Help support the Bicycle Commuter Act
03-23-07 | 05:44 AM
#1
Thread Starter
Plays in traffic
Joined: May 2006
Posts: 6,971
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From: Rochester, NY
Bikes: 1996 Litespeed Classic, 2006 Trek Portland, 2013 Ribble Winter/Audax, 2016 Giant Talon 4
Help support the Bicycle Commuter Act
On Wednesday, March 13, the Bicycle Commuter Act was re-introduced into both the House and Senate. The bills seek to amend the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 to extend the transportation fringe benefit to bicycle commuters. This act was narrowly defeated last year.
The House bill, H.R. 1498, was introduced by Rep. Earl Blumenauer (D-OR) with nine co-sponsors and has been referred to the House Ways and Means Committee.
The Senate bill, S. 858, was introduced by Senator Ron Wyden (D-OR) with seven co-sponsors and has been referred to the Senate Committee on Finance.
The legislation would provide bicyclists with a similar tax benefit to that currently enjoyed by transit users and car parkers, through voluntary, employer-run programs.
Employees who take advantage of this benefit may receive a tax-exempt benefit of up to $200 per month, for drivers participating in qualified parking plans, or $105 per month for those using transit or vanpooling. The employer may also give cash compensation for these costs – although this is included as taxable income to the employee – or allow the employee to take a tax-free deduction for the purchase of transit tickets.
The Bicycle Commuter Act would simply extend the definition of “transportation” in Section 132 (f) of the 1986 IRS code to include “bicycles.” The program is voluntary. The costs of commuting, such as lights, bike maintenance, raingear, panniers, parking (locker rental) and changing facilities, would be reimbursable under this program.
This small incentive to ride rather than drive to and from work should be seen as an important element of broader efforts to tackle climate change as well as traffic congestion, obesity and other critical challenges. For those of us who already commute, it gives us parity with the cagers.
Please urge your Senators and Representatives to co-sponsor this legislation, then to vote for its passage.
How to do it?
The League of American Bicyclists has an online form you can use to email your Representative and Senators. Visit https://capwiz.com/lab/issues/alert/?...520176&type=CO and complete the form.
The House bill, H.R. 1498, was introduced by Rep. Earl Blumenauer (D-OR) with nine co-sponsors and has been referred to the House Ways and Means Committee.
The Senate bill, S. 858, was introduced by Senator Ron Wyden (D-OR) with seven co-sponsors and has been referred to the Senate Committee on Finance.
The legislation would provide bicyclists with a similar tax benefit to that currently enjoyed by transit users and car parkers, through voluntary, employer-run programs.
Employees who take advantage of this benefit may receive a tax-exempt benefit of up to $200 per month, for drivers participating in qualified parking plans, or $105 per month for those using transit or vanpooling. The employer may also give cash compensation for these costs – although this is included as taxable income to the employee – or allow the employee to take a tax-free deduction for the purchase of transit tickets.
The Bicycle Commuter Act would simply extend the definition of “transportation” in Section 132 (f) of the 1986 IRS code to include “bicycles.” The program is voluntary. The costs of commuting, such as lights, bike maintenance, raingear, panniers, parking (locker rental) and changing facilities, would be reimbursable under this program.
This small incentive to ride rather than drive to and from work should be seen as an important element of broader efforts to tackle climate change as well as traffic congestion, obesity and other critical challenges. For those of us who already commute, it gives us parity with the cagers.
Please urge your Senators and Representatives to co-sponsor this legislation, then to vote for its passage.
How to do it?
The League of American Bicyclists has an online form you can use to email your Representative and Senators. Visit https://capwiz.com/lab/issues/alert/?...520176&type=CO and complete the form.
03-23-07 | 07:08 AM
#5
Infamous Member
Joined: Sep 2005
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From: Ohio
Bikes: Surly Big Dummy, Fuji World, 80ish Bianchi
On it
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"Let us hope our weapons are never needed --but do not forget what the common people knew when they demanded the Bill of Rights: An armed citizenry is the first defense, the best defense, and the final defense against tyranny. If guns are outlawed, only the government will have guns. Only the police, the secret police, the military, the hired servants of our rulers. Only the government -- and a few outlaws. I intend to be among the outlaws" - Edward Abbey
03-23-07 | 07:09 AM
#6
I'm not generally in favor of tax breaks/incentives, but since the law is in place already, it might as well cover all of the appropriate people.
I wish they would just revise it to cover everyone not arriving at work in their own personal car, regardless of means.
I wish they would just revise it to cover everyone not arriving at work in their own personal car, regardless of means.
03-24-07 | 06:39 AM
#14
Add one more to the list. I also sent out an e-mail to some local cyclist.
tsl thanks for the heads up.
tsl thanks for the heads up.
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Sick BubbleGum
Sick BubbleGum
03-24-07 | 11:31 AM
#20
Demoralizer of Acrobats
Joined: Apr 2006
Posts: 48
Likes: 0
From: Oklahoma City
Bikes: Specialized Crossroads, Surly Crosscheck
Yuck. Tom Coburn, James Inhofe, and Mary Fallin... Inhofe is likely to do anything he can to stop the bill out of spite...did you see him berating Al Gore this week? Shameful. Oklahoma has the most embarassing representatives, but sadly I think they do in fact represent the majority of the citizens from here...
anyway I sent them their emails, and posted about the bill on a local bicycle board as well, everyone else do the same and hope for the best.
anyway I sent them their emails, and posted about the bill on a local bicycle board as well, everyone else do the same and hope for the best.
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Surly Cross Check Commuter
Surly Cross Check Commuter
03-24-07 | 09:44 PM
#23
thanks for the tip.
I'm pretty sure my Senators and Congressman will vote yes on this. In fact, last year, by chance, I rode a couple of miles on the bike path with one of them and he was very interested and supportive of my daily commuting. (It was Sen. John Kerry and he was riding the most gorgeous Ben Serotta).
I'm pretty sure my Senators and Congressman will vote yes on this. In fact, last year, by chance, I rode a couple of miles on the bike path with one of them and he was very interested and supportive of my daily commuting. (It was Sen. John Kerry and he was riding the most gorgeous Ben Serotta).
03-25-07 | 07:59 AM
#24
The good looking one
Joined: Dec 2005
Posts: 185
Likes: 0
From: Centerville, Ohio
Bikes: gary fisher, Schwinn Woodland
Done it earlier this week. And have been sprending the word
on local bike website, and thur people I meet at the LBS I
work at. Crossing finders it passes.
on local bike website, and thur people I meet at the LBS I
work at. Crossing finders it passes.
03-25-07 | 08:32 AM
#25
CRIKEY!!!!!!!
Joined: May 2005
Posts: 4,276
Likes: 702
From: all the way down under
Bikes: several
If I lived on your side of the pond I would.
You have my moral support. Good luck, hope it gets through.
You have my moral support. Good luck, hope it gets through.
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"Surely one can love his own country without becoming hopelessly lost in an all-consuming flame of narrow-minded nationalism" - Fred Birchmore
"Surely one can love his own country without becoming hopelessly lost in an all-consuming flame of narrow-minded nationalism" - Fred Birchmore