Leo H.

I am pretty pleased with this one: https://https://www.rgj.com/article/20...xt|FRONTPAGE|s

Rootman

The link is getting truncated, cannot follow it.

cplager

https://www.rgj.com/article/20121113/...nclick_check=1

(just reposting working link)

dynodonn 

According to this article, cyclists are generally overpaying for infrastructure that they ride on, and with motorists being considered the tax cheats.

https://grist.org/article/2010-09-27-...uld-be-unfair/

Chief

As long as you don't use public roadway for commercial gain, then there is no "fair share" payment required to travel. The poorest among us have the same right to access. So, go ahead and take advantage of all the tax loopholes you can find; I don't mind!

myrridin

It is extremely easy to cook the books for such analysis. Here is one area they overlook. Every product consumed by each person in this country is delivered either to their home (or the store they purchase it from) via a road... Hence everybody (even those who do not use cars) receive extensive benefits from the road system... And this doesn't consider such emergency services as ambulance, fire, and police that arrive via that same infrastructure... So no one is overpaying, indeed since that road infrastructure has been underfunded for decades, no one is actually paying enough for the infrastructure they need. Don't believe that last, then contact you state DOT and ask them about their list of deficient structures in your state...

myrridin

So someone using the road to get to work should be charged extra? That is commercial gain...

dynodonn 

Though every person enjoys the benefit of the road system, the bulk of our states road tax goes to pay for freeways and highways and service debt, and with little money left over for city and county roads. Many cities and counties that are extremely underfunded are looking at ways to encourage walking and bicycle riding, and reducing motor vehicle traffic as as way of prolonging road infrastructure life.

myrridin

The states road tax should go to state level roads, while the federal taxes go to interstate roads (predominantly), which is as it should be. Local facilities should be paid for at a local level.. And since environmental (and truck traffic) are the two predominant sources of damage to our roads, reducing passenger car traffic will have little impact on infrastructure life.

dynodonn 

Our city receives only a small fraction of the fuel tax that is gathered, and has to look to federal grants in order to keep up with infrastructure repair. The street in front of my house is a patch work of repair, with it seeing little truck traffic, and continual personal vehicle traffic.

Chief

Go look up "commercial use of public roadway", and you'll see it does not include your commute to work.

Commodus

I don't understand the relevance of your criticism. The article discusses the differences in funding from various road users, these things you're talking about apply to everyone equally.

howsteepisit

Unless the proper funding that was to be provided by tax revenue has been diverted to other programs without replacing that revenue source. So perhaps we are paying a proper amount but our politicos believe that there are other priorities? Certainly in economic cost benefit analysis the public uses and valuations are not overlooked.

Leo H.

that is the link to the page. Try https://www.rgj.com and scroll down to the Voices section and my letter is titled, "Hard to Understand"

Leo H.

Or this way:

www.rgj.com/article/20121113/OPED02/311130024/Hard-understand-rules-game?odyssey=mod|newswell|text|FRONTPAGE|s

Daves_Not_Here

Are bicycle registration and taxation schemes actually gaining traction anywhere in the US?

Commodus

I get the feeling that these will never occur, because of some pretty serious practical issues. It's more of a chest-thumping issue for convservative politicians, and a hand-wringing one for bike folks.

I-Like-To-Bike

Exactly correct.

myrridin

The primary tax (funding) for federal and parts of the states road/highway budget was the gas tax. Its rate hasn't increased in years, which is one reason that general revenue is having to pay for much of the current state and federal budgets. Another reason is that the funding was not increased to maintain pace with additional 'requirements'. For instance when the taxation levels were established the Federal fund was only meant to cover highway funding. Over time many additional demands were placed on those funds, rail, bus, bicycle paths, etc... And none of those additional expenses coincided with an appropriate increase in funding/taxation to compensate...

So to answer your post, no proper funding has existed for decades.

myrridin

If you are consuming things (which since your alive you are) you are getting all the benefit expected from the states road tax... Again state taxes are for state facilities, which do not include city and county roads... those are properly funded at the city and county level.

howsteepisit

I was under the impression that much of the tax paid at the pump has been diverted into non-roadway uses. If not, then I am wrong. I will have to do some research on the topic to see is all collected road taxes are used for roads.

myrridin

It will vary somewhat by state (and locality), but most definitely on a national level the gas tax is simply part of the general fund (in practise if not in theory). They used to refer to the Highway Trust Fund, but that separate entity no longer exists, much like the social security trust fund no longer exists...

CommuteCommando

I wish this were true. Down here in the Southland, the San Diego Bicycle coalition has given their approval for an $880k traffic roundabout that is totally unnecessary, but I suspect lines the pockets of some politically well connected contractors.

https://www.nctimes.com/news/local/ca...596861fec.html

Interestingly, my polite, but negative comment has been deleted.

genec

Did you see this comment: No, not mine, but I frequent the area enough to agree with this poster... the traffic has greatly improved in the LJ area since this was done, and the once "angry merchants" have agreed that the new traffic patterns are better for business.

I-Like-To-Bike

I'd be interested in how you "politely" suggested that a "totally unnecessary" traffic roundabout is being built just to line the pockets of some politically well connected contractors.