Not sure if this is already a dead horse or not, but I figured this was the best place to discuss it...

The jist is that a new bill has been committee approved and pitched to the California legislature wherein consumers who buy new high-emission vehicles such as Hummers, Ford Expeditions, etc, would pay a $2500 fee up front. The kicker is that the $2500 goes straight into the pockets of consumers who buy low-emission vehicles such as the Toyota Prius or the Civic Hybrid in the form of a rebate.

Saw this on the news this morning and I smiled, but still I can't help thinking that commuting and car-free cyclists are once again getting the shaft. Of course it is our choice and we get the costs and benefits of choosing to be car-free, but surely it's not a far step from this to give a person who has given up driving entirely a small rebate to help with the cost of buying, owning, and maintaining a bicycle. As long as the state government is taxing SUV drivers and promoting sustainable transit you'd think that car-free cyclists ought to get some of the benefits whether it be in the form of a rebate or even just a fund to improve cycling awareness, safety, and quality in one way or another.

I realize this notion is pretty idealistic, but I can't help thinking that it's not entirely unrealistic.