Phil85207

This is an interesting read. The next time someone says, we should pay a tax remember this article.

https://www.grist.org/article/2010-09...uld-be-unfair/

Accordion

Didn't even open your link.

I drive a couple of cars. I live in SoCal. I make some decent money. I pay a freaking boatload of taxes.

I'll ride my bike wherever damn I'd like.

Gluteus

Good article.

umd

The article agrees with you.

JoeyBike

I will happily pay road use taxes on my 6 bikes so long as they charge every road user by the weight of their vehicle. I could easily afford $1/lb each year. Since weight is a function of wear and tear on road surfaces, that would be fair. Also, I should get a tax credit or rebate for my green footprint. Or there should be a nice surcharge for stinky Diesels, Hummers, and motor vehicles with more than 4 wheels.

The_Cretin

I say go a step further and include an additional tax based on driver and passenger weight.

rubic

Agreed!! Why should we pay twice?

Flatballer

fail.

CHAS

Have read that most highway maintenance and repair money, as well as money for new roads comes from property taxes. By riding a bike we are subsidizing those driving motor vehicles.

akansaskid

Sure, I'll pay the same $94/yr I pay on my POS '97 Grand Am. And I will ride it like that, too. Right down the middle of the d@%n lane. If I'm payin' like a car, I'm ridin' like a car.

Flatballer

why don't you actually read the article? It says basically this exact same thing.

rekmeyata

As long as I drive a car I already pay road taxes. And even if a person doesn't own a car a bicycle isn't putting any stress on the road. Bike paths are paid for by combination of federal grants which the money comes from my income taxes, and the rest of the money comes from property taxes within the community. So whether you own a car or not a portion of your taxes are going to help cyclists ride their bikes.

snowman40

preach it brotha!!!!

bhchdh 

Even if you do not own or ever drive a car you pay plenty in "road taxes". Just about everything you buy is shipped via truck at some point, and those guys pay plenty, and the cost is passed along to the end consumer.

robncircus

Meh. I'm in the minority here but I don't think it's such a bad idea. While many of us have cars, there are many that don't. If a registration fee would give the impression that we have "rights", allow us some more bike lanes, and help improve the respect barrier between us and motorists, why the hell not?!

rollin

Agree.

JoelS

I pay more than enough to the govt in taxes and fees on everything from my phone, electricity, gas, income, sales, etc. Danged if I want them to force me to give them any more.

bikeformoney

CASE #1: "The use of the highway for the purpose of travel and transportation is not a mere privilege, but a common fundamental right of which the public and individuals cannot rightfully be deprived." Chicago Motor Coach v. Chicago, 169 NE 221.
CASE #2: "The right of the citizen to travel upon the public highways and to transport his property thereon, either by carriage or by automobile, is not a mere privilege which a city may prohibit or permit at will, but a common law right which he has under the right to life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness." Thompson v. Smith, 154 SE 579.
CASE #3: "The right to travel is a part of the liberty of which the citizen cannot be deprived without due process of law under the Fifth Amendment." Kent v. Dulles, 357 US 116, 125.
CASE #4: "The right to travel is a well-established common right that does not owe its existence to the federal government. It is recognized by the courts as a natural right." Schactman v. Dulles 96 App DC 287, 225 F2d 938, at 941.

The state cannot diminish rights of the people."

Where rights secured by the Constitution are involved, there can be no rule making or legislation which would abrogate them." Miranda v. Arizona, 384 US 436, 491.

Public roads are for public use, not profit.

Personal liberty -- consists of the power of locomotion, of changing situations, of removing one's person to whatever place one's inclination may direct, without imprisonment or restraint unless by due process of law." 1 Blackstone's Commentary 134; Hare, Constitution__.777; Bovier's Law Dictionary, 1914 ed., Black's Law Dictionary, 5th ed.

Streets and highways are established and maintained for the purpose of travel and transportation by the public. Such travel may be for business or pleasure.

There can be no SANCTION or PENALTY imposed upon one because of this exercise of constitutional Rights." Snerer vs. Cullen, 481 F. 946.

desertdork

So conservatives are the force behind bicycle registration? Since the author was able to include so many other statistics (almost all without citation, though), would it have been too much for her to provide something specific to back up this blanket statement? As for the heart of the article, the explanation of how public roads are funded has been printed again and again. Nothing new.

trustnoone

I'll happily pay a cycling tax when motorists are given a questionnaire at vehicle registration that asks "Should cyclists pay an additional road tax?" and answering 'yes' automatically levies a life time tax of $3,360 per year (adjusted annually for Cost of Living.)

Seattle Forrest

If the law stating that we have those rights doesn't give that impression, why would paying a small tax do it? It takes a brute obstinacy to think cyclists have no rights as a group, when common sense and civil and criminal law say otherwise. I don't think a person who's that mentally stubborn is going to change their mind just because we're suddenly paying registration on our bikes.

The people who buzz cyclists intentionally do it because we're in their way, not because of philosophical differences over how tax funds should be distributed.

frpax

This, except I live in Arizona.

Gluteus

For those that clearly didn't read the article before commenting...

The point is that you're already paying taxes for those roads. The articles makes some good points.

rekmeyata

That's exactly what I said in my last post...I'm already paying taxes for roads.

Bearonabike

Not a FAIL

an EPIC FAIL!