Advocacy & Safety - SC Tax Break for Bicycle Commuters

http://www.myrtlebeachonline.com/mld/myrtlebeachonline/news/local/11683082.htm

SPARTANBURG - (The Associated Press) - People who commute to work on bicycles would get a tax break under a bill introduced in the General Assembly. The bill introduced Tuesday by Rep. Doug Smith, R-Spartanburg, would allow bicycle commuters to deduct 10 cents per mile on their income taxes. Records would have to be kept regarding riding and mileage.

"What we want to do is encourage people to use bicycles wherever they can, especially going to and from work," Smith said. Across the country, the 2000 census reported less than half of 1 percent of residents reported bicycle commuting. In South Carolina, the number of people reporting bicycle commuting was less than a quarter of a percent.

This is precisely what needs to be done throughout the country. If the purchaser of a huge, gas guzzling SUV can get a tax write off, so should cyclists, transit users and drivers of fuel efficient motor vehicles. Good for South Carolina. I hope it passes and they can be viewed as leading the way in putting common sense back into transportation.

Wow. Even with my miniscule, 9-mile RT commute, I'd be looking at about $100 per year (it's a deduction, sadly, not a tax credit :(). But it'd still pay for tires, tubes, and maintenance for a year, and it sure sends the right message.

Not just a great idea, but it shoudl be done federaly, state, and localy.

Wow. Maybe other states will follow suit. *hopeful*

Koffee

While this is a great idea in theory I think, barring some kind of verification system, there would be wide spread fraud. I tend to believe that the kind of people who ride alone in 5,000 lb 12 mpg suvs aren't above cheating on their taxes.

Maryland was considering a similar bill. Does anyone know if it passed?

I tend to believe that the kind of people who ride alone in 5,000 lb 12 mpg suvs aren't above cheating on their taxes.

That's a bit of a leap! :mad:

bikebuddha, how about this, those who can get the tax cut must not own a car ;-) that can be tracked. Or maybe they will have to report car milage every so offten if you want to give the tax cut to people with cars that bike to work.

bikebuddha, how about this, those who can get the tax cut must not own a car ;-) that can be tracked. Or maybe they will have to report car milage every so offten if you want to give the tax cut to people with cars that bike to work.


Now that I like. :)

I'll ask the Governor to sign the bill if it reaches his desk.

I've heard of these bills many times before. There's almost always one before Congress. But I've never heard of one of them passing.

While this is a great idea in theory I think, barring some kind of verification system, there would be wide spread fraud. I tend to believe that the kind of people who ride alone in 5,000 lb 12 mpg suvs aren't above cheating on their taxes.
Same thing that prevents fraud on many other tax related deductions - Record keeping and the potential for an audit.

Al

bikebuddha, how about this, those who can get the tax cut must not own a car ;-) that can be tracked. Or maybe they will have to report car milage every so offten if you want to give the tax cut to people with cars that bike to work.
These suggestions both unnecessarily complicate a good start proposal and are unreasonable - espeically given how small the deduction is.
Al

good things for cycling here in SC. I live down the road from spartanburg, in greenville, and we just opened our first official city bike lanes. It got all sorts of media coverage and there was a huge turnout of people to ride the lanes, a speech by the mayor about current cycling safety projects in the area, and a huge barbaque and reception afterwards. Mr. Hincapie himself held the ribbon as it was being cut. There was also a $2000 (i believe) reward established for people who turn in or lead to the apprehension of drivers who kill cyclists and flee the scene.

This plays right into my idea that all cyclists and other athletes should get some sort
of tax break or tax credit. Isn't the government always crying about how obese the USA is? Shouldn't people that maintain their health and weight get some sort of break?

How about a health insurance break??? Of course the insurance industry might consider bike commuting a high risk activity, and give higher premiums to us.

How about a health insurance break??? Of course the insurance industry might consider bike commuting a high risk activity, and give higher premiums to us.

My employer gives me a $250 per year credit on insurance premiums for participating in a regular exercise program, including bicycling.

BTW, if you are commuting by bike, you are already getting a heck of a tax brake by not buying gasoline.

All they gotta do is have everyone do like a semi-annual double century. If you've been commuting like you said, 200 miles should be no problemo.

Hell at 10 cents a mile, I do 25 miles a day, 100 miles a week, 5200 a year, I can get back like 500 bucks.

Problem with giving out a tax break, on the stae level, in SC is the state is broke. Dispite skyrocketing property values, the state falls short in revenue for the budget. SC has one of the lowest fuel tax rates in the country, a punitive sales tax law, a poorly managed lottery, and an econmoy that is 55% tourist driven. Certian senior liberal state senators will stop any resonable tax break that comes there way.