestrian/bicycle lane that's basically the shoulder of the road.

Good question. I'll have to think on that.

The fee I'm envisioning is for the ass holes that ride in the lanes of the road. That needs to stop and stop now. I have no issue with the ones that ride on the shoulder, off the roadway. If there's no shoulder, no bikes.
The driving factor behind my opinion is all these "SHARE THE ROAD" signs and meme's. Eff them! Stay the eff off MY road that you didn't pay for (I'll let you use my shoulder as long as you don't crowd the white line).

 

[Baja28]

What liability do you see a bicycle causing that would justify insurance? Since I have been hit by a cyclist, I understand exactly what they can do. But enough to justify an insurance requirement? No.
Bikes get cars off the road. They reduce wear on the road.
Many places require registration of bikes, but all that does is put money in the hands of an incompetent government. What is the benefit of registration?

There is no better example of what is wrong with us when you, of all people, reflexively see MORE government as the solution to a problem. Taxes. Registration. Good god, man.

See post 13.

 

[glhs837]

Damn cyclist in VA Beach hit my car and caused $1300 in damage.

 

[MMM_donuts]

Well it turns out that my friend and coworker comes from a place that required bicycle registration. When he was growing up he had to take his bike over to the fire department, register the serial number, and get a little sticker for his bike. And he had to pay a few dollars to have it done. So, I guess it's not really a new thing.

 

[MMDad]

Well it turns out that my friend and coworker comes from a place that required bicycle registration. When he was growing up he had to take his bike over to the fire department, register the serial number, and get a little sticker for his bike. And he had to pay a few dollars to have it done. So, I guess it's not really a new thing.

I had to do that in CO and CA. But that was for theft prevention, not to pay for the "damage" that bikes do to the road.

Really, the idea that bikes put any wear and tear on roads is just silly.

It's amazing how people who claim to be so conservative suddenly see something that affects them and they suddenly scream "there oughtta be a law!!!"

 

[Baja28]

I had to do that in CO and CA. But that was for theft prevention, not to pay for the "damage" that bikes do to the road.

Really, the idea that bikes put any wear and tear on roads is just silly.

It's amazing how people who claim to be so conservative suddenly see something that affects them and they suddenly scream "there oughtta be a law!!!"

Who brought up wear & tear on the road? I sure as hell didn't. I stated my reasons in post 13. They want to share MY road, they should pay.

 

[MMDad]

Since I believe some of the tax we pay on a gallon of gas also goes to road maintenance/construction, they should also pay a small fee for that too (maybe it could be included in the registration fee).

Who brought up wear & tear on the road? I sure as hell didn't. I stated my reasons in post 13. They want to share MY road, they should pay.

What do you think the gas tax is supposed to fund? It's your share of the wear and tear on the road. If you want bikes to share that cost what else could you possibly mean?

 

[Baja28]

What do you think the gas tax is supposed to fund? It's your share of the wear and tear on the road. If you want bikes to share that cost what else could you possibly mean?

Ok I see where you got that.
The fund builds and maintains roads. Bikes contribute nothing, they don't get to use the road. It wasn't built for them.