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.

Done!

Thanks! Done.

Ring up another.

On it

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.

sent. And thanks for bringing this to our attention.

Yes, Thanks for this. I am currently doing a english paper on," Omaha needs to add bike lanes". Not exactly the same thing, but the benefits are similar.

Done.

I would rather see an abolishment of the current Revenue Code, but since I doubt that will happen I will added my support to this.

I wish they had something like this in Canada... maybe someday...

Was just going to post this after finishing it myself

Done and done!

I'm all over it.

Add one more to the list. I also sent out an e-mail to some local cyclist.

tsl thanks for the heads up.

+1 Done

Thanks! I was doing my taxes yesterday and I saw there were deductions for hybrids, electric, etc, but no bikes! I was more than a little irritated.

I've never seen a tool for contacting one's representatives that's as slick as this one. I guess I need to get out more.

Your tellin me I could get some of my money back on my lights if I ride my bike full time Done!

3 times done, wife, friend and I. Too bad Hilary has forgotten about all her duties while campaigning.

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.

Done.

Done X 2, maybe more....

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).

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.

If I lived on your side of the pond I would.

You have my moral support. Good luck, hope it gets through.