Advocacy & Safety - Food Tax = Fuel Tax!

As shown in another thread, the public often thinks cyclists are not paying their fair share when fossil fuel taxes are popularly considered usage fees required for legitimacy on the road.

But the thing is, most cyclists do pay fuel tax on their bicycling fuel. It's just that the government doesn't spend that tax on roads. This is unfair; I think that some of the taxes bicyclists pay for their bicycling energy source should go to road improvements.

Cycling for fitness and enjoyment, I burn about 40 calories per mile. How much tax do I pay on those calories? Let's imagine that it comes entirely from energy bars used to supplement my diet. Buying these at 7% sales tax at my local store costs me about 0.05 cents per calorie, or two cents fuel tax per mile!

In my car, I pay about 2.4 cents of combined federal and state gasoline tax per mile that I drive. In other words, I only pay about 20% more fuel tax traveling by car powered by gasoline than by bike powered by PowerBars!

Depending on where I buy my food, my tax can change, and the collecting agency can change. If I eat my 2000-4000 calories a day at restaurants, paying 7% sales tax, I pay the same or more tax per mile as buying energy bars retail. If I buy all my food at grocery stores, without snack taxes added on, I can drop the tax paid considerably, but at a substantial cost in time to prepare all three meals. (Imagine refining your own gas to save on taxes, and you'll see my point.)

So, what do you think of asking the government to estimate the amount of money that cyclists pay in taxes on the calories they burn cycling, and using that money - already collected - for roadway maintenance? This would completely eliminate the old "cyclists don't pay fuel taxes for roads" argument.

In another thread, a poster pointed out that sales taxes pay for most local roads, which is what most cyclists ride on. Around here, there is no tax on food.

As shown in another thread, the public often thinks cyclists are not paying their fair share when fossil fuel taxes are popularly considered usage fees required for legitimacy on the road.

But the thing is, most cyclists do pay fuel tax on their bicycling fuel. It's just that the government doesn't spend that tax on roads. This is unfair; I think that some of the taxes bicyclists pay for their bicycling energy source should go to road improvements.

Cycling for fitness and enjoyment, I burn about 40 calories per mile. How much tax do I pay on those calories? Let's imagine that it comes entirely from energy bars used to supplement my diet. Buying these at 7% sales tax at my local store costs me about 0.05 cents per calorie, or two cents fuel tax per mile!

In my car, I pay about 2.4 cents of combined federal and state gasoline tax per mile that I drive. In other words, I only pay about 20% more fuel tax traveling by car powered by gasoline than by bike powered by PowerBars!

Depending on where I buy my food, my tax can change, and the collecting agency can change. If I eat my 2000-4000 calories a day at restaurants, paying 7% sales tax, I pay the same or more tax per mile as buying energy bars retail. If I buy all my food at grocery stores, without snack taxes added on, I can drop the tax paid considerably, but at a substantial cost in time to prepare all three meals. (Imagine refining your own gas to save on taxes, and you'll see my point.)

So, what do you think of asking the government to estimate the amount of money that cyclists pay in taxes on the calories they burn cycling, and using that money - already collected - for roadway maintenance? This would completely eliminate the old "cyclists don't pay fuel taxes for roads" argument.

Indirectly, you do pay taxes on fuel that is used to transport your groceries that is your fuel for your bike. Those trucks pay fuel taxes that support maintaining roads. That cost is part of the retail cost of the food you buy. Food taxes are seperate and are a cost of biking........also, I would wager to guess that the amount of tax paid on food is much lower than a direct paid fuel tax for a vehicle.

In addition to that, we shouldn't be paying for road taxes as we don't require the degree of road building vehicles require. For just biking, a thin membrane, paved trail would work. A vehicle requires much higher degree of engineering and maintenance.

There are plenty of states that don't charge sales tax on food.

