murphstahoe

I assume you would similarly believe that there should be no deduction for mortgage interest, which influences behavior to buy a house. Capital Gains should be taxed the same as regular income. Regular income should in fact not be taxed because this is a disincentive to work!

murphstahoe

Hah - I am replying to a year old thread.

Regardless, I have recently done some analysis of this bill. For a lot of people who are not of the car using ilk, the bike benefit is a non-starter, because the transit benefit is worth much more, and you can't take both.

https://holierthanyou.blogspot.com/20...muter-act.html.

10speed

The original bill would have given a tax credit (deduction) for expenses incurred from riding a bike up to $240 per year to the rider. The revamped bill gives a tax credit to the employer.While I personally will ride no matter what the next guy does;encouraging bike commuting is a benefit to all of us. This is just a lot of hoopla to make bike and energy friendly claims while doing little to change the enviroment.

pueblonative

You appeal the tax by either voting to cut it directly or by electing representatives who will cut that tax. And what you may see as "punishment" may be seen by another as simply the government paying it's bills. Even a government has to earn money (do businesses "punish" you by charging more for some products than they do for others?).
As far as the tax credit that goes into effect next month, I like it. Yes, it's small, but you don't conquer the world in a day. And I look at this more as a health issue than an environmental issue. Think of the money we can save by getting Americans off of their couches and onto a bike, even if it is only for two trips a day.

icebiker76

I'm opposed to the government attempting to control the people's behavior through the tax code. If i do what the wise government officials like I'm allowed to keep a few bucks of my own money, if i act in a way that government disapproves of, I'm penalized. LAnd of the free, yeah right.