It would be easy (look how easy it was to set up the HRTC, which is pretty much the same idea... buy a bunch of stuff for home improvement from wherever or whomever, and claim the receipts on your taxes). It would also fit with some propaganda I got in the mail recently from my MP about healthcare, saying exercise is best when it's part of your daily life.

Why we're giving tax credits for transit, and also for children's sports (and considering adult gym memberships), but not for purchasing fitness equipment is beyond me. I assume it's because it could be seen as difficult to demonstrate that the bike was used for transportation. Some might argue that people would use the bikes for fun, rather than transportation (how awful), or that there would be lobbying that walking shoes for those who choose to walk to work, and also outerwear, should also be included. And outerwear possibly should be included; I've had to buy a whole new wardrobe just to wear on the bike to deal with sweat, dirt, rain, and snow. What about those who roller-blade or skateboard to work? Eventually, everyone would be trying to write off shoes, clothing, and sporting goods, and the tax credit could just be kind of pointless. Or maybe we'd all start being more active.

It would be a lot easier and less paperwork just to raise the gas tax. Alternatively, I think in some U.S. states that a letter from an employer that the employee doesn't drive to work, along with receipts for your mode of travel (LBS purchases, for example) is all that is required to get a tax credit. I think there's a pretty small cap on what can be claimed annually, though... $500 maybe.