Dam Bicycle Tax Credit

A couple of posts from RPUS lately. In one he quotes Rep. Doc Hastings (R-WA) -pictured - about the Bicycle Commuter Act and the Energy Bill:

And, Mr. Speaker, it gives a tax credit to people for riding their bikes to work. I am sorry, but gas prices and climate change aren't going to be fixed by making people ride their bikes to work. This isn't a plan to make America energy independent and to free us from foreign oil. It is just a dream for the political left in this country. And let me repeat, Mr. Speaker, it raises taxes, it is anti-nuclear and anti-dams, it forces people out of their cars, and gives tax credits for riding their bike to work.

He's right about it not being the fix, but gas prices and climate change aren't going to be fixed by any one thing at all. Someone said to me the other day - there is no shot to cure us of climate change, we'll need a cocktail. Which is good, because I'm too old to do shots anymore. Biking is part of that cocktail (though gas prices may not be fixable - finite supply+infinite demand = ever increasing prices).

Here's what Blumenauer says about it

We’ve got about 10 years to turn around the global warming equation. We’ve got an 80% reduction by 2050, which means we’ve got to get started on it now; it’s energy, it’s transportation, and it’s land use, and the bicycle is something that can bring people together that can make a difference in a hurry, and start changing the way we work with one another, how we deal with natural resources, how we live a little lighter on the planet. So this isn’t just about bicycle advocacy, this is about saving the world, and healing the political process.

As for the rest...I'd say it frees people from their cars, not forces them. I can't count how many times people have said to me, "I'd love to bike to work, but...." Let's get rid of all of those buts (But don't worry Sir Mixalot, we won't get rid of the butts). No energy bill will force people to give up their cars, rising energy costs will do that.

He's been hanging with McHenry it sounds like. (update)

Richard also says:

A wee bit of money for bike commuters is just designed to make us feel good.  It has little impact.

That may be true, but in government the real fight is to get in the budget. Once started, it's easier to increase funding, The old camel's nose under the tent thing.

In another post, he mentions the start of congestion zone charging in Milan, and a plan to add Velib-style electric car sharing in Paris. Both are anti-dams.

Comments

[Grendel]

Sir Mix-a-Lot should be worried...those butts would be shrinking in a strong move to cycle commuting.

[murph]

The parking tax subsidy still steams me, especially when I have to pay more to ride metro now. There should be high taxes on parking in DC which could be used to fund mass transit, biking and walking. I also like the congestion tax. Maybe Bloomberg will do something and Fenty will follow.

[washcycle]

There's a Monty Python sketch where they put the actor on stilts so that he looks taller. Then he's too tall so they dig a hole for him to stand in. But then he's too short..and on and on it goes until he's standing in an 11 foot hole with 11.3 foot stilts (or something). That's what transportation subsidies are like. Why do we subsidize everything? Let's subsidize the things that we wan't to encourage (transit, walking, biking - heck even carpooling) but not single-occupant car driving.

[Jeff]

I think there should be special crosswalks for people who cross the street in creative, unique ways. The Ministry of Silly Walks can help fund it, assuming their budget doesn't get cut further.