So, what do you think of asking the government to estimate the amount of money that cyclists pay in taxes on the calories they burn cycling, and using that money - already collected - for roadway maintenance? This would completely eliminate the old "cyclists don't pay fuel taxes for roads" argument.
I pay only 2% tax on groceries. :) But still, I don't tear up the road with my bike, don't contribute to air pollution (which the Fed's crack down on, costing the local government more money,) and probably don't put the same burden on the healthcare system. :D

I pay only 2% tax on groceries. :) But still, I don't tear up the road with my bike, don't contribute to air pollution (which the Fed's crack down on, costing the local government more money,) and probably don't put the same burden on the healthcare system. :D
Yeah, but all the extra food and drink fuel used by cyclists adds a burden to the sewer systems and water purification problems, eh?;)

Note: I assume the OP was funnin' the BF A & S tribe. Steve, you need to use a smilie or two, otherwise some of your overwrought breathren will take such taxing suggestions seriously.

Indirectly, you do pay taxes on fuel that is used to transport your groceries that is your fuel for your bike.

And for all the oil used to make the fertilizers and run the farm vehicles (http://www.fromthewilderness.com/free/ww3/100303_eating_oil.html)(although that oil is taxed differently)

Al

Note: I assume the OP was funnin' the BF A & S tribe. Steve, you need to use a smilie or two, otherwise some of your overwrought breathren will take such taxing suggestions seriously.
Then again, some studies show that excessive flatulence can cause global warming. So much for my black bean lunches. But if I don't talk as much, I might make up for those emissions...

But if I don't talk as much, I might make up for those emissions...

Web Forums are technically saving the world from tons of CO2 emissions then! This is great news, although I'm sure some of us often end up talking back to the computer screen when driven to obscenities by some of the stuff posted here. Admit it, ILTB, you must be guilty of this :)

I pay only 2% tax on groceries. :) But still, I don't tear up the road with my bike, don't contribute to air pollution (which the Fed's crack down on, costing the local government more money,) and probably don't put the same burden on the healthcare system. :D
About the air pollution issue.....

Energy bars do contribute to methane production! I know they make me a bit gassy!;)

Web Forums are technically saving the world from tons of CO2 emissions then! This is great news, although I'm sure some of us often end up talking back to the computer screen when driven to obscenities by some of the stuff posted here. Admit it, ILTB, you must be guilty of this :)
I got it. How 'bout a tax on electronic Hot Air pollution generated by BF members posting obtuse legal/economic/psycho babble with a double tax on those who take it seriously?

Who says the donut munching motorists using school bus size SUV's to haul their butts through the drive thru lane are eating less than you? By the looks of it I'd say many may be spending more on food than some cyclists!

...MMMM, donuts...

There are plenty of states that don't charge sales tax on food.

Groceries, yes. Here we pay around 2% on groceries, I think. But at least half of my calories come from restaurants (7%) where I also pay a lot more per calorie, and energy bars here are either sold at retail for about 7% sales tax or may be taxed as "snack" food for immediate consumption at a higher rate than other food in the grocery store.

Groceries, yes. Here we pay around 2% on groceries, I think. But at least half of my calories come from restaurants (7%) where I also pay a lot more per calorie, and energy bars here are either sold at retail for about 7% sales tax or may be taxed as "snack" food for immediate consumption at a higher rate than other food in the grocery store.
My old friend Mike informed me that while at the gas station on his bike, as he was feeling quite Superior and Frugal for his bicycling while watching people fill up at the pump, it dawned on him that his bottled water cost him a dollar. Perhaps his bicycling was getting as expensive as driving... :)

Who says the donut munching motorists using school bus size SUV's to haul their butts through the drive thru lane are eating less than you? By the looks of it I'd say many may be spending more on food than some cyclists!

...MMMM, donuts...

In this case, cyclists consuming the same calories are healthier. This amounts to a tax incentive for healthier living. i.e. reducing fossil fuel tax in favor of the food tax already paid. Given the distributed costs of unhealthy living, including higher health insurance premiums, I think this has stronger benefits for less cost in tax revenue than most other tax incentive programs aimed at improving public welfare.

...at least half of my calories come from restaurants (7%) where I also pay a lot more per calorie...
John Stamstad, member of the Mountain Bike Hall of Fame, used to burn so many calories on his epic rides (unsponsored) that he had to find the cheapest way to get calories. One of his favorites was Little Debbies.

