Clean-air Vehicles
#1
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Clean-air Vehicles
Well, there are many govt. programs that sponsor clean air vehicles, there are tax cuts for alternative fuel, etc. But what about bicycles? We are a 'vehicle', we do use alternative fuel (food), and we put out significantly less NOX and particulate matter than even the cleanest clean-air vehicles. Why no subsidies for bicycles, or even any sort of tax break or promotion?
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Unfortunetly the only "alternative fuel" recognized by the US government and fit for human consumption is ethanol, and ironically you'd get arrested if you rode your bicycle while fueled by it.
If the government recognized straight vegetable oil (as opposed to biodiesel) as an alternative vehicle fuel, I'd drink it daily to get a tax break
If the government recognized straight vegetable oil (as opposed to biodiesel) as an alternative vehicle fuel, I'd drink it daily to get a tax break
#4
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Originally Posted by the--guy
Unfortunetly the only "alternative fuel" recognized by the US government and fit for human consumption is ethanol, and ironically you'd get arrested if you rode your bicycle while fueled by it.
If the government recognized straight vegetable oil (as opposed to biodiesel) as an alternative vehicle fuel, I'd drink it daily to get a tax break
If the government recognized straight vegetable oil (as opposed to biodiesel) as an alternative vehicle fuel, I'd drink it daily to get a tax break
Last edited by ivan_yulaev; 04-09-05 at 02:11 AM.
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One thing that could be done is giving a tax break for employers to provide secure places to lock up bikes, and/or showers. I used to work at Mt. Sinai Hospital in T. and bike thefts were a huge problem. It discouraged people from cycling, and meant that people tended to ride bikes that they did not mind getting stolen.
If all the hospitals were willing to give up 3-5 parking spots just beside the attendant, they could provide much better security, and they could even charge for it. I'm sure they could figure out a way to avoid responsibility for lost vehicles (they aren't responsible for stolen cars).
If they really want to improve air quality, this could be one cheap way to do it. Funding for showers would be a good idea too.
If all the hospitals were willing to give up 3-5 parking spots just beside the attendant, they could provide much better security, and they could even charge for it. I'm sure they could figure out a way to avoid responsibility for lost vehicles (they aren't responsible for stolen cars).
If they really want to improve air quality, this could be one cheap way to do it. Funding for showers would be a good idea too.
#6
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Isn't there something going to congress right now that would give employers a tax break for employees who bike commute?
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It would be nice to get tax cuts for riding a bike instead of a car. But it may be better to distance ourselves from the cars. California has been pushing alternate fuel and fuel efficient cars for some time. Now they seem to have realized they are making less on taxing fuel since less is used... https://www.latimes.com/news/local/la...=la-home-local
(This article is from this past November) Now they are proposing to track where people drive and "tax" by the mile. As a bicyclist I would hate to be lumped into this category as we do next to no damage to the roads comparitively.
(This article is from this past November) Now they are proposing to track where people drive and "tax" by the mile. As a bicyclist I would hate to be lumped into this category as we do next to no damage to the roads comparitively.
#10
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Using less only costs less for about a year, if everyone does it. Like with water and electricity, when the income goes down from conserving, the rates go back up so we're paying the same for using less.
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Originally Posted by Ganesha
I'm sure some humans, put out in methane in levels, that exceed the legal limit for tailpipe exhaust in many states.
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My bike runs on wine and cheese.
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Because they just don't take bike commuters seriously. I spoke to an IRS agent about it and she just had no idea how seriously some people take bike riding. But she said currently, there aren't any laws, and she didn't know of any laws that were currently being created for bicyclists to take the tax deduction. I suppose some of it would be that it would be difficult to ascertain what someone did with their bike once they got it. I mean, how do you tell when someone rides it vs. puts it in their garage, then lies about it at tax time?
Koffee
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Originally Posted by the--guy
Unfortunetly the only "alternative fuel" recognized by the US government and fit for human consumption is ethanol, and ironically you'd get arrested if you rode your bicycle while fueled by it.
If the government recognized straight vegetable oil (as opposed to biodiesel) as an alternative vehicle fuel, I'd drink it daily to get a tax break
If the government recognized straight vegetable oil (as opposed to biodiesel) as an alternative vehicle fuel, I'd drink it daily to get a tax break
#16
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The only kind of "green" car that should be produced and used is the pure battery/electric car.
No fuel cell, hydrogen, methanol, ethanol, biodiesel, natural gas or biogas should be used at all to power cars directly. That's pure madness.
I can elaborate if anyone's interested...
No fuel cell, hydrogen, methanol, ethanol, biodiesel, natural gas or biogas should be used at all to power cars directly. That's pure madness.
I can elaborate if anyone's interested...
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Originally Posted by CdCf
The only kind of "green" car that should be produced and used is the pure battery/electric car.
No fuel cell, hydrogen, methanol, ethanol, biodiesel, natural gas or biogas should be used at all to power cars directly. That's pure madness.
I can elaborate if anyone's interested...
No fuel cell, hydrogen, methanol, ethanol, biodiesel, natural gas or biogas should be used at all to power cars directly. That's pure madness.
I can elaborate if anyone's interested...
Cool.
Elaborate.
Koffee
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I believe the Bicycle Commuter Act was reintroduced this year. here's a link: https://www.bikeleague.org/educenter/hr1265.htm
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Originally Posted by CdCf
I can elaborate if anyone's interested...
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Also remember tht when you ride your bike, you do not have to pay for gas. If you don't have a car, you also don't have to pay all the vehicle and licence fees. Is that not tax break enough?
#21
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Originally Posted by jeff-o
Also remember tht when you ride your bike, you do not have to pay for gas. If you don't have a car, you also don't have to pay all the vehicle and licence fees. Is that not tax break enough?
Koffee
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Originally Posted by koffee brown
No. That's not a tax break. We don't deteriorate the roads with our bikes or cause pollution when we go from point A to point B. For that, we should be rewarded.
Koffee
Koffee
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Originally Posted by DieselDan
Vegtable oil doesn't burn any cleaner then biodiesel or diesel fuel, it's just replenishable.
I remember reading a study a year or two back showing the known and theoretical (in the case of future hydrogen cells) economy of different engine types and the most efficient type of vehicle -- "well-to-wheel" -- was a diesel electric hybrid. It requires the least amount of refining.
To get an electric vehicle charged simply wastes too much energy, albeit without the local pollution. All the inherent losses involved in separating, storing and recombining hydrogen make it the silliest idea yet. It's like using a particle accelerator to make gold.
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Originally Posted by spider-man
I believe the Bicycle Commuter Act was reintroduced this year. here's a link: https://www.bikeleague.org/educenter/hr1265.htm
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Originally Posted by DieselDan
There was a post in this forum about how much a cyclists pays in taxes every year just by buying the disposable bike related items. We do pay our fair share for the minute road wear we cause.
Koffee