Originally Posted by John E
Federal gasoline taxes pay for the Interstate highway system, but most of the funds for local roads and automotive infrastructure come from sales tax and other general revenue. Motorists come nowhere near covering either the societal, the environmental, or even the purely economic costs of driving. Yes, cycling on a public road is a subsidized activity, but driving a car on a public road is an even more heavily subsidized activity.
John E, just for the record since you seem very well versed on this stuff, is there ANY means of transportation that isn't subsidized by state, federal, or local general taxes? My city (Vancouver, WA) just voted down an absolutely trivial sales tax increase that was going to sustain the very frugally run C-Tran bus system. Lots of us welfare bums who drive cars voted for it, too many more against. How can we get the point across that, when transportation is concerned, there is no "free market?"