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TAX BENEFITS FOR CYCLISTS

The Bicycle Commuter Act (HR 1498 and S 858) is before congress right now. It would provide a tax benefit to employers who offer cash reimbursements to employees who ride to work in order to help defray their commuting costs. All this requires is an amendment to the Transportation Fringe Benefit of the tax code to extend the definition of "transportation" to include bicycles. Employers are given the flexibility to set their own levels of benefit payments and the bike commuter can use those payments to pay for a bike, accessories, safety equipment, insurance, and locker or shower fees.

Here's what you do: Click http://capwiz.com/lab/home/ and input your zip code and the page generates emails to go to all your congress people. Then just sign and send!

By the way, I checked this out with my best friend from 2nd grade, who works on Capitol Hill in DC, and he tells me this is legitimate and also that the Bicycle Commuter Act could use a little boost. So let?s give it that boost! He also pointed out that we can track the status of the bill, number of cosponsors, etc, at this link: http://thomas.loc.gov/

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