He also kept a water bottle full of salad oil as "emaciation insurance."

My old friend Mike informed me that while at the gas station on his bike, as he was feeling quite Superior and Frugal for his bicycling while watching people fill up at the pump, it dawned on him that his bottled water cost him a dollar. Perhaps his bicycling was getting as expensive as driving... :)

I have concluded that due to time and food costs, bicycling is more expensive than motoring unless (a) one gives up car ownership and its associated fixed costs including insurance and depreciation, or (b) car parking fees are high.

But I like bicycling, so converting commute time to pleasure bicycling time is my preference.

I have concluded that due to time [x] costs.
Can I ask what rate you 'charge' for cycling, is the the same as for working on your bike? The same for time spent in auto?

Al

One of his favorites was Little Debbies.

As teens in the 70's we used to ride our bikes to the Dolly Madison outlet store. They sold almost out of date snack treats for dirt cheap. For a dollar or less, a kid could eat enough fruit pies, cupcakes & zingers to make themselves sick! mmmmm... good times those were.

Can I ask what rate you 'charge' for cycling, is the the same as for working on your bike? The same for time spent in auto?

Al

Because I enjoy bicycling, I won't count a little extra time spent bicycling to go the same distance. Other people might choose to count that time. However, I do lose additional time with extra showers, changing clothes, and so forth.

I value my personal time at about half of my salary rate when considering small increments of time. This is how I make decisions between price and time if I don't find the activity particularly enjoyable or undesirable.

As teens in the 70's we used to ride our bikes to the Dolly Madison outlet store. They sold almost out of date snack treats for dirt cheap. For a dollar or less, a kid could eat enough fruit pies, cupcakes & zingers to make themselves sick! mmmmm... good times those were.

We had a Wonder Bread store near my parents' house and my mom would take us there as kids and basically let us get whatever we wanted because it was so cheap (looking back on it, no wonder I had blodd sugar issues as a kid). They sold those lemon and apple filled pies 10 for $1 IIRC. We'd freeze them (I'm assuming because they were almost at their expiration date) and I'd have them as snacks all the time. 10 of those is probably a good day's worth of calories so not a bad deal for a cyclist looking for fuel. No idea what the price is now though.

There's no tax on food here either, unprepared food anyway. As an aside brought on by the thread title, in Canada a foot or bike messenger can deduct up to $15.00 per day for food, that's up from $11.00 a day when the court challenge that brought about the deduction succeeded in 1997 IIRC.

On topic, there's really no need to answer the "my taxes pay for this road" crap as there is almost nowhere this complaint/statement could even come close to resembling an accurate anything at all.

Oh and btw a fruit pie has 480 calories (Hostess anyway) so yer really running about 2.4x US RDA for caloric intake on 10 pies...I love fruit pies

In another thread, a poster pointed out that sales taxes pay for most local roads, which is what most cyclists ride on. Around here, there is no tax on food. In NC property taxes as well as a portion of sales taxes pay for the roads and road maintenance. We do have sales tax on food, but it is slowly being repealed/reduced. We also pay state income taxes here and I am sure a part of that goes to road maintenance.

Aaron:)

You should not be buying bottled water for your rides. Get a reusable container and refill it. Have Arrowhead or Sparklettes deliver water, or fill up jugs of water at the machine at the grocery store. (Or drink tap water if yours is pallatable). There is too much plastic in this world. You should go to another country (or to the garbage gyre in the ocean) so you can see it. It's horrible.

Sorry. Off my soapbox now.

I've never had good tap water, however there are some good water filtration systems/softeners and such that work well.

I've never had good tap water, however there are some good water filtration systems/softeners and such that work well.
+1
Ditto...we HAVE to filter our tap water. We do have reusable bottles however. I also use the Brita filter pitchers. As part of my life plan I avoid buying products in plastic, period. My goal is to buy the least packaged and processed food possible. If it needs to be packaged I look for steel, aluminum or glass. All of which can be readily recycled and reused as a food container. Plastic can be recycled but it always goes down the chain. All foods are packaged in virgin plastics, which is derived from....oil.

Aaron:)